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Simcoe House

Budleigh Salterton is an unspoilt seaside town, where the River Otter meets the sea.
Until 1894 Budleigh Salterton was part of the parish of East Budleigh, originally a far bigger village than Budleigh Salterton.

The name ‘Salterton’ means the town of the salters who worked the saltpans on the estuary in ancient times. The main approach to Budleigh Salterton from East Budleigh was along an ancient trackway leading down to what is now Fore Street Hill.
Budleigh Salterton and Simcoe House has another claim to fame as it was also the summer residence of General John Graves Simcoe (1752-1806) who in 1794 became the First Governor General of Upper Canada.

As commanding officer of the Queen’s Rangers regiment he fought for the British during the War of Independence. But Americans have a particular reason to be grateful to the general even though he was on the opposing side.

During the battle of Brandywine in 1777, one order from Simcoe changed the course of history, when he told his soldiers not to shoot three fleeing Americans in the back. It is said that one of those Americans was George Washington, first President of the United States.

Guests are welcomed with tea and cakes. Served on the terrace in summer to take in the stunning sea views or in front of a log fire in the large guests' sitting room in winter. There are stunning views from wide windows in the big inviting sitting room, so find a book and settle by the fire. Bedrooms, sunny and lovely, have good art, fresh flowers and fabulous vistas; the newest is in the coach house, open-plan, restful and reached via an outside spiral stair. Enjoy the garden with its subtropical palms and the terrace with its rooftop views. A charming home with wonderful owners, in strolling distance from beach and town.