Honeylands

Honeylands was a children's healthcare institution in Exeter, Devon, whose name was associated with several successive forms of child welfare and medical provision. The site originated as a private house and was converted into a children's pulmonary tuberculosis sanatorium after Violet Wills of Torquay purchased and donated it to Exeter City Council in 1923. The facility opened to patients in May 1924. Its initial purpose was to care for children with tuberculosis, although it also admitted children recovering from scarlet fever and diphtheria. The institution changed as public-health conditions changed. The decline of tuberculosis following the widespread use of antibiotics reduced demand for dedicated tuberculosis sanatorium care. Honeylands continued to accommodate children recuperating from illness, but increasingly developed services for children with learning difficulties and other disabling or complex conditions. In 1945, a child welfare centre was established on the grounds, with ante-natal and post-natal clinics. Honeylands entered the National Health Service in 1948 and became part of the Exeter Special Hospital Management Committee alongside other specialist facilities in the area, including Whipton Hospital and the City Tuberculosis Dispensary. During the 1960s and 1970s, Honeylands became a broader centre for residential care, education and family support. In 1966, the consultant paediatrician worked with Charles and Kay Vranch to establish Vranch House School on the site for the Exeter branch of the Spastics Society. A new Brimblecombe Wing was opened in 1971 by the Duchess of Kent. By 1982, Honeylands had 30 beds, with approximately 15 to 20 typically occupied overnight. Its services included long-term and short-term residential care, respite provision, community support, baby and preschool play groups, parent and family support groups, clinics and specialised primary care for children with challenging conditions. Around 200 families used the service. Honeylands was frequently cited as an example of effective management and coordinated support for children with learning difficulties. It ultimately ceased operating as a healthcare facility in 2012. Vranch House School continued to operate from another part of the wider site, but the Honeylands healthcare centre itself is defunct. Because Honeylands was an institution rather than a commercial consumer brand, there is no evidence of a conventional product portfolio, listed company structure, commercial website or publicly documented corporate leadership roster.

The Honeylands site had a house before 1711. The property was connected with land belonging to Polsloe Barton, despite being close to Whipton Barton, and changed hands several times. Earlier owners included a doctor, a hide broker and the proprietor of the Devon and Somerset Store in Exeter High Street. A decisive change came in January 1923, when Violet Wills of Torquay bought the house and donated it to Exeter City Council. Her gift was made specifically so that the property could become a sanatorium for children with tuberculosis. Wills also offered to meet the cost of repairs and adaptations, estimated at between £1,000 and £2,000. The facility opened in May 1924 and accepted children suffering from tuberculosis, as well as some children recovering from scarlet fever and diphtheria. Honeylands broadened its public-health role during the following decades. A child welfare centre was added to the grounds in 1945, providing ante-natal and post-natal clinics. The institution joined the National Health Service in 1948. It was administered through the Exeter Special Hospital Management Committee, alongside specialist hospitals and services including Hawkmoor Hospital near Bovey Tracey, Whipton Hospital for adults and the City Tuberculosis Dispensary in central Exeter. The medical rationale for the original sanatorium declined as antibiotics and improved tuberculosis control reduced the prevalence of the disease. Honeylands still supported children recovering from illness, but its principal role increasingly concerned children with learning difficulties and other disabling conditions. The centre developed a mixture of residential, community and family-facing services rather than remaining a narrowly defined infectious-disease hospital. In 1966, Honeylands became associated with the development of specialist education when its consultant paediatrician collaborated with Charles and Kay Vranch to establish Vranch House School on the site for the Exeter branch of the Spastics Society. A further development was the Brimblecombe Wing, opened in 1971 by the Duchess of Kent. These changes reflected the institution's wider shift toward coordinated care, education and support for children with complex needs. By 1982, Honeylands offered 30 beds, although the usual overnight occupancy was approximately 15 to 20 children. Its provision included long-term residential care, short-term respite stays and temporary 'babysitting' support. The centre served about 200 families and also ran baby and preschool play groups, parent and family support groups, clinics and specialised primary care for children presenting challenging conditions. It was repeatedly regarded as an example of good practice in the management of services for children with learning difficulties. The healthcare facility closed in 2012. Vranch House School remained operational in another part of the site, but Honeylands no longer functioned as the children's healthcare centre described in its later history. The available reference material does not establish a successor commercial brand, a separate corporate owner or a current operating entity using the Honeylands name.

• 2012

  Healthcare facility closes

  [1]Honeylandsen.wikipedia.org

  The Honeylands healthcare facility ceased operations, while Vranch House School continued elsewhere on the site.

• 1982

  Expanded residential and family services documented

  [1]Honeylandsen.wikipedia.org

  Honeylands offered 30 beds, respite and long-term care, community services and family support to approximately 200 families.

• 1971

  Brimblecombe Wing opens

  [1]Honeylandsen.wikipedia.org

  The Brimblecombe Wing was opened by the Duchess of Kent, expanding the site's facilities.

• 1966

  Vranch House School established on the site

  [1]Honeylandsen.wikipedia.org

  The consultant paediatrician worked with Charles and Kay Vranch to establish Vranch House School for the Exeter branch of the Spastics Society.

• 1948

  Joined the National Health Service

  [1]Honeylandsen.wikipedia.org

  Honeylands entered the NHS and became part of the Exeter Special Hospital Management Committee.

• 1945

  Child welfare centre added

  [1]Honeylandsen.wikipedia.org

  A child welfare centre with ante-natal and post-natal clinics was built on the grounds.

• 1924

  Sanatorium opens

  [1]Honeylandsen.wikipedia.org

  Honeylands opened in May as a children's tuberculosis sanatorium and also treated some children with scarlet fever and diphtheria.

• 1923

  Violet Wills donates the property for a children's sanatorium

  [1]Honeylandsen.wikipedia.org

  Violet Wills purchased Honeylands and gave it to Exeter City Council for conversion into a sanatorium for children with tuberculosis, also offering to fund repairs and adaptations.

• 1711

  Earlier house recorded on the site

  [1]Honeylandsen.wikipedia.org

  The property had a house by 1711 and was connected with land associated with Polsloe Barton.

A specialist children's healthcare and support centre that evolved from tuberculosis sanatorium care into integrated residential, respite, educational and community services for children with learning difficulties and complex support needs.

• Children's pulmonary healthcare · 1924

  Tuberculosis sanatorium care

  Honeylands was founded to provide residential sanatorium treatment for children with pulmonary tuberculosis. In its early years it also accepted children recovering from scarlet fever and diphtheria. This role became less central as antibiotics and improved disease control reduced tuberculosis prevalence.

• Specialist children's care

  Residential and respite care

  In its later period, Honeylands provided residential services for children with learning difficulties and other disabling or complex conditions. Provision included long-term placements, short respite stays and temporary care intended to support families.

• Child welfare and community healthcare · 1945

  Community and family support services

  The centre offered clinics, specialised primary care, baby and preschool play groups, and support groups for parents and families. These services complemented residential care and extended Honeylands' role into community-based support.

1. 1Honeylandsen.wikipedia.org