Coleton Fishacre

We went to Coleton Fishacre, a National Trust property that was the country home of the D'Oyly Carte family. It is such a beautiful place but such a sad story.

In the 1920s, Rupert and Lady Dorothy D'Oyly Carte were sailing along the South Devon coast. Rupert was the son of Richard D'Oyly Carte, the impresario behind the operettas of Gilbert and Sullivan. They were looking for a country retreat and decided to build here. Once their home was finished, they had 6 years of happiness - until their son was killed in a car crash in Switzerland. They never got over the tragedy and eventually divorced. Their daughter sold the property as soon as she inherited it.

The gardens are magnificent, particularly the rhododendrons and azaleas.