The History of Bovey Castle

 Let’s step back in time as we discover the full and fascinating history of Bovey Castle.

 

History of Bovey CAstle

From the beginning...

In 1890, William Henry Smith (WH Smith, later to become Viscount Hambleden) purchased 5,000 acres of land from the Earl of Devon for £103,000. The estate consisted of several large ancient manors, including Moretonhampstead and North Bovey; almost thirty farms, extensive woodland and fishing rights on the rivers Bovey and Teign. It was his son, Frederick, who built the Manor House in a lavish neo-Elizabethan style as one of the family’s numerous country retreats.

The interior boasted a Jacobean style staircase, plaster ceilings, an oak panelled dining room, open fireplace with a carved stone chimney and an Adam drawing room. Frederick became involved in Devon life and was a subaltern in the Devonshire Yeomanry, leading the regiment in Gallipoli and Egypt in the First World War. During the First World War, the Manor House became a convalescent home for officers and as a military hospital when war broke out again in 1939.

The Hambleden family rarely visited the Manor House during the 1920s, but when they did venture down to Devon the villages of Moretonhampstead and North Bovey would turn out to watch the spectacle. Lord Hambleden died in June 1928. His estate, consisting largely of the entire ordinary shareholding of WH Smith and his properties, were valued at £3,500,000 but was liable for death duty of £1,000,000. North Bovey Manor House and its estate were almost immediately put on the market to pay the death duty, which was eventually auctioned to the Great Western Railway for conversion to a golfing hotel for reputedly only £15,000.

The hotel and golf course opened in 1930 and the hotel entertained many celebrities. Following several successful years, another 17 bedrooms, a cocktail bar, dining room and squash and badminton courts were added between 1935-1936. From 1946 to 1983, it was returned to the Great Western Railway and re-opened as a hotel. It then changed owners again in 1991 when considerable expansion took place and the golf course became a top priority, shortly becoming one of England’s finest courses.

The Manor House became Bovey Castle in 2003 and achieved its five-star status in 2004 as a result of the addition of the 22 estate lodges, a second restaurant, spa and pool. Under the hotel’s previous owners, Bovey Castle received a multi-million refurbishment in 2008 by Annabel Elliot and her team, with every finishing touch selected to complement the warmth and contemporary elegance of Bovey Castle.

In June 2014 the privately owned, award-winning Eden Hotel Collection purchased Bovey Castle as part of their portfolio of luxury UK hotels, embarking on a multi-million refurbishment which started in January 2015. Following on in July 2016, Bovey Castle was awarded 5 Red Stars from the AA for exceptional hospitality – the highest accolade awarded by the AA and given to only the most outstanding hotels. Bovey Castle is constantly innovating with new experiences on the estate including an off-road driving experience and deer park tours.

 

 

pattern
pattern

Proud members of

PoB Hotels

Bovey Castle is proud to be a member of PoB Hotels, a collection of carefully curated rooms, the finest restaurants and spas, and the most authentic regional experiences across the British Isles.

PoB Hotels only invite the very best independent hotels to join their collection – but there’s much more to it than that. Think of PoB Hotels as the key and each hotel as a door to new experiences. Each completely unique. Each hand-picked. Each the Pride of Britain.

Established in 1982 by a group of 12 passionate hoteliers, PoB Hotels today has grown to over 50 city-based, countryside and coastal locations. The essence of PoB Hotels is built on its British heritage, honouring provenance and sincere, authentic service. They love the independent nature and unique culture at each property. What ties the hotels together is not being the same but celebrating individuality with a common vision- offering guests the best experiences.

They’re all about pairing each guest with an experience that’s extraordinary and unique, so all members are inspected annually to ensure they live up to the PoB standard. Plus, admission of new members is subject to successfully passing an anonymous overnight inspection and a ballot of the membership.

In 2022, PoB Hotels partnered with EarthCheck, the leading global sustainability certification programme. This step formalises an ongoing commitment to responsible travel and an effort to promote sustainable practices across its collection.

 

Excellent
4.4
1,250 verified reviews
TrustYou

Read all reviews

Book direct with us for the best price. Guaranteed.