The History of Heath House Conference Centre, Uttoxeter

Delving into the building’s past gives a fascinating insight into the history of the area. There appears to have been a settlement in the area of Uttoxeter since anglo saxon times when it was referred to as Wotocheshede (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uttoxeter) or Wuttuceshǣddre, which we are informed translates as Wuttuc’s homestead on the heath” or “Wot’s homestead on the Heath” http://www.uttoxetertowncouncil.org.uk/local-history  giving the building’s name “Heath House” a fitting and intriguing link to the anglo saxon origins of the town.

Skipping forward in time again, there are a cluster of news reports that make reference to Heath House in Uttoxeter and its residents. These references are confusing and have to be viewed at this stage with a degree of scepticism. If the references are accurate then they imply that Heath House changed hands regularly. This seems unlikely. Where the name Phillips and Philip appear, we are assuming that these references should have been to Heath House in Tean rather than Uttoxeter though this needs to be verified.

In 1865 there is a reference to a gardener working for J.C. Phillips of Heath House in Uttoxeter. The following year, in December 1866, there is a reference to R.B. Wood of Heath House Uttoxeter. In January 1868, only two years later, there is reference to Mary who is said to be the only surviving daughter of the late William Strettou Esq of Heath House Uttoxeter,  and in May 1870, again only a further two years later, there is a marriage announcement for Frederick William Lasbrey of The Heath House, Uttoxeter, to Locisa Jane, second daughter of Thomas Oakley, Esq (The name of the paper for this entry was just about visible and it appears to be the Staffordshire Advertiser – though this requires verification). Confusingly, there is a refernece in 1893 to ‘Mr C. J. Philip’ of ‘The Heath House. Uttoxeter’ (Lichfield Mercury Staffordshire, England 24 Feb 1893). The name is similar enough to the afore mentioned J.C Phillips to be a typographical error or there may in fact have been two owners of a similar name.

Leaping forward in time to 1950, one of its better-known and seemingly well-loved residents of Heath House was Councillor William Clarke. Along with members of his family, Councillor Clarke, was evicted from his home under a compulsory purchase order made by the council. The Heath House of the 1950’s was described in idyllic terms as being a 20 room Georgian mansion surrounded by seven and a half acres of garden.

At the time of the eviction, Heath House was home to not only Councillor Clarke, but also members of his family who included his father in-law Mr William C. Brown, his daughter Mrs Amy Brown and a second daughter Miss Mavis Clarke. According to reports, the family were given 14 days to vacate Heath House.

According to newspaper sources, the compulsory purchase order, made by the council in August 1950, suggests that Heath House was to be used for health and social services. Presumably this is linked to the creation of the welfare-state. A few conversations with local people contradict the reason for the compulsory purchase, suggesting instead that the compulsory purchase was linked to the bypass.

Councillor Clarke’s story appears to be a sad one. It seems that the eviction process started in 1950 and spanned the summer months. Newspaper clippings that we have been fortunate enough to see show councillor Clarke, flanked by two police men, being forcibly removed from Heath House, and another shows him climbing back through one of the bay windows at Heath House in defiance of the order.

There are reports that the eviction was disputed, that the family were not given a fair deal and that police officers were put on ‘special duty’ at the town hall when the council met to discuss the eviction. It appears that the case eventually came before Justice Donovan in the Vacation Court, London.

Having been evicted from Heath House, it is said that Councillor Clarke spent the first few nights in a caravan. He then, according to local people, lived in a red Elke’s double decker bus on the site of Barlow’s scrap yard opposite to where McDonalds is now located.

There are a number of stories about Councillor Clarke’s death. All of them are oral accounts which we have no way of verifying, some saying that he died in a fire or that he was living in an old railway carriage. One suggests that he burnt his leg badly when he fell against a stove whilst he was living in his double decker bus. This source says that he went into hospital following the accident but doesn’t say when or how he died.

If you have information about Councillor Clarke’s life, if you can add to, or correct any of the information that we have been given, or if you or one of your relatives have a memory that you would be happy for us to share then please get in contact so that we can add to his story and the story of Heath House.

In the 1990s, Heath House was sold and the rooms were rented by several different businesses, then in 2005 PBM Inspection Services Ltd purchased Heath House, and after a lot of TLC and redecoration, opened the doors as a training, meeting and conference centre, and also as home to PBM which provides training and consultancy to schools and colleges.