THE REMARKABLE HISTORY OF A DARTMOUTH HOUSE

Dartmouth’s History Research Group have been investigating the past history of a house named ‘Combecote’, formerly called ‘Belmont’, and discovered a remarkable story involving three Mayors of Dartmouth, boys’ schools, a family fishing business in Labrador, the first boat-engine business in Dartmouth, a convalescent home for College cadets, and the man who first named and bred the Jack Russell terrier !

This research was prompted by an enquiry from a Jack Russell owner who was interested in ‘Parson’ Jack Russell, the only person after whom a breed of dog was named. Jack’s father, John Russell briefed an architect about 1790 to build Belmont House in Ridgeway (later Ridge Hill), intending to set up a school. Trewman’s Post of 1 December 1791 advertised that a ‘Grammar School’ for six young gentlemen as boarders was to be opened and that “proper masters would attend to teach Writing, Arithmetic, Music and Dancing”. John Russell was also a preacher and very keen on fox-hunting, and is reputed to have kept hounds as well as pupils at Belmont – including ”a hunter for the use of the pupil who achieved the highest marks.”

Jack Russell was born at Belmont in 1795 and baptised at St.Clements Church. He became a famous hunter and dog breeder as well as an ordained minister. Tradition has it that while at Oxford he spotted a white terrier bitch called ‘Trump’ owned by a milkman and immediately bought her. She became the foundation of a line of fox-hunting terriers later known as Jack Russells.

The Russell family moved away from Dartmouth in 1796, and it seems that Belmont was sold to the Seale family who lived at nearby Mount Boone. The next notable resident was Daniel Codner, merchant and ship owner, whose family owned a cod fishing business in Labrador and Newfoundland. Daniel lived in Dartmouth from 1821 to 1856, and his company address was at Axford Slip (now Oxford St.). He was Mayor of Dartmouth in 1833 and (probably) in 1838. The Trade Directories of 1844, 1850 and 1856 show him resident at Belmont, which he rented from the Seales.

Daniel Codner moved soon after 1856, and in 1864 the house was again sold when Sir Henry Seale disposed of a number of Combe Estate properties. From 1866 to 1877 Belmont was once more a boys’ school, run by the Rev. Henry de Chaville until 1870 and then by John Peto.

The next owner was another well-known Mayor of Dartmouth, Francis Simpson. He came from Yorkshire, and in 1878 moved to Belmont from Derwent Lodge, Southtown, and changed its name to Combecote. It was here that he established an engine factory in the grounds, and the first Kingdon compound engine and boiler was assembled in a small shed in the garden off Clarence Hill, later the stables for Combecote. In 1880 the engine factory was transferred to the Redway yard at Sandquay after Redway became bankrupt (Dartmouth Chronicle, 1880). In 1881 Simpson was living with his friend Joseph Dennison, civil engineer, at Combecote. They founded the first boat/engine company in Dartmouth, later renamed Simpson and Strickland. Francis Simpson was Mayor of Dartmouth from 1882 until 1891, and is well-known for his strong opposition to the plans for the Embankment.

About 1887 the house was extended to the east, and the extension is noteworthy for the two marble columns which mark the internal doorway between the original house and the extension. Simpson moved to Kingswear and Combecote was occupied by the Navy as a land-based convalescent home for sick Britannia cadets. The occupier from 1889 to 1891 was Fleet Surgeon Brian McDermott. Later it was privately owned by a Mr. and Mrs. Birch from 1893 to 1901.

The next owner of Combecote was another Francis Simpson, younger son of the elder Simpson. He became curate in 1910 and later (1914) Vicar of Townstal. He stayed until about 1919 when he moved to Townstal House. Then in the 1920’s and 1930’s there was a third Mayor of Dartmouth, Dr.Henry Campbell at Combecote, running a school. He was Mayor from 1923 to 1929, and kept horses at the stables. When his favourite horse died he inserted a horse’s tooth inside the lower staircase banister post at the house !

By 1935 Dr.Campbell had retired, and the school was run by his daughters misses Helen and Jean Campbell. Present-day Dartmothians remember this school, with happy memories.

The next owner of the house was Mr. Harry Oke, a builder. He occupied the house from 1936 until after the Second World War, during which Services personnel were billeted there. His grand-daughter remembers her time there from 1936 until 1942 when she moved after James Henry Oke, her father died. Mr. Oke was responsible for building houses in Combe Close and elsewhere, and later splitting the house into two semi-detached houses named Combecote and Altamera. The stables where Simpson built engines were also sold off. Mr. Harry Oke was Deputy Mayor when Mr. H.G.Middleton was the Mayor in 1945.

Combecote was bought by a Henry Mortimore about 1952, and in 1955 the house was purchased by the present owners – who still live there.

There cannot be many houses in the area which have had so many notable residents, and such a fascinating history !

Eric Preston.

Dartmouth History Research Group.

January 2006.