A splendid estate could once be seen on the approach to Weymouth town centre. 

People walking down Wyke Road go past the Devenish bungalows on their way to town.

However, the streetscape has changed over the last 70 years.

The whole of the site east of the Rodwell Trail was occupied by a splendid estate known as Springfield, which continued round the corner as far as the Rodwell House Hotel.

Springfield was built in 1879 for John Hoppus Devenish, Head of Devenish, the local brewery company.

He died in 1898 and was described as “a gentleman who did works of charity in a most unostentatious manner.”

His widow died in 1916 and the property was inherited by her son, John Herbert Clark Devenish and his two sisters. He had married in 1910 and was already living in the property.

Devenish was a paternalistic employer and was a magistrate, county councillor, a member of the Army Volunteers and served as churchwarden at Holy Trinity Church.

He often arranged for his lorries to take Sunday School pupils to the site of their annual treat. He inherited his ethos of public service from his father.

Dorset Echo: A gathering of Springfield employees in the 1930s. Major Devenish is seen sitting in the middle of the photo, wearing a bow tieA gathering of Springfield employees in the 1930s. Major Devenish is seen sitting in the middle of the photo, wearing a bow tie (Image: NQ)

Springfield was occupied by the Army in the Second World War and suffered some minor damage. John Devenish was unable to return to live there and took up residence in the Old Castle Hotel and the Royal Hotel.

He died in 1956 aged 86 and left no heir so the residue of his estate was in trust and as a result the Devenish Bungalows were built on part of the site and others were built later in Bincleaves and Belle Vue Roads.

He had hoped that Springfield could be used as a residential home but this proved impractical because of its high ceilings and heating costs.

Dorset Echo: The long gone Springfield Estate in Weymouth The long gone Springfield Estate in Weymouth

The estate was developed from 1964 as Portwey Close and Springfield remained intact until 1972 when it was demolished. One of the few tangible reminders is the lodge on Rodwell Road with its gates clearly showing the name “Springfield.”

For many years the gardens of Springfield were used for the Holy Trinity Annual fete.

This use continued after his death and I can remember going to the gardens when a pupil at Holy Trinity School in 1957 and 1958 and looking through the windows and thinking how nice it would be to live there.