The history of the Hundred House Hotel Cornwall
The Hundred House Hotel's original building dates back to the 1790s when it was known as Berruppa Farm, one of the largest households in the area.
An
advert from 1845 shows Berruppa being owned by Mr William Peter Kempe, Esq.,
of Truro, who at the time was trying to re-lease the farm and 20 acres of
land for another 7 or 14 years. The lease included the main building which
was used as a public inn or hostelry known as 'The Kempe Arms', and it was
also the Court House for the monthly petty sessions of the Hundred of South
Powder.* For those interested in more details, the exact 1845 advert was...
'Desirable Public House and Farm to let for 7 or 14 years from Michaelmas next, all that well accustomed roadside inn and public house known by name of The Kempe Arms, situate at Highlanes in the parish of Ruanlanihorne, and now in the occupation of Mr John Johns. The above premises (at which a magistrates meeting is held monthly and tax and other public meetings at different periods of the year) are commodious, with a walled garden, coach house, stable, brewhouse and other conveniences attached and well adapted for carrying on an improving business. The farm consists of 20 acres of good arable and pasture surrounding the above premises, in the usual course of cropping with barn, piggery and convenient outhouses. Immediate possession may be had if required, on taking the crops on the ground and brewing utensils at valuation.'**
Almost 20 years later, a report of the Royal Cornwall Gazzette from 11th March 1864, proves that the property was still used as a Court House and that it was still in the ownership of Mr Kempe. However, the report was not about any lease transaction but was referring to the details of a serious accident which took place here:
'On Monday an accident of a most alarming nature occurred in the Petty Sessions Court, Ruan Highlanes. During the progress of business the court being crowded with nearly 200 persons, the flooring gave away and the crowd were precipitated into the cellar beneath, a depth of about 8 feet, the only portion of the floor retaining its position being that on which the magistrates were sitting and which was railed off from the remainder. The confusion and the screaming was terrific, the majority of the unfortunate being women who uttered piercing cries for help. Strenuous efforts were made to allay the confusion and to induce the people to remain quiet but many of the weaker persons were nevertheless trampled upon and severely injured. By the assistance of Supt. Complin, the people were eventually extracted through a door from the cellar to the road. Fortunately the accident was unaccompanied by very serious injury though many people were cut and bruised, their faces being covered with blood and their clothes torn to shreds. Amongst others Mr Blewett, farmer, St-Anthony-in-Roseland, was very badly cut about the head and face. The son of Mr Nichols, the occupier of the house, had a very narrow escape having only left the cellar the moment before the floor fell in. It was stated Mr Kempe of Truro the owner of the property had pillars placed in the cellar to support the floor, but as there were none there on Monday, some enquiry will probably be made on the subject. After the people had been extricated and the excitement had been allayed the court was adjourned to the School Room at Veryan.' ***
By studying the Kelly's Directory, we found that around 1870, the house and approximately five acres were sold to Dr Thomas Webb Fryer, a Naval Surgeon originating from Gloucestershire, who must have been impressed by the handsome building as he lived here for the rest of his life together with his wife, Fanny and ten children: Thomas (the eldest son born in 1859), Emilia and Alice (twins, born in 1861), Arthur (born in 1866), Nellie (born in1869), Rosa and Herbert (twins born in the house in 1872), Edith, Eva and Gilbert (also born in the house in 1876, 1879 and 1883). Dr Fryer evidently changed the property for residential use, renaming Berrupa Farm and Kempe Arms as 'Sea View House'. During his time, the building underwent many improvements such as the impressive Victorian staircase carved from mahogany brought from the Caribbean. He was a respected figure of the area, appearing in the above noted Directory, as: 'Fryer Thomas Webb M.R.C.S. Eng. surgeon and medical officer Veryan district, Truro union and Admiralty surgeon and agent.'**** The Fryer family were the first to have used the Hundred House primarily as a home and they also inhabited it for the longest period of time, respectively almost four decades.
Post 1902, Dr Fryer rented or sold the main house, retiring to the cottage at the rear. Sea View House became occupied by Mr Richard Richards and then by Mr George Salmon who renamed the house after Dr Fryer's death in 1914, calling it 'The Kopje.'
Just after World War I, 'The Kopje' was sold twice more. In 1926 it became the property of Mr William Edwin Straw who gave the house its present name. After his death in 1944, Hundred House or Ruan House, was sold in 1946 to William Berkeley Scott, a squash champion from London, and only three years later to the Norton family, hoteliers from Exmouth. Although the Nortons did not run The Hundred House as a full board hotel, they set the basis of a guest house which they had to sell in 1953 at auction. Until 1969 when the two adjacent fields (one of which is our neighbouring nursery) were sold separately from the main building, the hotel still had the title deeds for the surrounding five acres. Almost 40 years later and after several more changes in ownership, The Hundred House is an established country house hotel, which still retains its bygone era's charming feel.
*A 'hundred' is an old county division dating from mediaeval times, which included 100 families; the mediaeval 'Hundred Houses' were designated buildings where the courts were held for the administration of the tithes. However, as our Hundred House is of a later date, it is assumed that the good size and position of the building was the reason behind its secondary purpose.
**Extracted from Ruan Lanihorne Parish Recalled from Records, Writings and Hearsay collected by Judith Redley.
***Extracted from Ruan Lanihorne Parish Recalled from Records, Writings and Hearsay collected by Judith Redley.
****Kelly's Directory, 1902.