Honeylands History

Early deeds show that this building was once called Honeyland, and was part of the Barton of Polsloe, it was sold by act of parliament after the death of its owner Sebastian Isaac. It was purchased in 1711 by a tallow chandler by the name of John Burgess whose father was already living in the house. This was in the reign of William and Mary.

In 1720 a man called William Lucombe founded the first garden nursery in the St Thomas area of the city. He travelled the world looking for new and unusual plants and brought them back to his nursery. He is known to have planted many trees around the city including on the land where County hall now stands, and on the land adjoining the orthopaedic hospital, so it seems very likely that he was responsible for planting the beautiful trees which are in the grounds of Honeylands and may still be seen in the Honeylands housing estate. Lucombes name can still be found on some packets of seeds.

On the 13th of April 1741 Elizabeth and Joanna Burgess (daughters of the late John Burgess) sold the house to Bartholomew Parr, Surgeon. It was then leased to Francis Brayne, a druggist and then it was sold to Charles Northcott on the 24th of September 1747. I have been unable to find out if he is one of the ancestors of the family who endowed the Northcott theatre but I suspect he was.

By 1756 the owner was Edward Bartlett, a serge maker. He would have ridden into Exeter on a horse to get to his mill which would have been near the river Exe. His son and grandson succeeded him in living here until the early 1800's when John Bussell an attorney bought it. By this time George the 3rd was on the throne (1760 - 1820).

Baloons with names onThe title map of 1884 shows Honeylands as a 47 acre estate of pastures and orchards, together with three houses and a neo - classical style mansion. This had three reception rooms, six bedrooms and two servants rooms. Outside were stables, coach house laundry, barns and other farm buildings.

The house was approached through large gates which had a gate house either side, and then the drive ran parallel with Pinhoe road. The house was, and still is dominated by four ionic columns and a pediment, these being made of Bath stone, which, of course explains why the stone is so soft but reflects well on the clean air of devon when compared with the architecture in bath itself.

The small extension which now houses the portage room and the shower room above was probably added in the early 1800's. It does not have the thick walls and decorated ceilings of the original house. The red brick tower was added in the late Victorian era, before planning permission was required, and was designed as additional servants quarters.

In 1860 the house passed into the ownership of one George Speke and he lived here with his family. Benjamin Speke travelled to Africa and met Dr Livingstone and together they discovered the source of the Nile.

In 1880 the property was sold to the last family to live at Honeylands. They were James Hare, founder of the Devon and Somerset Stores, and his wife Jane. They had three daughters, one of whom sadly died aged only six years and eleven months.

When James died in 1920 his wife and two daughters continued to live at Honeylands for a while but found the house to big and expensive to run so they had the Red House built and moved there. Their graves can be found in Whipton village graveyard.

Honeylands was then sold yet again this time to a Mr Hamblin, who thought that he had a real bargain because he managed to buy the house and grounds for £4,000. A figure much lower than the probate figure. However, he never actually live to be able to live at Honeylands as he died in December 1922.

The next person to buy the house was Miss Violet Chaning Wills, whose charming picture hangs to this day in the staff room, Contrary to popular belief she never lived at Honeylands, she lived in Torquay, but bought Honeylands solely to give the property and land to the city of Exeter, to be used as a sanatorium for the treatment of children suffering from T.B.

She gave it in memory of her father Robert Payson Wills who had been a very great benefactor of the Exeter Hospitals and I believe his portrait used to hang in the boardroom of Wonford hospital. Interestingly she also gave the money for the building of St Marks church just up the road from Honeylands and the church was built complete with tower, unlike so many built in that era when it was difficult to find enough money to build the tower although it was in the architects design.