Patron: 
THE WINSFORD TRUST (Charity regn. No. 1079100)
A Community Enterprise using an Holistic Approach to Rural Living
The Winsford Trust came into being when the Northern Devon Health Care Trust decided that the Winsford Cottage Hospital no longer had a place in their plans for health provision in the Torridge area of Devon. The League of Friends, who had been active since 1967 formed a partnership with Age Concern Torridge and set about the daunting task of raising funds to purchase the building. The hospital closed for business in August 1998, was put on the open market in spring 1999 and the Winsford Trust completed purchase in December 1999. The building was re-opened as a Community Centre in April 2000 after a complete cleaning and re-painting operation carried out by an army of volunteers and supporters.
Mrs Louisa Webb-Medley originally commissioned the hospital in memory of her husband George, a prominent family in the area in the late 1800s. The architect was C.F.A. Voysey, an important member of the arts and crafts movement and contemporary of William Morris and Lutyens. Winsford has a Grade II* status and is the only building of its kind in the country still in public ownership.
The management structure is made up completely of local residents, members of Parish and Local Councils, previous League of Friends members and volunteers with a passion for the project. The Trust has been able to achieve much over the past two years in spite of being closed for most of 2001 due to the proximity of the Centre in relation to the Foot and Mouth outbreak.
In 2006 the Winsford Trust was nominated for the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Award for Volunteering “Unsung Heroes” and following a visit to a Garden Party at the Palace in July the Lord Lieutenant of Devon, Eric Dancer CBE JP came to Winsford on the 8th August to make the presentation. During 2006 there were 103 successful nominations throughout the UK but only one success in Devon – Winsford – a fitting tribute to the hard work of all the Volunteers.
Maria Louisa (Molly) Medley, born 1840, was the daughter of Henry C. Selous, a distinguished artist and illustrator of Victorian children’s books. Among other things he received the commission to paint the Opening of the Crystal Palace Exhibition 1851. Maria married George Webb Medley in early 18880’s and did not have children of her own. Her husband made his money in London and their main residence was in Park Street, off Park Lane, W.1.
They had Winsford Tower, Halwill Junction, built as their country retreat sometime around 1884. It must have been an impressive mansion with lots of rooms lavishly furnished, full of portraits carefully chosen and they would have employed a lot of staff. In the grounds stood cottages for a gardener and a bailiff, a lodge, a boating lake, walled garden, greenhouses as well as a garage designed to match the architecture of the big house. Inside there was a billiard room, study and a grand staircase leading to the tower and numerous guest bedrooms. The Webb Medleys entertained well and would invite guests to travel down to Devon to enjoy cultural weeks involving singing, music and painting. There was also tennis, croquet and boating on offer to guests. In truth, Molly (as she was known to family and friends) took a great interest in art in all forms and was generous in her support. She had many of her father’s paintings hung at Winsford Tower. In particular, she paid for the education of Gerard Leigh Hunt, a distant relative who, as a child showed great promise as an artist. He was one of a large family and so the chance of having financial support to develop his talent was very welcome. As a result at the age of 21 he exhibited at the Royal Academy in London and went on to become a noted portrait painter. He obviously stayed at Winsford Towers on many occasions and painted pictures of the locality. There was also a portfolio of photographs showing the house and grounds in their hey day which gave an insight into the life and times of the Webb Medleys.
In 1898 George Webb Medley died and in his memory, Molly commissioned C F A Voysey, a well known and talented architect and designer, to draw up plans for a hospital to benefit the people living in Halwill and 13 adjacent parishes. She died in 1919 and left the land and hospital with its contents to her nephew, Edward Costin. |
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