Connoisseurs concerned with the entertainments of this blog, such as yourself, would no doubt have come across mention of Sheplegh Court, for it was a popular location for photographers of the nude. But did you know why? A gem of architecture in as wonderful a setting as Nature could devise, Sheplegh Court was a residential country club for naturists.
The delightful Lee Sothern in the grounds of Sheplegh Court. Taken in the early 60s. Glass plate negative.There are records of a property occupying the site since 326AD. The Ridgeway family built the present house in 1837, and in 1944 it became the headquarters of General Eisenhower during rehearsals in Start Bay for the D-day landings. It was the venue for a famous planning meeting between Eisenhower, Churchill, De Gaulle and Montgomery. Not long after the war in 1946, it opened to the public as Britain’s first naturist hotel.
Naturism was mandatory in the grounds outdoors. Most of the internal staff, however, wore clothes. They were mainly village folk from nearby Blackawton. It regrettably closed its doors in 1987. The house and outbuildings have now been converted to provide approximately 15 flats within the seclusion of 30 acres of garden, woods and parkland.
I plan to do some more research and will hopefully post a longer article about the venue in the future. If anyone has some info or pictures, please get in touch.
Hi I was lucky enough to live there with my first wife and my in laws back in the 1980s It was a beautiful place to live and we met some very interesting and lovely people there.
Nice to see recent info about Sheplegh – although I never visited the resort.
I did however meet residents down at the north end of Slapton Sands.
I was also a close friend of the daughter of the landlady at the George Inn in Blackawton [many decades ago !!]
Another coincidence – in the 1990s we lived about ten houses along the road in Yarmouth IW from my favourite Sunbathing model Pamela Green !!
Stayed there On Easter weekend in 1984 lovely naturist hotel and facilities
Have a brochure on the naturist Hotel from 1984
I would love to see a copy of that. Any chance you could send me a scan?
Hi
We’re moving into one of the apartments in Sheplegh Court soon and I’d love a copy of the 1984 Brochure if it’s still available…
Many thanks
Robin
I’m sending you some bits I have via wetransfer.com Enjoy
Only just seen your reply will dig it out and copy it for you
Thanks
Google sheplegh court naturist hotel a you tube vid will come up that has the brochure I’m it
Thanks. I’ll take a look