Oldstone: the story of a Ruined Mansion

Oldstone: the story of a Ruined Mansion
By Ursula Dimes

“As a descendant of the last family to live at Oldstone before the fire of 1895, I have felt inspired to gather together what information I could as to the history and lives of the generations who have lived there.” In this booklet, Ursula Dimes charted the long story of this site from the mid 13th century, when it was gifted to Torre Abbey, to the ruins that remain today.
Part of the present farmhouse is thought to have been a courthouse used by the monks of Torre Abbey to administer their extensive lands in Blackawton, but details are scarce until the arrival of the Cholwich family in 1605, who improved the house and gardens in the early 18th century and again in the late 1800’s. Traces of these gardens can still be seen today as can the ha-ha and the follies and the prospect mound. 1839 saw the arrival of the Dimes family and the story is well documented, especially the tragic and mysterious drowning of Laura Dimes in 1884, and the destruction of the house in the fire of 1895.

Published:1993
Format:A5 Paperback (pp 50)
DHRG No:9
ISBN No:None
Price:£3.00