Celebrating 100 years of Coleton Fishacre

Creating Coleton Fishacre

Rupert and Lady Dorothy commissioned renowned architect Oswald Milne to design Coleton Fishacre, a house that would sit in harmony with its surroundings. Nestled in the coastal valley, they wanted their holiday home to make the most of the sea views and natural light.

The house was built into a difficult landscape, but Oswald Milne turned this to his advantage in rooms like the Saloon, where he cleverly added elegant steps along the curve of the hillside to create a showstopping, stage-like room set at an angle to maximise the views of the garden. The house and garden were designed in the Arts and Crafts style, with the interiors reflecting the Art Deco ‘jazz age’.

 

Building the house

The result of considerable wealth, it was built to the highest standards of craftsmanship and quality, with gurjan wood flooring throughout and Portland stone. The exterior facing of the house was actually quarried from within the garden, with the stone transported up the valley on railway tracks, which can now be seen in the kitchen where they support shelves. 

The quarry itself, sitting below a picturesque gazebo with views out to sea, is undergoing an exciting redesign to compliment the history of Coleton Fishacre and its creators, to become a creative and artistic feature of the garden. 

The original blueprints are too fragile to be on display, but depict details from the Delabole roof slates to the black Staffordshire tiles on the window sills, created by the architect Oswald Milne. 

A year of celebrations

To celebrate the milestone, the team at Coleton Fishacre have been looking through the archives. A rich source of information, it includes photographs that document the building of the house and landscaping of the garden, from start to finish. Almost all of these images have never been on display to the public before, so to celebrate the anniversary, the team are holding an exhibition of the archive images, allowing visitors a glimpse from the past to present. 

There'll be lots of things to see and do throughout the year for all the family, with talks and walks looking at the creation of Coleton Fishacre to glimpses of life in the Roaring 20s. Music will ring through the house, with live pianists bringing it to life and the chance for visitors to immerse themselves in a bygone era. 

 

Creating Coleton Fishacre: photographic exhibition

3 May - 2 November

On display for the first time, archive images from the family's personal photo album as they document the build of Coleton Fishacre. Pop-up exhibition in the house and garden. 

 

Coleton Cocktail hour

Wednesdays at 4pm from 7 May onwards

In true 20s style, we'll be recreating cocktails from the Savoy Cocktail Book in the house. Come along and sample a different one each week. Over 18s only. 

 

Pop-up talks in the House

Mondays, 3pm

Every Monday afternoon join one of the team for a pop-up talk on the designers and artists that shaped Coleton Fishacre. 

 

Summer evenings in the garden

First Friday of each month from May-Sept, 5-7pm 

We're opening the garden until late for balmy summer evening walks. 

 

Photography workshops

Selected dates, 9.30am-10.30am 

Join professional Photographer Tony Cobley for a free photography workshop in the garden. Spaces are limited, booking essential. 

 

Monthly guided walks

Last Wednesday of the month, May – October, 2pm

Explore the garden by the sea on a guided walk with one of the gardeners.

 

All this and much more as we celebrate Coleton Fishacre's centenary. For more information and to help plan your day out, visit the Events page.