Flete House, Ivybridge, Devon

david28078, on August 7, 2007, said:

I was born in here! The Nazi's had destroyed my "home town" of Plymouth so you could say my Mother was outsourced here in December 1951.

The movie Sense and Sensibility was filmed here (Hugh Grant version)

I now live in Huntersville, North Carolina and here is my website

Lake Norman Website Design

patheadon, on June 25, 2008, said:

Hello David

I was also born at Flete House (in 1945). I have been trying to trace my birth mother as I was adobted at 6weeks old. I am having a problem locating the records for Flete House during its time as a maternity home. Have you got any pointers as to where I may look next?

I now live in Northumberland, UK (the other end of the country from Plymouth!)

Hope you may be able to help.

Kind regards.

Pat Headon (birth name BARTLETT)

david28078, on June 25, 2008, said:

Hi Pat - Why not try the town of Ivybridge or maybe Yealmpton. My birth certificate says Holbeton which is a village really nearby

I'd be interested too!

David

lodzinski, on November 29, 2008, said:

Hi! I was born at Flete also in 1949. On my birth certificate it says Yealmpton in the county of Devon, and the registration district is Plympton. I live in western Canada.

Tara

david28078, on November 30, 2008, said:

Hiya Tara - 1951 here and my birth certificate says Holbeton but Flete House NOW falls under Ivybridge jurisdiction - I went there in September this year.

It's so small there that I suppose they keep moving it around!

I notice they are now selling two bedroom flats for a million American $$$$s

David

lodzinski, on November 30, 2008, said:

Hi David,

When I am asked for my town of birth, I never know what to answer: Yealmpton, Ivybridge?? What would you say? How nice that you went to see Flete Manor. When I was little my mom told me I was born in a castle! I was mildly disappointed to find that it was only a "stately home"! I hope more people who were born there will see this and leave a message. Cheers, Tara

david28078, on December 1, 2008, said:

Hi!

I say Ivybridge - it's between Plymouth and Torquay on the coast.

It was actually built as a castle way back when

Holbeton is so small (pop 50 or something) Ivybridge is about 30,000 +

Best

David

lodzinski, on December 1, 2008, said:

Thanks. By the way, did you know that somewhere around the 70s Flete House was nearly demolished? I have a tiny newspaper clipping from that time and it's entitled: A Stately Home May Vanish. It reads: Flete House, a stately home 11 miles from Plymouth, and for centuries the Devonshire seat of the Mildmay family, is threatened with demolition. It was used as a hospital for some years but was handed back to the owner, Mrs. Helen Mildmay White. She says taxation and wages to estate employees have made it necessary to demolish the house.

Thank goodness that didn't happen!

Tara

david28078, on December 2, 2008, said:

Yes I did! There is a pub up the road in Yealmpton called The Mildmay Colours

bousefield, on July 14, said:

Hi David, my son was born here in April 1948.my wife and I now live in Canberra Australia.

debiw, on July 23, said:

Hi there, I too was born at Flete House on 28th November 1951 and my birth certificate says Yealmpton, in the district of Plympton, Devon. I went back there in my 20's (about 1972 I guess)whilst on a holiday in Devon. We knocked on the door and an old gentleman let us in. He said it had now been turned into exclusive apartments for the elderly but he would be happy to show us around, which he did. I remember some magnificent paintings on the walls which were wood panelled, and looking down from a minstrel's gallery to see the grand hall which had been turned into a maternity unit after the war. It would be lovely to go back again some day. I now live in Surrey.

pope-pax, on August 4, said:

My father was born at Flete house (1944). We visited the house a couple of times. We all live in Holland now.

Vicki B, on October 4, said:

I was born at Flete on 9th May 1943. My birth certificate reads Registration District Plympton, Sub-district Yealmpton.I lived in Plymouth until 1968 & now live in Brisbane Australia.