THE MANOR HOUSE, SOUTHTOWN.

[Written by Ray Freeman 1990, revised 2007]

[Percy Russell left some notes in Dartmouth Museum, which they allowed me to go through, as he had investigated the leases relating to it. Russell lived at Waterside, just below the property, and so was interested in all the houses round about. The gist of his findings, with a few additions I have discovered myself, are as follows, written by me in 1990]:

The house now known as the Manor House was first called CLAREMONT, and up to and after 1867 included land on the other side of the road, leading down to the river, now the site of the Boathouse and its garden, and the southern part of the present Manor Garden. Russell must have seen the deed transferring the property in 1867, which quotes from an earlier lease of 1792. The house was obviously not new in 1892, as the same lease recites the previous owners as follows, and the 1867 deed brings the various owners up to that date. [In brackets are my notes on their dates and any information I know from other source.]

Joseph Bulley [Mayor 1706-7 and 1711-12]

Arthur Holdsworth [Mayor 1714, died 1726]

Rev. Henry Holdsworth [Vicar of Townstal 1726-1762]

Joan Holdsworth, his widow.

Nicholas Brooking [1755 – 1830]

John Vivian [Nothing known about him]

Philip and John Leigh “ “ “ “

Thomas Bucknell “ “ “ “

In 1867 Claremont was bought from Bucknell by Alexander Ridgeway, a wealthy property owner, who would not have lived there himself as he owned the large estate of Shepleigh Manor. He was prominent in the town, a Councillor and Alderman, and Mayor 1870 – 1871. So he probably let Claremont, but to whom I do not know. In 1885 Ridgeway went bankrupt and all his property was sold. Claremont was then described as having 7 bedrooms, large drawing room, music room, 2 more bedrooms, W.C., dining room, library, kitchen, pantry, scullery and outhouse.

Sold separately were grounds on the riverside opposite, with a garden and conservatory, and the land known as Greenland Wharf, formerly a malthouse, all up to this time belonging to Claremont. The land fronting Southtown was bought by the Council to widen the road, and they sold off the riverside plot to Alexander Philip of the shipbuilding firm. On this was later built The Boathouse, once owned by Basil and Betty Payne owners of Cundell’s grocery shop, and now (1990) Kelly.

The next owner of Claremont was Miss Ford. Russell had seen an old photograph dated about 1860 (not seen by me) which showed the house without its two present bay windows, so it seems likely that this alteration was made by her after 1885. She changed its name to The Manor House after the old Manor House, which stood on the site at the northern end of the present Manor Gardens, was pulled down for road widening about 1905. Miss Ford left the house to three ladies of the Seale family, with the reversion to Sir Henry Paul Seale. [Mayor 16 times, died 1897.] The house does not seem to have been occupied by the Seale family, but was let on a lease. The more recent history of the house I do not know, but it should appear in the deeds held by the present owners. [The Census returns for 1881, 1891 and 1901, now available in the Flavel Centre Library, will show who actually lived there then. Then see local Directories and Dartmouth Chronicles.]