See important guidance on the use of this record.

If you have any comments or new information about this record, please email us.

Summary

Dwelling at Scorhill recorded as early as 1332. Depicted on the Tithe Map. Refurbishment work in the 19th and 20th centuries have shaped the current dwelling. Was used as a school between 1940-1945.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• FARMHOUSE (XIV to XIX - 1330 AD to 1840 AD (Between))
• SCHOOL (World War II - 1940 AD to 1945 AD (Between))

Full description

Devon County Council, 1838-1848, Tithe Mosaic, approximately 1838-1848 (Cartographic). SDV349431.

Scorhill farmhouse is depicted on the Tithe Map; an L-shaped building set in the centre of the farm, with other L-shaped structures to the north-east and south-west. A non-domestic adjoining structure is shown at the south-eastern end of the dwelling.

Ordnance Survey, 1880-1899, First Edition Ordnance 25 inch map (Cartographic). SDV336179.

The late 19th century historic map shows alterations to the dwelling have been made. Also, the building to the north-east appears to have been changed.

Ordnance Survey, 1904 - 1906, Second Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map (Cartographic). SDV325644.

The early 20th century historic map shows no obvious changes to the dwelling, although the range of buildings to the south-west has been extended northwards. The building to the north-east is no longer shown.

Grumley-Grennan, T. + Hardy, M., 2000, Gidleigh. A Dartmoor Village Past and Present, 56-62 (Monograph). SDV359347.

House at Scorhill since the early 14th century, when ownership records originate. In the 19th century Robert Stark rebuilt part of the old farmhouse and planted a vast number of trees around the property, many of which blew down in the storm of 1989. Further rebuilding work took place in the early 20th century by the then owners.
After the outbreak of the war in 1940, the house was taken over by Mr and Mrs Dix who ran All Hallows, a small Catholic preparatory school in Bognor Regis for 13 pupils. They were concerned about the school’s safety in Bognor and Scorhill proved to be an ideal location. The school remained at Scorhill until the end of 1945 when it moved to Shepton Mallet, when it had had grown to over 70 boys. Some of boys were accommodated at Berrydown Farm and the house next door known as ‘After’.
In the early days of the school, pupils walked to Mass at Gidleigh Park, but in later years had their own chapel at Scorhill served by monks from Buckfast Abbey. Memories of the students at the school record it to have been an idyllic setting, secluded from much of the horror of wartime.

Ordnance Survey, 2016, MasterMap (Cartographic). SDV359352.

The modern map shows the house to have been extended since the early 20th century historic map depiction.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events: none recorded

Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.