Coleton Fishacre
History
Coleton Fishacre's glorious setting drew the D'Oyly Cartes here
© Tony Cobley
The art of country living
In the 1920s Rupert and Lady Dorothy D'Oyly Carte were sailing along the South Devon coast. Looking for a country retreat, they were inspired to make this beautiful valley running down to the sea the site for an elegant home. Here they could entertain in style and indulge their passion for the outdoors.
The D'Oyly Cartes
The D'Oyly Cartes relaxing at Coleton Fishacre
Rupert was the son of Richard D'Oyly Carte, the impresario behind the operettas of Gilbert and Sullivan. He developed the business empire he inherited, including the Savoy Hotel and Claridges in London.
The D'Oyly Carte family lived at Coleton Fishacre until 1949, when Rupert's daughter Bridget sold it to Rowland Smith, owner of the Palace Hotel in Torquay.
Upstairs downstairs
The D'Oyly Cartes were able to afford a substantial staff at Coleton Fishacre - butler, housekeeper, housemaid and cook. The kitchen was the working heart of the house, and the servant's hall was a space to relax.
Find out more about the upstairs downstairs nature of the house
Art Deco
Fans of Art Deco pieces will find beautiful examples to admire here
In contrast to the Arts and Crafts exterior of the house, the interior of the house is dramatically 20th-century Art Deco in design. Simplicity, quality and finish is key throughout. The D'Oyly Cartes aspired to a minimalist design, with the lack of adornment particularly apparent in the corridors. The pale rooms with accents of strong colour are typical of the 1920s.
Arts and Crafts
- The building began in 1923 to the design of Oswald Milne
- Inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement's belief in simple design and high standards of craftmanship, the house grew out of the landscape
- The movement believed that the house and garden should be designed as one integrated whole, the garden as an extension of the house
- Plants were used to soften the formal lines of the architectural structures
- Hard and soft landscaping were combined and plants became ‘flesh’ around the ‘bones’ of the garden
The Saloon
The architect Oswald Milne dealt with awkward changes in the levels of the site, using stage-like curving steps down into the Saloon to create an impressive entrance to an elegant room.
Thirties floors
In the photo from 1930 you can see a large French-style carpet. Later on in the 30s this was replaced with a carpet, runner and pair of rugs created for the room by Marion Dorn.
Marion Dorn
Marion Dorn was the leading freelance textile designer of the inter-War period. She favoured large scale patterns for her carpets, using simple colours and weave textures.
Lady Dorothy's bedroom
We used images of the bedroom from Country Life from 1930 to recreate the layout of the room. Only two pieces of furniture remain from the D'Oyly Carte's time, the rest is recreated.
Material masterpiece
The recreation of the curtains and cushions is a triumph of research. The original printing block was traced to the archives of the Lyons textile firm Bianchini Ferier in France.