Winsford Cottage Hospital

Beaworthy, Devon

Overview

Designed by the esteemed architect C.F.A. Voysey, Winsford Cottage Hospital has been lovingly restored and is now a Landmark for six guests.

  • Dogs AllowedDogs Allowed
  • CotCot
  • Mobile signalMobile signal
  • Fire or StoveFire or Stove
  • Open SpaceOpen Space
  • Parking AvailableParking Available
  • BathBath
  • DishwasherDishwasher
  • MicrowaveMicrowave
  • ShowerShower

Beds 2 Single 1 Twin 1 Double

Sleeps
6
4 nights from
£656 equivalent to £27.33 per person, per night

An extraordinary cottage hospital

Winsford Cottage Hospital served the community for nearly a century and tells the story of health provision in the 20th century. From the treatment of wounded soldiers from the Front during the First World War, to the creation of District Nurses, the development of maternity units and the establishment of the NHS in 1948, Winsford Cottage Hospital served the community for most of the 20th century and was a place that inspired love through its quality of care.


Designed by architect C. F. A. Voysey

Winsford Cottage Hospital is a Grade II* listed, unique example of an unaltered, purpose-built Victorian cottage hospital. It was designed by the brilliant Arts & Crafts architect C.F.A. Voysey, who is widely regarded as one of the finest architects of the Arts & Crafts movement. Voysey designed many buildings, including his own family home The Orchard in Chorleywood, though Winsford Cottage Hospital was the only hospital in his portfolio.

Voysey's meticulous floor plan specified the function of every room, with the wards for men and women facing the sunny, south-facing garden, and the children's ward with its view of the steam trains passing the nearby junction. Every detail was planned with great care - from the architectural motifs of hearts, birds and trees, to perfectly detailed window fittings and door furniture.

- Read Dixe Wills' Guardian review of his stay at Winsford Cottage Hospital.

The restoration of Winsford Cottage Hospital was supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players.

 All original Voysey drawings used on these pages are copyright to RIBA Collections.

Drone footage

Floor plan

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Map & local info

One of the joys of holidays can be sampling local food and drink delicacies. Champions of UK food suppliers Big Barn are mapping out many of the best farm shops, butchers, greengrocers, markets and other outlets in an interactive – and ever-growing – food-map of our nations. To discover and source produce local to Winsford Cottage Hospital, explore their website bigbarn.co.uk.

The towns surrounding Winsford Cottage Hospital are overflowing with memorable activities and experiences for individuals, couples and families of all ages. 

For nature lovers, Halsdon Nature Reserve is a wildlife-packed woodland only a short drive away from Winsford Cottage Hospital. Close by, RHS Garden Rosemoor offers an attractive display of planting, nestled in the Devon valley, while Dartmoor National Park is a vast moorland with ponies that wander across the undulating landscape. 

Fancy taking your bike to explore the local area? Take the Halwill cycle route.

A little beyond the doorstep of Winsford is the beautiful coastline of North Cornwall. Tintagel Castle, Speke’s Mill Mouth Waterfall and Bude's sandy beaches all feature along this coast. Further up the coast in North Devon is the historic fishing village of Clovelly. 

If you’re staying with little ones, The Milky Way adventure park in Bideford is packed with fun and friendly activities. Alternatively, for a more relaxing activity, Lower and Upper Tamar Lake offers opportunities for fishing, while Torridge is scattered with museums, including the Burton Art Gallery and Museum for those interested in learning more about the local area.#

To find some of the best places to eat, take a look at the Where to eat in Devon. We have teamed up with The Good Food Guide to offer Landmarker's 6 months membership for £1, providing exclusive benefits and rewards at many of the restaurants listed. Ts&Cs apply.

Discover local walks for dogs with our friends at Walkiees.co.uk, the dog walks community.

Clear directions

There are two other museums, Holsworthy Museum and the Museum of Dartmoor Life at Okehampton. Okehampton also has a castle and lots of antiques shops.

Moretonhampstead has a craft collective and gallery, Green Hill Arts which is one of Devon's most prominent Art Galleries.

For a truly local arts and crafts experience, visit the Dartington Crystal company, based in Torrington. Factory tours allow you to watch the skilled craftsmen at work, while a café offers a light lunch and cakes, made from local West Country produce.

Essential info
What you need to know about this building
  • Yes. You are welcome to bring up to two dogs. A charge of £20 per stay is made for each dog.

    Please contact booking enquiries if you have an assistance dog, for which there is no charge.
  • From the main road.
  • The nearest railway station is Crediton at 28 miles or Plymouth and Exeter which are both around 36 miles from the property.
  • There is parking for three cars reserved specifically for Landmark guests, there is also a number of spaces for those using the community areas.
  • The building is heated by a biomass boiler and there are open fires in the sitting and dining rooms.
  • Unfortunately, there is currently no arrangement for the purchase and delivery of logs, however details of local sources will be provided with your order confirmation.
  • Rosemary from our Bookings team visited Winsford Cottage Hospital in February 2023 and found that there was 4G on EE inside the property. To check up-to-date mobile network coverage in the area, visit signalchecker.co.uk. Due to the location and structure of many of our buildings, signal strength may differ to those indicated.
     
  • The majority of properties do not offer WiFi but many now have mobile coverage. Facilities in some properties rely on WiFi to function and we are currently piloting guest use of WiFi at a few of our buildings. We are going to extend the pilot across more properties and review customer feedback in 2025.
  • The kitchen is fully equipped with all plates, cutlery, fridge etc. There is also an electric cooker, a dishwasher, freezer and microwave.
  • There are three bathrooms, two with baths and one with a shower.
  • There is a garden.
Staying at a Landmark
  • Some of our Landmarks are suitable for people with disabilities or limited mobility. However, many Landmarks have steep or narrow staircases, uneven floors and thresholds, changes of level, low ceilings or beams, as well as indistinct colours on steps and in corridors. We recommend that you call Booking Enquiries on 01628 825925 if you would like to find out the suitability of a particular Landmark for anyone with a specific disability.  Further information on access when visiting Lundy can also be found here.
  • Yes, Landmarks are only available as self-catering accommodation. We do not offer bed and breakfast.
  • Landmark does not provide catering, but we can recommend Greycoat Lumleys who can arrange for expert and well-trained staff to cater for one evening or for your entire holiday. Their cooks and chefs are able to work with you to meet your specific requirements
  • You may bring up to two dogs to properties where dogs are allowed (please see specific property details for exemptions however dogs are not permitted on Lundy except assistance dogs). They must be kept off the furniture and under proper control. A charge of £20 per stay is made for each dog. Please contact booking enquiries if a registered assistance dog is supporting one of the guests, for which there is no charge.
  • Apart from two dogs (see above) no other pets are permitted.
  • Arrival is from 4pm and departure is by 10am.
  • We do not carry insurance for breakages. However we appreciate that accidents do sometimes happen. If you have a breakage during your stay, please let the housekeeper know and if appropriate we reserve the right to invoice you accordingly.
  • Yes, most of our Landmarks are perfect for children, with gardens to play in and secret places to discover. Our furniture is surprisingly robust and we positively encourage families to stay. However, some of our buildings may not be suitable for small children; for example, some of them have steep or uneven spiral staircases. We recommend that you call the Booking Enquiries team if you would like to find out the suitability of any of our Landmarks for young children.
  • Unfortunately, most of our Landmarks are not licensed for weddings. However, you may get married on Lundy.
  • All our larger Landmarks are perfect for gatherings of family or friends. You may invite an additional two guests to visit you during your stay, however they must not stay overnight. This is very important because our fire regulations specifically note the maximum number of people in any one building. In addition our properties are prepared, furnished and equipped for the number of people specified and greater numbers cause damage and excessive wear and tear to vulnerable buildings. Should this condition be ignored we shall make a retrospective charge per person per day (whether or not they stay overnight) for each guest over the permitted limit, the charge being pro-rated on the total cost of your booking.
  • We deliberately do not provide televisions and find that most people appreciate this.
  • One of the challenges of restoring unloved buildings is gaining access to them. We frequently have to negotiate rights with our neighbours and share tracks with them. In many cases tracks do not belong to us and we have no right to maintain them. Wherever possible we work with our neighbours to provide you with a good quality surface, but where this is a problem then you will be warned at the time of booking.
  • Yes, we have standard electricity sockets for UK appliances. If you are coming from outside the UK, you will need to bring your own adaptor plug(s). If you are visiting one of our European properties we have standard European electricity sockets. If you are visiting from the UK, you will need to bring your own adapter plug (s).
  • Landmark’s electrical systems have not been designed to provide continuous power from one socket over several hours.  If an ordinary socket is used to charge an electric vehicle, there is significant risk of an electrical fire and consequent danger to life.  Therefore, we are unable to allow electric vehicle charging from most of our Landmarks at present.

    We are working to provide Type 2 Electric Vehicle charge points at our properties where there is private parking.  Where this is available, please request this facility when booking the property to ensure the outlet is enabled on your arrival.  There is a small charge to cover the cost of electricity provided.  Please book this facility in advance.
  • No, we do not allow smoking in any Landmark.
Booking and Payment
  • If the weather is bad, please contact our booking office who will be able to tell you whether the Landmark is accessible. If the housekeeper can safely get to the building to prepare it then we consider that it is open and available for guests. However if we cannot undertake a changeover then we will do our utmost to transfer your stay to another Landmark, depending on what we have available. It may not be of a similar size or in the same part of the country as your original booking. If the building is accessible but the customer cannot travel due to poor weather in his/her local area then please be aware that Landmark will not provide a refund. However the customer may be able to claim on his/her own travel insurance. We recommend that all guests take out travel insurance when they first secure a booking.
  • We accept Maestro (if issued in the UK), Visa, MasterCard, direct transfer and sterling cheques drawn on a UK bank. Cheques should be made payable to the Landmark Trust except for Lundy stays and boat/helicopter tickets which should be payable to The Lundy Company Ltd. All payments must be in sterling.
  • The key arrangements will be included in the Further Infomation document which will be sent to you prior to your stay.
  • If your stay starts more than two months from the date you make the booking, you are required to pay a deposit of one third of the cost of your stay (or £100 per booking, if greater) at the time of booking. Camping on Lundy and The Bunk House at Llwyn Celyn must be paid for in full at the time of booking.
  • If you wish to cancel or change your booking, please contact our Booking Office on 01628 825925
  • At the moment we only accept payment in sterling.
  • Our housekeeper will leave the key in a suitable place, the details of which will be sent to you prior to your stay.
  • It depends. Some of our most popular Landmarks are booked up a long time in advance, but many can be booked at short notice. We will always have Landmarks free for the coming weekend so it’s always worth checking our availability list.
  • No, Landmarks are available to be booked for anyone.
  • No, all the information you need can be found on our website, although we’d like you to buy one anyway as it will be a pleasure to own!
Facilities
  • A welcome tray with tea and sugar awaits your arrival and you will find a pint of milk in the fridge. We also provide toilet rolls and a bar of soap per basin, but no other toiletries. Hairdryers are provided.
  • The majority of properties do not offer WiFi but many now have mobile coverage. Facilities in some properties rely on WiFi to function and we are currently piloting guest use of WiFi at a few of our buildings. We are going to extend the pilot across more properties and review customer feedback in 2025.
  • Mobile coverage varies. Some Landmarks have an excellent signal, but others have none at all. You can find those with 4G and 5G signal on our Landmarks with mobile signal page and each building has a link to signal checker in the Essential Information so you can check individual service providers' coverage in the area.
  • Logs are provided at many of our Landmarks for an additional cost.
  • Yes, our kitchens are well equipped with cookers and fridges. There are freezers and dishwashers (in larger buildings) and, where space allows, microwaves as well as a wide and standard range of utensils. A full equipment list is available at time of booking.
  • Sometimes our kitchens and bathrooms have to be imaginatively fitted into the available space in buildings where before there were none, but they are all planned and equipped to a high and modern standard.
  • Yes, Landmarks are fully equipped with sheets and towels. All the beds are fully made up for your arrival. Except for the Llwyn Celyn Bunkhouse.
  • We do not provide Christmas trees or decorations. However, you are welcome to bring your own. We kindly ask that you remove them at the end of your stay.

Do you have other questions?

Our Booking Enquiries team can help with information about each building.

Booking Enquiries
01628 825925
[email protected]

Opening hours
Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm


History

A building that transformed the lives of ordinary people

The advent of the cottage hospital in the 19th century transformed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. One of the very finest was the Winsford Cottage Hospital in Devon.

Built by wealthy philanthropist Maria Medley as a gift to the local community, the services provided by Winsford Cottage Hospital enabled ordinary people to receive affordable medical treatment near to their homes for the first time.

A century before the creation of the National Health Service, the prospects for a farm labourer or shopkeeper, shepherd or weaver, who was injured or unwell, were bleak. Doctors' fees were prohibitively high and the few metropolitan general hospitals were large and often unsanitary places, located in distant cities. For want of proper care, ordinary people often died at home from entirely treatable conditions, prompting wealthy philanthropists, like Mrs Medley, to build miniature health facilities like Winsford, in the heart of their communities.

Designed by the pioneering Arts & Crafts architect Charles Voysey, Winsford opened its doors in 1900 and welcomed thousands of patients over nearly a century of service.

Visitors from across England flocked to see the hospital when it opened, and the Visitors' Book records their reactions. One wrote 'If I am to be ill, please may I be brought here'. Many said how much they would like to live here permanently. 

Voysey webinar

Watch our webinar below ‘Never look at an ugly thing twice' - Charles Francis Annesley Voysey by Alastair Dick-Cleland, Secretary of the CFA Voysey Society and Landmark's Project Development Manager.

A hospital for war heroes

When war came in 1914, Winsford was called into service as a home for the sick and wounded from the Front. They convalesced sitting peacefully on the sunny, south facing verandahs, looking out across a rose garden to the rolling Devon countryside beyond. The building continued to be used as a hospital until 1998; its use spans the creation of District Nurses, the development of maternity units and the establishment of the NHS in 1948.

A short history of Winsford Cottage Hospital

The full history of Winsford Cottage Hospital History

All original Voysey drawings used on these pages are copyright to RIBA Collections.

Download the children's Explorer pack of Winsford Cottage Hospital

Restoration

Voysey's careful design, respected and restored by skilled craftspeople

As part of the restoration of Winsford Cottage Hospital, we have respected all of Voysey’s signature details that have, remarkably, survived.

Now the building is a Landmark for up to six people, with the four rooms in the east wing set aside for local community use.

Read the project updates

The restoration of Winsford Cottage Hospital was supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players.

An extraordinary place to stay

For almost a century, local people crossed the threshold at Winsford to enter the welcoming embrace of its light and airy rooms. Cottage hospitals were intended to inspire 'feelings of rest and homely comfort' among the patients and the focus was on recuperation as much as medical care. As a remarkable place to stay for a holiday, Voysey's endearing little hospital will once again provide comfort and respite, in a slightly different way, for generations to come.

Now, the west and central parts of this long building have been developed into a self-contained Landmark for six people, with only minimal adaptation of Voysey’s carefully-designed spaces. The east wing of five rooms has been kept in low-key community use, in line with local wishes, to include an interpretation space.

We were delighted to receive significant recognition for Winsford Cottage Hospital in the Royal Institute of British Architect’s Regional Awards 2022. Winning the RIBA South West Regional Award and the special RIBA South West Conservation Award.

Beginning at the top

A crucial part of the project was the replacement of the enormous Cornish Delabole slate roof, laid in diminishing courses, which is so characteristic of Voysey's style. Repairs to the roof were tackled in sections. First, our roofing contractors stripped each section of its slates and then sheeted it over, so as to protect the original sarking boards, battens and layer of insulating horse hair beneath. The slates were then assessed for quality and any broken ones discarded.  We used locally-salvaged Delabole slates to match the originals, meaning we can rehang, in diminishing courses, to the original design. Inside the building, we repaired the original lime plaster where it was loose. Some walls in particularly poor condition, were completely re-plastered. Four coats of lime plaster was applied to get a smooth and precise finish. Lime plaster can fail if temperatures drop below five degrees, so heaters and de-humidifiers were used in conditions of especially cold weather.

Conserving the elaborate mosaic floor

Following our first attempt at removing the concrete screed from the mosaic floor, volunteers returned on two further weekends to continue this painstaking work and removed it from the corridor and some of the smaller rooms, where the original mosaic floor remained.  It was an enormous challenge, requiring repetitive chipping, careful scraping and sanding. In some places the screed was several millimetres thick and rubbery in consistency. In others it was a hard, thin, stubborn skin.  We cannot thank our volunteers enough for the work they have done: their contribution has been phenomenal. Once our contractors JE Stacey completed their work to the interior of the building, all the protective covering over the mosaic floor was removed and it was thoroughly cleaned. This allowed us to properly assess how to rebuild the surface, where it was most worn.

The restoration of the original mosaic floors, hidden for so many years beneath layers of NHS lino, was a painstaking and time-consuming task but the end results are definitely well worth the effort. 


Thank you to our supporters

We are hugely grateful to all those who have supported the appeal for Winsford Cottage Hospital, including:

The National Lottery Heritage Fund

Guardians of Winsford Cottage Hospital:
Mrs S Andrew, Mr E Bonham-Carter, Mr H A Burge, Dr C Guettler and Ms J Graham, Mr K Holmes, Mr and Mrs C Hutt, Mr I Lillicrap, Revd J and Revd S Pitkin, Mr S Record, Mr and Mrs M Seale, Ms M Swann and Mr W M Tsutsui, Dr R T Ward, Mrs J Waterman and Mr C Watson

Patrons and other generous individuals:
Professor M Airs, Dr J and Mrs S Barney, Ms M Black, Dr S Conrad, Dr P Corry, Mrs F Fairbairn, Dr R Gurd, Mr D Holberton, Mr R Joye, Mr and Mrs J Knowles, Mrs S Lund, Mr M Power, Mr M Rice, Dr R Schofield, Mr and Mrs J Scott, Mr and Mrs J Seekings, Dr P Strangeway and Mr and Mrs N Vetch

Charitable Trusts and Statutory Grants:
The AALL Foundation, Architectural Heritage Fund, T B H Brunner Charitable Trust, Dennis Curry's Charitable Trust, Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation, The Nerquis Hall Fund, The Norman Family Charitable Trust, Oakley Charitable Trust, The R V & R H Simons Trust, Philip Smith's Charitable Trust, The C F A Voysey Society

Gifts in Wills 
Mr T Bell, Mr M Grange, Mr G Ireland, Mr H Lewis, Mrs J Molyneux, Mr G Ruthen, Mrs J Ryland and Mrs R Stevenson. A gift in memory of Mr P Cobley. 

We thank all who have supported the appeal, including other Guardians, Patrons and trusts who have chosen to remain anonymous.

Thanks to over 1,373 generous supporters who have helped to save this extraordinary place.

Community Wing

The Community Wing at Winsford Cottage Hospital is available for freelance health and wellbeing practitioners to use for regular sessions, and for community groups or small businesses to hire ad-hoc for meetings, creative workshops or talks.

All users of the Community Wing will have shared access to a kitchenette and loo, and wi-fi is available. Access to the museum room can be facilitated alongside your booking too.

Download a booking form

Large Therapy Room and one-to-one room

Winsford Community Wing rooms 600x400.pngLarge Therapy room pictured left, One to one room pictured right.

These two rooms are ideal for health and wellbeing practitioners. The larger space is suitable for practitioners who use a massage/treatment table as part of their practice. The room is furnished with a small table and chairs. We do not provide specialist equipment – users will be required to bring their own. The smaller treatment room is suitable for one-to-one/talking therapy sessions and is furnished with a small table and two chairs.

Approximate room size:

Large Therapy room: 5m x 3.5m

One to one room: 2.5m x 2m

Community/Flexible Use Space

Winsford Community Wing room 600x400.png

This room can be booked hourly, or for half or full day hire - 9am until 5pm. It accommodates 8 people seated around the table or 16 people seated in rows or standing. It is ideal for meetings, creative workshops, or talks.

Approximate room size:

Meeting room: 7m x 3.5m

Price list

Room Price (ex VAT)
 

£10 per hour
£30 half day (4 hours)
£60 per day

Large Therapy room £18 per half day (4 hours)
£30 per day
Small 1:1 treatment room £12 per half day (4 hours)
£20 per day
Exclusive use of all rooms £50 per half day (4 hours)
£100 per full day

How to book

For any enquiries, or to request a booking please complete a booking request form and send it to us via email. [email protected]

Download the booking form

Please read the terms and conditions before requesting a booking.

Museum Room

The Museum Room is available for the public to visit on most Mondays and Fridays between 10.30am and 1.00pm. Please email [email protected] in advance to confirm availability and book your visit. Please provide dates, arrival time and number of people. 

The whole building is open several times a year for free public open days. Please see our open day page for more details.

  Learn more about Winsford Cottage Hospital