Ryde Social Heritage Group research the social history of the citizens of Ryde, Isle of Wight. Documenting their lives, businesses and burial transcriptions.
RYDE SOCIAL HERITAGE GROUP
Based at Ryde Cemetery Heritage & Learning Centre. Preserving, documenting and promoting the social history of Ryde on the Isle of Wight.
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Ryde Architecture

Puckpool House North Front

PUCKPOOL HOUSE (Springvale)

From the date stone on the east elevation it would appear that the farmhouse was possibly rebuilt in 1714 for Richard Rogers of Gosport, Hampshire, who held the land, and in 1720 it was sold to David Boyes, of Appley, near Ryde.  He was imprisoned about 1730 and in 1732 the Appley estate, together with Puckpool was sold to John Roberts.

Puckpool House South Front

The estate had many owners, and in 1822 it was in the hands of Lewis Wyatt, an architect, who had a large extension built on the north-east end of the farmhouse.  For a period the house was called Cliff Cottage, but by 1830 it was referred to as Puckpool in the maps.  It would appear that Wyatt had further additions made to the house in 1839, he also had fountains installed in the garden.  Following his death in 1853 the freehold estate, consisting of  some 30 acres was put up for auction.

The next occupier was Mr Josiah Spode, of the famous Spode China family, he used Puckpool House as a holiday home.

In 1861 the house and estate were purchased by the War Department and at the northern end of the estate Puckpool Battery was constructed by the shore.  The Battery was finished by 1865 and the house and estate was rented out to a Mr. Vincent.  In January 1878, the War Department sold the house and estate to Major-General the Hon. S. J. Gough-Calthorpe of the nearby estate of Woodlands Vale.

Puckpool House was rented out to a succession of people, including Mrs. Preston & family,  Mr Edward Carter & family, Mr Alfred Joseph Pazolt and then Col. Arthur C. T. Veasey, who served in the Boar War, later joining the Hampshire Regt. and served in the 1st World War.

In 1923 Puckpool House and grounds were put up for sale and purchased by Major Hewitt, it then had several owners, 1929 Thomas J. Cannon, and 1935 Captain Sir Peter Macdonald.

In 1937 the estate was sold to Seaton Holiday Camp (Devon) Ltd., a subsidiary of Warner’s Holiday Camps.  They spent £60,000 erecting Puckpool Holiday Camp, which was opened to the public in June 1939.

Sources: RSHG Archive, Notes by Roy Brinton, The Fashionable List, IW & Hampshire Newspapers
Images: Roy Brinton Collection
Article: Ann Barrett