Coleton Fishacre

Not as much sun today and distinctly cooler but we have had a wonderful day in South Devon at Coleton Fishacre.
It's an Arts and Crafts house built in the 1920's by Rupert D'Oyly Carte and his wife Lady Dorothy as their country home.
Rupert inherited from his father the fortune created by his Savoy Theatre and Savoy and Claridges Hotel businesses, which were inturn funded on his theatrical management and impresario backing of the Gilbert and Sullivan Operattas.

It has been on my list to visit for a longtime and I was certainly not disappointed. Built of natural and local materials (the stone quarried on site) in the Arts and Crafts tradition by a builder who had been assistant to Edward Lutyens, the interior owes more to Art Deco style.

Many items have been recreated but some fittings and furniture are original particularly in the dining room where 4 fabulous ( and no doubt incredibly valuable) opalescent glass Lalique wall lights of the Tulipe design still adorn the walls.

We also had an hour tour (turned out to be and hour and a half) of the formal garden closest to the house. This leads to a wooded ravine which heads down to the sea. At the end of the formal garden on the same level as the house there is a gazebo with magnificent views through the trees to the sea where there is a private bay. (Extra)

We didn't walk down there today and apparently it is at its best in the spring with camellias, magnolias and rhododendrons adding to the scene. Another place to return to in Spring.

Back in Bristol we have just had dinner in the pub up the road. Mine was accompanied by a cider, Addlestones cloudy. Very nice. I always have a cider or two when I'm in the SW.