Brentmoor House had been an ordinary 17th century farmstead with animal housing and an orchard until it was bought by Francis Meynell in 1855, who expanded it into the status of a mansion for his family to live in after he retired from the East India Company where he also painted images of slavery to actively protest against it. After he died of illness and a series of tragic deaths in the house, it was passed on and became the Hunt masters lodge at the turn of the century. Between the Wars it became a holiday home and one such vacant was William Prichard, a well-known pianist who held musical events for the local children at the grounds of the house. During WW2 it became the site for the evacuation of deaf children. After WW2 it became a successful Youth Hostel until it was shut down by the water company in 1955 (exactly 100 years after Meynell bought it) when the Avon Dam reservoir and its associated treatment works were built. After concluding it was in the water catchment area in case the dam burst (Strangely properties nearby though some more vulnerable were left alone), it was blown-up in 1968 as a Royal Marines exercise. Prior to destruction it had also deteriorated and was in poor repair due to vandalism. The site was later sold by South West Water, and requests to redevelop have been refused by Dartmoor National Park. The site of the house is open to access and is surrounded by the Dartmoor Commons. (Wikimapia)

Boddy Collection