Woodcote Hall

Woodcote Hall is a nursing home situated on the edge of Newport, Shropshire on the Staffordshire border. HouseIt was until the early 20th century the seat of the Cotes family, and already by 1752 to have been set in well established grounds . Those grounds, and Woodcote Hall, are shown in a fine portrait of John Cotes, M. P. . A park, however, may not have been established until 1808. Hannah Cullwick worked as a kitchen scullion at Woodcote for at least a small period of time around Christmas of 1854. Her sister Ellen is also known to have worked there as a servant. Rebuilt in 1875 by F. P. Cockerell after the 18th century mansion was destroyed by fire. There are remains of the original house at the north-west and south-west sides and there are vestiges of 17th century fabric at the rear, one room contains fireplaces with inscription "T. C. 1767" and stopped and chamfered ceiling beams. 'T. C. ' stands for Thomas Cotes. Also a small stone rubble rear wing with stopped and chamfered ceiling beam and tiebeam roof truss with angle struts. The 1875 rebuild is in a Jacobean /Queen Anne style had brick with stone dressings and tiled roof. Traces of the former house were still discernible c. 1882 . The estate was sold out of the Cotes family to Captain James Foster, who had previously leased the house and lived there many years. The hall continued to be occupied as a private house until after the death of his surviving sister. It was bought for £20, 000 in 1949 for use by the Roman Catholic Congregation of the Sacred Heart Fathers, SCJs as a junior seminary, opening with students moved from outgrown premises in Earl Shilton and 40 new students from elsewhere. The greater part of its student intake were from Southern Ireland until education changes in their country in the 1960s reduced the rolls and caused the seminary to be closed in 1972. The order ran the house as a retreat or recreational centre particularly for youth, until they sold it in 1981. The hall, with its chapel and all outbuildings, was developed into residential flats, a restaurant and a leisure centre but a few years later it was converted into a residential nursing home for old people.

Woodcote Hall is a nursing home situated on the edge of Newport, Shropshire on the Staffordshire border. HouseIt was until the early 20th century the seat of the Cotes family, and already by 1752 to have been set in well established grounds . Those grounds, and Woodcote Hall, are shown in a fine portrait of John Cotes, M. P. . A park, however, may not have been established until 1808. Hannah Cullwick worked as a kitchen scullion at Woodcote for at least a small period of time around Christmas of 1854. Her sister Ellen is also known to have worked there as a servant. Rebuilt in 1875 by F. P. Cockerell after the 18th century mansion was destroyed by fire. There are remains of the original house at the north-west and south-west sides and there are vestiges of 17th century fabric at the rear, one room contains fireplaces with inscription "T. C. 1767" and stopped and chamfered ceiling beams. 'T. C. ' stands for Thomas Cotes. Also a small stone rubble rear wing with stopped and chamfered ceiling beam and tiebeam roof truss with angle struts. The 1875 rebuild is in a Jacobean /Queen Anne style had brick with stone dressings and tiled roof. Traces of the former house were still discernible c. 1882 . The estate was sold out of the Cotes family to Captain James Foster, who had previously leased the house and lived there many years. The hall continued to be occupied as a private house until after the death of his surviving sister. It was bought for £20, 000 in 1949 for use by the Roman Catholic Congregation of the Sacred Heart Fathers, SCJs as a junior seminary, opening with students moved from outgrown premises in Earl Shilton and 40 new students from elsewhere. The greater part of its student intake were from Southern Ireland until education changes in their country in the 1960s reduced the rolls and caused the seminary to be closed in 1972. The order ran the house as a retreat or recreational centre particularly for youth, until they sold it in 1981. The hall, with its chapel and all outbuildings, was developed into residential flats, a restaurant and a leisure centre but a few years later it was converted into a residential nursing home for old people.