What are the 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

Poltimore House and Grounds

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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 year

s 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.

02/09/2026

Our Fabulois Flower Pot competition is being judged this Saturday! Please don’t miss out and make sure your completed flower pots are returned to us!

01/09/2026

Arson suspects to be prosecuted!

In an announcement of great significance for the entire heritage sector in England, the Crown Prosecution Service has reversed its decision not to prosecute the two youths arrested for the arson attack on Poltimore House in 2024.

The previous CPS decision meant that the suspects would face no consequences for their appalling actions, placing historic buildings across the country at risk of similar attacks. Now they will face Court proceedings.

We are most grateful to all those who offered their expertise and support, and to David Reed MP for backing our appeal.

Meanwhile, Poltimore House Trust continues to make steady progress in protecting the historically and architecturally significant structure that remains after the fire, as well as building an exciting new future for Poltimore House and Grounds.

Historic England East Devon District Council Branches Cafe & Farmshop

17/08/2026

Please join us for our fun animal trail around our beautiful grounds! It's a simple and fun way to explore and learn with your children!

Here is how it works:

🔍 Grab a picture list from Branches Café
🚶 Explore the grounds and hunt for hidden creatures
📖 Every child gets a book at the end of the trail!
💷 Just £2.50 — buy online or at the café till
Don't worry if you don't spot every single one — you still get your gift, and half the fun is in the hunt! 🦊🦉🐿️

Pop into Branches Café to pick up your trail sheet and get started 🗺️

15/08/2026

This week we've been welcoming children of all ages to Poltimore House and Grounds, thanks to a generous grant from Devon Community Foundation. It was wonderful to hear their ideas for the future of Poltimore House - we've been truly inspired by all their creative imagining!

Thank you to everyone who participated - we loved having you all.

13/08/2026

Today is our second Story Telling event! The first one was lovely and we are so excited to see what this group of young people come up with for the future of Poltimore House and Grounds!

If you have missed out then you have one last chance to participate tomorrow!!

📅 Fri 14 Aug — ages 11-14
🕙 10am–2pm

We do hope you can join us!

12/08/2026

Amazing news, The Poltimore House Trust is getting paid in easyfundraising’s £2 million Donation Day!

You can raise free donations every time you shop online with – it’s such a simple way to make a difference.
Want to get involved? Sign up for free and turn your online shopping at over 8,000 retailers into donations for our cause, at no extra cost to you!

Plus, sign up today and Poltimore House Trust could also win a massive £5,000 donation:
https://join.easyfundraising.org.uk/the-poltimore-house-trust/qdzioq/dds/tzanbMkd/DSA6C/textcopy/

11/08/2026

We are so excited about our Flower Pot Competition!! We can't wait to see all your designs!

Here is how it works:

🪴 Take a flower pot home, design & colour it
📅 Return it to Branches Café by 5th September 2026
🍦 Free ice cream for every entry returned
👀 Judged by local artist Steve McCracken
🏆 On display in our Autumn Café Display until 30th September
💷 Entry fee: just £1
Once judging's done, collect your pot after 30th September — use it to grow a plant, give as a gift, or start a fairy garden! 🧚‍♀️🌱

Pick up your pot from Branches Café and let your imagination run wild 🌈

10/08/2026

Today is our first Story Telling event and we are so excited to see what our young imaginers come up with the future of Poltimore House and Grounds!

We will be sharing their ideas with you all and look forward to hearing what you all think too!

If you have missed out on today then we have two more chances to attend -

Thu 13 Aug — ages 9-11
📅 Fri 14 Aug — ages 11-14
🕙 10am–2pm |

We hope that you will join us!

09/08/2026

Join us tonight for a fabulous live performance by the hugely talented Sarah Yeo for our second Lazy Sunday Live Music session with a fabulous country and western, folk music set. If you love your music, then make sure you join us outside Branches cafe from 1.00 – 3.00 and kick back and enjoy! As well as our delicious beverages and homemade cake, why not treat yourself to a delicious lunch too. If the weather proves tricky, don’t worry we’ve got that covered with an indoor option.

What’s more – its free! However, any donations on the day will be very welcome and all proceeds will go towards the Poltimore House Trust. If you’re a local musician and want to be part of our music programme, we’d love to hear from you – please email [email protected]

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

Website

http://www.poltimore.org/

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