We know disappointingly little about the history of Parkhill. It is clearly an important site on its ridge above the Hems valley, and there is an ancient cobbled courtyard to the rear. Around the middle of the 19th century, the layout of the grounds was changed, which affected the village centre.
At this time, the house was ‘gentrified’ by the addition of a Georgian wing at the east end, the grounds were enclosed by walls, and a new drive constructed with gateposts, which involved building a small bridge over the lane below. It is probable that the walled garden was built at this time, which involved blocking off the lane which had previously led from the sharp right hand turn near Marloes across towards the workhouse above Parkhill.
The occupant according to the Trade Directories of 1850 was one Henry Weston Esq, so he may have been the author of the changes; or it may have been the Harrises, who were living there in the 1851 Census, and continued to live there for many years. We have been unable to prove so far any family connection between Henry Weston and the Rector, the Rev Stephen Weston (1784 – 1823.) The map of 1858 clearly shows the dotted line of the new drive looping around the grounds, and crossing the new bridge over the lane, with what is presumably a carriage turning space in front of the house. Although there is a ‘back entrance’ higher up the lane, it is very difficult to turn left back towards the village from it.
The Pole-Carew family lived there for some years in the early 20th century; their son was killed in WW1.
It was empty for a time in the 1930s, and village children remember getting in and sliding down the banisters.
The Grant family lived there for many years. Paddy and Janet Grant used to open their lovely gardens in the summer, and sell cream teas in aid of the church bells. Four of these photos are of the event in ?1993.
The house was divided in half in 2000. At the time of writing (October 2016), the last of the Grants, Paddy and Janet, have just died.
