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Larkbeare House grounds listed

Martin Redfern

The grounds of Larkbeare House, which front onto the River Exe between Colleton Hill and The Port Royal public house, have been added to Historic England’s National Heritage List for England.

The Grade-II listing in the national Register of Historic Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England is a result of a campaign by Exeter Civic Society, Devon Gardens Trust and others to protect the property after Devon County Council decided to sell the house and grounds to help address its budget shortfalls in October last year.

Larkbeare House Larkbeare House

Larkbeare House was built in 1862 for John Charles Bowring, a noted naturalist, who commissioned James Veitch, a nationally important horticulturist, to design its gardens.

It was sold to Devon County Council in 1875, and has been in use as the Devon Register Office and a meetings and weddings venue since 1971.

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