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A Grade II listed landmark property constructed in 1872 reputedly for the first American Ambassador to be based in England. The design was probably copied from a similar property overlooking Lake Lugano and is a fine example of the Florentine Style of architecture.
During the 1920s George Bernard Shaw was a regular summer visitor to the Hydropathic Hotel above Meadfoot Beach and is known to have visited the property in the company of Mr (later Sir) Basil Cameron, conductor of the Municipal Orchestra.

From 1920 Harry and the family were listed as living at Haytor View ,Osborne Mews, Vane Hill Road. His two youngest daughters were born there in 1921 and 1923. Harry was listed as being a conductor of a motorbus and then a booking clerk at a motor garage on the certificates. They remained there until c 1928.

The listing record for the property states 'the house is built of cut and dressed limestone walls with courses of both yellow Minster Stone and Red Sandstone, together with areas of red brick on the side and rear elevations. There are string courses and panels of moulded tiles in floral designs. Throughout there are many features and points of architectural style, which combine to make this one of the most interesting and unusual houses in Torquay.'
The house is also mentioned in the highly regarded book 'The Buildings of England' by Pevsner where he states that the property is 'unusual in having applied terracotta ornament.'
We believe the family may have been residing in the mews.

THE BIRD'S HOUSE OCCUPANCY IN DEVON

1921/27
Haytor View, Osborne Mews Vane Hill Road
Harry Bird aged 41 yrs - Booking Clerk
Gertrude aged 37, Dorothy aged 28, Thora aged 13, Lillian aged 12 ,Norman aged 10, Florence aged 9, Ronald aged 7, Ross aged 5, Thalia aged 4, Iris aged 2 and Joy a baby

1928/31
Newholm, Warberry Road West

1931 - 1945
Adyar, St Mary Church Road Mrs N Bird

1933/35
Adyar ,St Mary Church Road

1936/38
Adyar, St Mary Church Road Harry Bird, Dorothy Bird, Gertrude Bird, Pansy Bird
And Norman Bird
1937 - 1939
16, Third Ave Daison Heights Norman Bird

1939
Adyar, St Mary Church Road

1939 - 1947
Esdaile, Ash Hill Road Harry Bird

1941
Adyar, St Mary Church Road
Esdaile, Ashill Road

1946
Esdaile, Ash Hill Road

1946/48 Two persons (not Bird)
102 Chatto Road ( for Thalia - rented? )

1947 ( Possibly bought during the war )
Little Meadow, Widecombe

1948
66 Forest Road John Healey

1951
200 Teignmouth Road Mrs Bird with John Healey
Maidencombe House Ronald Bird

There were several different people registered as living in Esdaile over 10 years
1928/9 - Edward Jobson
1931 - George Dowdell
1933/6 - Albert Instone
1937/38 Henry Crabtree, Winifred Crabtree, Gladys Branch, Vera Westcott.
1939 - Harry Bird

The Property had letting rooms and during WW2 was fully occupied including displaced families
Some of the present Bird grandchildren were born at this address



With thanks to Pauline Childs for doing this research at Torquay Library

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