Page 23 - cn - ah national trust society and nature 25-03-24

Coleton Fishacre -Devon

It was whilst Rupert and Lady D’Oyly Carte were sailing along the South Devon coast, that they
discovered a valley that ran down to the sea. This location inspired them to choose the site in order to
build their country retreat. The setting was such that the combe descended steeply down from the
Adjoining farmland to a small secluded cove with views out to the jagged island of Blackstone Rocks.
Soon after Rupert and Lady D’Oly Carte had purchased the estate in 1924, they commissioned the
architect Oswald Milne, a pupil of Edward Lutyens to create their new house. Building started in1926.
The design followed in the Art and Craft style and the stone used to construct the house was quarried
In the valley below the site of the proposed house. The interior was styled in the Art Deco mode which
was fashionable at the time. Set at the end of the Loggia Terrace, the vine –hung Gazebo provides
views over the gardens, out to the sea and jagged outlines of Blackstone Rocks.
Rupert and Lady Dorothy sited the Gazebo in order to take in the vantage point of both house and sea.
The Gazebo was built at the same time as the house and was designed to be a continuation of the Art
and Craft style.
Throughout their time at Coleton Fishacre, Rupert and Lady Dorothy, both being keen gardeners,
planned every detail of the garden with Lady Dorothy continually introducing new species of plants
and trees. The colourful oriental dress design alludes to the connection with the Savoy Hotel business
and the D’Oly Carte Opera company-particularly the opera ‘Mikado’.

View from the Gazebo,
Coleton Fishacre,
Kingswear, Devon.
Oil on canvas 24 1/8 x 301/8 inches