South Hams District Council has helped reconnect three generations of a family from Australia with their ancestral home at Follaton House in Totnes.
Follaton House, the home of the District Council where it delivers services for communities across the South Hams, also provides offices for Devon County Council, Citizens Advice South Hams, Totnes Jobcentre and South Devon National Landscape, amongst others, and has a history dating back to the Domesday Book of 1086.
Over the centuries, the property has passed through different ownership and served a variety of purposes, from a private country estate to a hospital during the First World War.
For more than 130 years, the house belonged to the Cary family before being sold in 1918 when the family moved to France, taking many of the property’s furnishings and artworks with them.
Recently, the District Council welcomed descendants of the family to the site after they travelled from Australia to learn more about Follaton House and its past.
Nicholas Stanley-Cary, whose grandparents once lived at the house, visited alongside his children and grandchildren for a tour of the building led by council staff. During their visit, they learned more about the history of the estate and how the house continues to serve the community today.
Cllr Dan Thomas, Leader of South Hams District Council, said: “It was a real pleasure for us to welcome Nicholas and his family to Follaton House to help them reconnect with an important part of their family history.
“Follaton House is far more than a building, it is a place which has been a part of the history of the South Hams over a number of centuries. It was fantastic for us to share this history while also showing how it continues to serve local people today.”
Speaking about the visit, Nicholas Stanley-Cary, said: “I’m so grateful, it’s fantastic. I had no idea we were going to get such a reception, so much history, insight and a wonderful tour. I think it will have left a lasting impression on all of us.”
The visit reflects the Council’s commitment to recognise and celebrate the rich heritage of the South Hams, helping people connect with places that hold both personal and historical significance. While the Stanley-Cary family now live thousands of miles away, Follaton House remains an important link to their family story.
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