History - The Modern Landscape

For sixty years after Powys House was built, the landscape remained largely unchanged. However, the 1880s brought a sudden "pulse" of planting that forever closed the famous sea views. Why did the owners choose to sacrifice their panorama for a wall of trees?

1. The Death of the View: The Railway Influence

The primary driver for change was the arrival of the railway in 1874. The new station sat only 300 yards north of the property, transforming the adjacent lane (now Station Road) from a quiet farm track into a busy thoroughfare for visitors and carriages.

The desire for privacy became the new priority. This need for screening was compounded by several factors:

• Population Boom: Between 1801 and 1880, Sidmouth’s population surged from 1,252 to over 4,000—a 300% increase.

• Urban Expansion: New villas and All Saints Church (built in 1837) began to encroach on the once-isolated estate.

• Obstructions: By this time, new developments along the shoreline had likely already started to block the original clear view of the sea.

2. The 1880s: The Victorian "Screening" Phase

When the Kennet-Dawson family moved in around 1881, they initiated a massive planting program using the popular ornamental species of the era.

The survey reveals a strategic layout of "screening" trees:

• Monterey Pines: Seven were planted in each of the three corners of the estate, with a cluster of four remaining dominant today at 25 meters tall.

• Holm Oaks: A string of thirteen evergreen Holm Oaks was added; these were highly favored in the Victorian era for their tolerance to salty marine conditions and their dense year-round foliage.

• Specimen Trees: A Western Red Cedar, a Black Pine, and a Cedar of Lebanon were placed on the lawn to enhance the estate’s prestige.

3. The 1950s: The Horticultural Legacy

A second surge of planting occurred after 1955, driven by the vision of Mrs. Evelyn Campbell Watson. Following her husband's death in 1952, Evelyn dedicated herself to the grounds.

As the President of the Sid Valley Horticultural Society, she hosted the annual flower show and fete at Powys House for nearly three decades. Her contribution moved the garden beyond mere "screening" into a true botanical collection.

The Campbell Watson Collection:

• The Boundary: She reinforced the Station Road border with Yew, Holm Oak, and Norway Maple.

• The "Exotics": She introduced rare species including Sweetgum, Black Tupelo, Japanese Zelkova, and Aleppo Pine.

• The Loop: She planted a magnificent collection of 11 Western Red Cedars in the center of the area now known as "the loop".

4. Conclusion: A Multi-Layered History

The nature surveys of 2025—recording fungi, flowers, and tree girths—have acted as a key to unlock a much larger story. We have traced the land from the post-Ice Age wildwood and Medieval monastic farming to the Regency wealthy elite and finally to the horticultural passion of the 20th century.

The beauty of Powys House today is a living document of how social, economic, and personal histories are written into the soil.