The History of Coleton Fishacre
Coleton Fishacre was conceived as a private country retreat for Rupert D'Oyly Carte and Lady Dorothy Carte. The construction of the house took place between 1923 and 1926. The couple sought a location that suited an outdoor lifestyle, eventually selecting a site where a secluded valley leads down to Pudcombe Cove. This coastal setting allowed for a residence that integrated the domestic space with the natural landscape.
The property comprises a house and 24 acres of gardens. Following the tenure of the Carte family, the estate was offered to the National Trust in 1982 as part of Project Neptune. Since that acquisition, the National Trust has held ownership of the site. While the gardens were opened to the public immediately upon the transfer, the house itself remained private for several years. The interior and the grounds were opened to the public in 1999.
Architecture and Design of the House
The house was designed by architect Oswald Milne, who served as an assistant to Edwin Lutyens between 1902 and 1905. Milne applied the principles of the Arts and Crafts Movement to the structure, emphasizing simplicity of design and the quality of craftsmanship. The building is constructed from local slate rubble and is topped with a Delabole slate roof. The design was intended to sit in harmony with the coastal landscape, utilizing materials sourced directly from the surrounding area.
While the exterior follows these traditionalist principles, the interior reflects the modernity of the Jazz Age through an Art Deco style. The rooms are furnished with a mixture of Baroque and East Asian pieces, creating a specific aesthetic tension between historical European forms and Eastern influences. In the Saloon, the architecture responds to the topography of the site; elegant steps follow the curve of the hillside to accommodate the slope of the land.
The Gardens and Surrounding Landscape
The gardens at Coleton Fishacre are Grade II* listed in the National Register of Historic Parks and Gardens. They occupy a narrow combe that descends from the house toward the sea at Pudcombe Cove. This topographical arrangement allows the landscape to transition from the structured elements of the house down to the coastal edge. The proximity to the Gulf Stream enables the growth of rare and exotic plants that might otherwise struggle in this climate.
Lady Dorothy originally planted the gardens, often retrieving exotic species during her travels abroad. The maintenance of such a diverse collection required a dedicated staff of six people. The landscape is integrated with the house through the use of local materials, including stone quarried directly from the garden to build the structure. This integration ensures the property remains in harmony with its coastal setting.
Notable Features and Exterior Details
The exterior of the house maintains a restrained appearance, characterized by a lack of heavy decoration. A wrought-iron weathervane, supplied by Negretti & Zambra, is positioned on the roof. On the garden front, a stone sundial carved by Herbert W. Palliser sits as a prominent feature. The design of this sundial was influenced by the style of Tutankhamun.
Inside, the architecture responds directly to the steep topography of the site. In the saloon room, elegant steps follow the curve of the hillside to accommodate the slope. Practicality remains integrated into the domestic spaces; in the kitchen, the original railway tracks used to transport stone from the garden quarry have been repurposed to support shelves.
