Search for the name, locality, period or a feature of a locality. You'll then be taken to a map showing results.

Winslade Park

Introduction

The mansion was built in the late-18th century. Surviving landscape features include an early-19th century terrace walk, a lake and parts of the kitchen garden.

Principal Building

Winslade was built in the early 19th century by Edward Cotsford, MP and Sheriff of Devon, who made a fortune in the East Indies. The plain house of two stories is of five-by-six bays with attics and a basement. The most noted feature of Winslade is its full-height top-lit central hall, which sports a domed lantern with garlands in the style of Robert Adam.

Gardens and Pleasure Grounds

The U-shaped Stables, though extant, were gutted to provide a swimming pool, squash courts, and other facilities for office staff.

Kitchen Garden

The Walled Garden was converted into a parking lot.

The Greek Doric White Lodge (circa 1820) on the Old Exeter Road, and the Red Lodge on Church Lane, are both extant.

Visitor Access, Directions & Contacts
History

19th Century

White (1850) noted that it was ‘a large stone mansion, on an eminence, with tasteful grounds, is the seat of Henry Porter, Esq., and has been greatly improved during the last seven years, at the cost of about £10,000. It has three beautiful terraces in front, and was formerly the seat of the Spicer and Porcher families.'

The sale particulars of 1905 noted the ‘pleasure grounds of great natural beauty'. It was claimed that ‘A great feature of the property is the beautiful pleasure Grounds, which are of that varied and lovely character which only time and skill can complete. The natural contour of the land has been taken full advantage of by some of the cleverest and most artistic landscape gardeners in the Kingdom, and large sums of money have been lavished in order to bring them to their present state of perfection. They slope away from the mansion in a southerly direction, and contain a large variety of well grown and shapely flowering and other shrubs, large number of specimen trees, including pinus, cedar, cupresses, piceas, araucarma, yews &c. They are disposed in three magnificent terraces, the space between each gravelled walk being lawns, adorned with splendid coniferae and banks of rhododendrons. The lowest of these terraces (which is about 500 yards in length) is divided from the park by a stream, and is protected on one side by a heavy ornamental Italian balustrading with vases covered with Ivy and Apelopsis, and on the other side is flanked by high banks of Yews and Cupressus. From this terrace the ornamental lake which is here formed by the widening of the stream, is gained by two broad flights of steps, on either side of which are boat houses. Near by is a romantic rockery, profuse in well-grown shrubs and trees, with winding shady walks and pretty ornamental lily pond with island. Picturesque Italian Garden, prettily designed flower beds and borders, charming vistas commanded by Stone seats, rose garden, level and sloping lawns, tennis lawn, &c. Pretty Woodland walks, one of which terminates in a delightfully secluded nook, surrounded by rhododendrons forming an ideal spot for a summer house. Lying in warm and sheltered positions on a southern slope are three walled kitchen and fruit gardens, very productive and in a high state of cultivation, and well stocked with wall, espalier and standard fruit trees of the choicest kinds. In close proximity is an asparagus garden, enclosed by high laurel and yew hedges, capital orchard &c.'

20th Century

The House was used for a school in the mid-20th century. St Mary's Catholic Boys school School Winslade Park was opened in 1948 and closed in 1972.

In 1975-77, Winslade was converted to the headquarters offices of the London and Manchester Assurance Company. The three-story steel-framed addition of 1982-83, to the designs of Marshman Warren Taylor, expanded the staff space to accommodate 850 people. The London and Manchester was purchased by Friends Provident, who closed the Winslade office.


Period

  • 18th Century (1701 to 1800)
  • Late 18th Century (1767 to 1800)
Features & Designations

Features

  • Terraced Walk
  • Description: Terraced walk along the Grindle Brook.
  • Lake
  • Kitchen Garden
  • Description: Parts of the kitchen garden survive.
Key Information

Type

Park

Purpose

Ornamental

Period

18th Century (1701 to 1800)

Survival

Part: standing remains

Open to the public

Yes

Civil Parish

Clyst St. Mary

References

References