When the soldiers came to town

Staff and volunteers at Knightshayes near Tiverton are currently researching the role the National Trust property played during the First World War.

Their research will form the basis of an exhibition they’re hoping to hold from mid-July to November next year to mark the 100 year anniversary of the War and the team are keen to hear from anyone who might hold any information that might help them with their project.

It is known that the house was used by the Red Cross as a Voluntary Aid Detachment hospital until 1919, with the entire ground floor equipped to offer treatment and recuperation for military personnel.

During this time the family moved upstairs and lived on the second floor of the house. Lady Alexandra  Amory took up a supervisory role as Matron of the hospital while the rest of the volunteer nurses were recruited from the local community.

Sara Currant, House Manager for Knightshayes said: "It’s been a frustrating few months. We have lots of fragment of information that we’ve been trying to piece together, but we really are becoming master detectives as we’ve no idea what happened to the bulk of the hospital records after the war.

"We’ve got a little information about some of the soldiers that stayed here, and the staff that looked after them, but are struggling to find out much more about their lives."

One of the few sources the property holds is an autograph book which once belonged to a Nurse La Riche who was believed to have lived in Lyndhurt, near Tiverton.

Over 92 of the soldiers who stayed at the VAD hospital contributed to her book with paintings and little poems – some light hearted, some more sombre.

If you have any stories about Knightshayes and the people who passed through its doors during World War One, please contact the property on 01884 254665 or by email at knightshayes@nationaltrust.org.uk.