History
The History of Southbroom House 1501-1980
Southbroom is first mentioned in 1227 and was probably then part of a broom-clad area, which seems still traceable in 1360, when a cottage stood called “super Southbroom”.
The first known owner of Southbroom House was John Drew (or Trew), a wealthy Clothier from Devon. When John Drew occupied the Estate in 1501 it consisted of the House, a dovehouse, small park, orchards, and gardens. A small pond was thought to have existed on the state at that time although this was not shown in later records. This could have some connection with Drews Pond, which is on the outskirts of Devizes.
The estate passed to John Drew’s grandson who was also called John. Then he died in 1614, the estate passed to his son, Robert. For some unknown reason Sir Charles Lloyd burnt down the house in 1645. Robert died in the fire leaving the Dovehouse, etc., to his widow Elizabeth. Their son, John Drew, died soon are inheriting the estate leaving the remaining property to his widow who, in 1664, married Sir Henry Andrews, 1st Baronet, of Lathbury.
The bulk of the estate stayed in the Drew family until 1680 when it was bought by John Eyles, a London merchant, who eventually became Lord Mayor of London in 1726.
In 1773, a new house was built on the original site by Edward Eyles, with imported Bath labour. A fire occurred in the new building in 1779 but did not destroy the whole house. The property descended to Edward’s daughter Maria who married George Heathcoate of London. Maria was born on June 12, 1706, she married in 1724, and died in 1792. She is buried in St John’s Church cemetery in Devizes. George Heathcote became Lord Mayor of London in 1742.
Interestingly, Devizes School, which now occupies Southbroom House, is organised into four houses one of which is called Heathcote House. The house was named after the Heathcote family, and Maria Heathcote's ghost is said to haunt it.
George and Maria’s son Josiah Eyles Heathcote died in 1811 and the estate was sold in 1812 to William Salmon. The park (then 22 acres) was by this time encircled by trees and rare plants and adorned by ‘romantic' walls. The whole estate while in the possession of William Salmon amounted to 269 acres (1.09 km2).
William was succeeded by W. W. Salmon, who left the town in 1828. Then or later the whole estate was sold to George Watson-Taylor of Erlestoke. Some accounts say that his son Simon Watson-Taylor was the occupier in 1880 but other accounts say that it was owned by Robert Parry Nisbet (died 1882) who owned the estate in 1841, and is referenced to live there on the occasion of his marriage in 1847. His crest is on one of the two lodges, the other of which was demolished in 1968.
In 1913 and 1914, R. H. Caird owned the property. He left the town and sold the estate, which then consisted of the house, a private golf course, a park with a small maze, and rare trees and plants to Sir Horace Westropp McMahon). The next owners of the house were Wiltshire County Council, who bought it in 1926. They were succeeded by Wiltshire Council in 2009. After many alterations, the house is now part of Devizes School.
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