NORTH BOVEY,
DARTMOOR NATIONAL PARK,
DEVON, TQ13 8RE
William Henry Smith (later to become WH Smith and Viscount Hambleden) purchased 5,000 acres of land, and his son, Frederick, later built a lavish Neo-Elizabethan Manor House for the family’s country retreats.
During the First World War, the Manor House became a convalescent home for officers and a military hospital when war broke out again in 1939.
After Lord Hambleden’s death, the estate was put up for auction and sold to The Great Western Railway for conversion to a golfing hotel for £15,000 (this is the equivelant to just over £772,000 in today’s money!)
The hotel and golf course opened in 1930 and entertained many celebrities. Another 17 bedrooms, a cocktail bar, dining room and squash and badminton courts were added.
The hotel changed owners in 1991, when considerable expansion took place and the golf course became a top priority, shortly becoming one of England’s finest courses.
The Manor House became Bovey Castle and achieved its five-star status in 2004, with the addition of the 22 estate lodges, a second restaurant, spa and pool.
In June 2014, the award-winning Eden Hotel Collection purchased Bovey Castle as part of their portfolio of luxury UK hotels, embarking on a multi-million refurbishment.
Since then Bovey Castle has won a multitude of awards, and is now recognised as one of the most outstanding hotels in the British Isles.
Eden Hotel Collection is part of Rigby Group (RG) plc.
Bovey Castle Property Limited is a company registered in England and Wales with Company Number 09552863.
Registered office address: c/o Eden Hotel Collection, Bridgeway House, Bridgeway, Stratford upon Avon, Warwickshire, CV37 6YX
VAT Number: 806641241
