Bossington Hall

In 1910, Allan Hughes was hunting in the area, and noted that ‘there is always a little bit of sunshine’ at this location. He bought the orchard, mill, maltings and barn from the Clarke family who still live next door. Converting the barn into a small home using the top story stone from the mill, he built the front main part of the house for him and his family using local contractors (still working today – the cooksleys) and an architect C.H.B. Quinnell better known for his history books. He used the mill to generate electricity, there being no mains in the area at the time. Technology was relevant it seemed, with electric light and doorbells being installed. In 1923 he extended it to the current size, building two new nursery rooms (day and night, now called Kinsford and Martinhoe bedrooms) for the grandchildren. It remained on Mill electric until the 1930’s when during a big party, the workings overloaded. The ownership passed to his children, one married a high court judge. It remained in the family until 1982 when it was sold at auction to a local property developer who converted it to flats. In the 1990s it was sold again to a German family, the Kappes, who sold it to the current owner in 2016, who converted it back to one big house. The ancillary buildings are no longer part of the estate. An interesting discovery by the current owner during renovation works was insulation made from Kentuky Sea Grass (from the USA) under the floors of the 1923 extension.