Poltimore House and Grounds

Poltimore House and Grounds Poltimore House Trust has plans to bring this historic mansion back to life despite an arson attack in 2024. We love doggies too! Details at www.poltimore.org

We have a lovely Café, and our 13 acres of lovely Grounds are free for you to explore. A few miles north of Exeter on the level land between the rivers Exe and Clyst, Poltimore House stands four-square and solid against a background of dark trees. Now encased in scaffolding and sheet metal it awaits restoration. Circa 1550 Richard Bampfylde built the first house on the site. Over the next 370 years the family enlarged and altered it, although much remains of the original Tudor house. The Bampfylde’s moved out in 1921, when the house became a girls school, Poltimore College and then a home for the WWII evacuated boys school, Dover College. In 1944 it was sold and subsequently in 1945 became a private hospital, until its incorporation into the National Health Service in the 1960’s. Since 1975 the house has had several owners, but is now owned by The Poltimore House Trust, a registered Charity. We welcome anyone who would like to help bring this historic house back to life as a focal point for communities, business, the arts and wellbeing - please contact us on [email protected]

You can also visit our delightful Cafe and Grounds - see https://www.facebook.com/branchesatpoltimore for more information.

Our next quiz night is on the 23rd October and we hope you can join us for a fun night! With a great range of rounds, in...
01/10/2026

Our next quiz night is on the 23rd October and we hope you can join us for a fun night!

With a great range of rounds, including music rounds there is something for everyone!

Don't miss out on yummy food either with a choice of Chicken, Lamb or Veg Curry from .

Please book online at www.poltimore.org/events

shop has some fabulous and fun treats - don't miss out on these fabulous Honey Infusions!Pure Devon honey, given a deli...
25/09/2026

shop has some fabulous and fun treats - don't miss out on these fabulous Honey Infusions!

Pure Devon honey, given a delicious twist:
🌶️ Hot Honey — mild, medium or very hot! Perfect drizzled over pizza, chicken, or veg, or used as a marinade
🍋 Lemon Honey — bright and zesty, gorgeous in tea, yoghurt or dressings
🍦 Vanilla Honey — smooth and aromatic, perfect for desserts, coffee, or pancakes
Come find your favourite in the farm shop at Branches Café 🐝

The Heritage Open Days weekend is fast approaching. Be sure not to miss out on all the fun at Poltimore House and Ground...
14/09/2026

The Heritage Open Days weekend is fast approaching. Be sure not to miss out on all the fun at Poltimore House and Grounds!

We are so delighted that Claire Barker and Louisa Adjoa Parker will be joining us to share their incredible creativity with us. Don't miss out on their storytelling and poetry workshops!

And the Tudor Dancers will be here to perform their beautiful dances.

Branches Cafe & Farmshop will be offering scrumptious brunches, lunches and teas, as well as lots of irresistable goodies to take home with you.

It is set to be a truly delightful and informative weekend!

Thanks to Devon Community Foundation for supporting this event.

Please join us for our Heritage Open Days celebrations on the 19th and 20th September! You can book all our free events ...
12/09/2026

Please join us for our Heritage Open Days celebrations on the 19th and 20th September! You can book all our free events from - history tours to story telling and poetry reading to creative writing workshops there is something for everyone!

Branches Cafe & Farmshop will be open to so you can get some delicious treats too!

Don't miss out on eating one of these famous and delicious melons grown by Ed and Baxter at Martinsfield Farm being sold...
12/09/2026

Don't miss out on eating one of these famous and delicious melons grown by Ed and Baxter at Martinsfield Farm being sold at Branches Cafe & Farmshop!

Poltimore House Trust is delighted to welcome to our celebration. Don't miss this chance to hear the history of Poltim...
11/09/2026

Poltimore House Trust is delighted to welcome to our celebration. Don't miss this chance to hear the history of Poltimore House and join in imagining its future!

Louisa Adjoa Parker is a writer and poet of English and Ghanaian heritage who lives in the Southwest. She tells stories of landscape and marginalised voices - her own and others. She has published four poetry collections and is working with on her memoir. Louisa performs at all sorts of venues and literary festivals, delivering writing workshops to thousands of participants from a diverse range of backgrounds.

Louisa's workshop will include poetry readings and creative writing, to help us imagine the future for Poltimore House and its wildlife Grounds.

Suitable for all the family.
No dogs in the marquee please.

Huge congratulations to this talented going lady who won our flower pot competition for the five and under category! Tha...
10/09/2026

Huge congratulations to this talented going lady who won our flower pot competition for the five and under category!

Thank you again to Steve McCracken Art for doing the judging!

As part of our celebrationson the 19th and 20th September is joining us to read her wonderful new story 'The Tale of P...
10/09/2026

As part of our celebrationson the 19th and 20th September is joining us to read her wonderful new story 'The Tale of Poltimore House'. We are so exited that she has written this new interpretation of the history of Poltimore House and Grounds!

Be sure to come and be one of the first people to hear this fabulous story on the 19th September at 12:00 read by the brilliant Claire who is renowned for not just her writing but the beautiful way she brings her stories to life when she reads! We can't wait to see her work her magic on 'The Tale of Poltimore House' on Saturday and we do hope you will join us!

You can book your free ticket on our website: poltimore.org/events/

Our next quiz night is happening soon! It's always great fun and a lovely way to meet new people too!Join us on the 18th...
10/09/2026

Our next quiz night is happening soon! It's always great fun and a lovely way to meet new people too!

Join us on the 18th September - doors open at 18:30 and the quiz starts at 19.30

You can pre-order either Beef or Vegetarian Lasagne (it's DELICIOUS) for £9.95
Quiz Tickets are £5
Max 6 people per team

There are cash Prizes
1st Prize - £25
2nd Prize - £20
3rd Prize - £15

Book your tickets on our website - we look forward to you joining us!

✨ What if the walls of Poltimore House could talk? ✨This Heritage Open Days weekend, please come and hear our stories br...
09/09/2026

✨ What if the walls of Poltimore House could talk? ✨

This Heritage Open Days weekend, please come and hear our stories brought to life by award-winning author and storyteller .Barker who has written us the terrific "Tale of Poltimore House" and you can be the first to hear it! 📖🌳

Join us on Saturday 19 September at midday for The Tale of Poltimore House — to enjoy this tale of a magical journey through 400 years of history, mystery and surprises, perfect for all ages.

There will also be Historical Tours lead by Janette Greenslade straight from Poltimore's very own House Archive and accompanied by our history timeline in the tent. Janette has been working with Poltimore House for 15 years - if there's anything you've wanted to know, now's the time to ask! She'll be taking small groups around the Grounds with stories to tell about all the different parts of the Estate.

Everyone on the tours will be given one of our brand new beautifully-illustrated maps

will also be open for yummy treats, you can also pick up some famous melons grown and endorsed by

Don't miss out!

📅 19 & 20 September 2026 | 10am–4pm
🎟️ FREE • Book via our website www.poltimore.org

Come for the history. Stay for the stories.

Address

Poltimore House
Exeter
EX40AU

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 3:30pm
Wednesday 10am - 3:30pm
Thursday 10am - 3:30pm
Friday 10am - 3:30pm
Saturday 10am - 3:30pm
Sunday 10am - 3:30pm

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