Earlier Houses: There was at least one earlier house on, or near, the site of the current house.

House & Family History: During World War II the house used by the City of Plymouth as a maternity hospital, a purpose it continued to serve until 1958. In 1961 Flete House was converted into a retirement community by the Country Houses Association; after their 2003 bankruptcy, the house was sold to Audley Court Ltd., who continue to operate Flete House as a retirement home.

Garden & Outbuildings: T.E. Laurence (Laurence of Arabia) helped Russell Page design the waterfall garden in the 1920s. The Flete Estate remains privately owned; cottages on the estate can be booked for holidays ([email protected]), including Efford House, which was famously used as Barton Cottage in the 1995 production of "Sense and Sensibility."

John Bernard (J.B.) Burke, published under the title of A Visitation of the Seats and Arms of the Noblemen and Gentlemen of Great Britain and Ireland, among other titles: 2.S. Vol. II, p. 102, 1855.

Country Life: XXXVIII, 680 plan, 1915.

House Listed: Grade I

Park Listed: Not Listed

Past Seat / Home of: SEATED AT EARLIER HOUSES: Damarell family, 11th century. SEATED AT CURRENT HOUSE: Sir Charles Hele, 17th century; Hele family here until 1716. John Crocker Bulteel, until 1843. Henry Bingham Mildmay, 19th century; Francis Bingham Mildmay, 1st Baron Mildmay of Flete, until 1947.

Current Ownership Type: Corporation

Primary Current Ownership Use: Retirement Home

Ownership Details: Owned by Audley Court Ltd.

House Open to Public: No

Phone: 01752-830-308

Fax: 01752-830-309

Website: https://www.audleyvillages.co.uk/

Historic Houses Member: No