Ovapedia search :

George was born at Otterton in 1891 the son of William and Ellen Northcott, William was a blacksmith as his father and grandfather before him. George was educated at King’s School, Ottery St Mary, Devon.  (1) 

At the outbreak of WW1 he joined Royal Navy as an officer in Iron Duke, Jellicoe’s Flagship, under Admiral Lord Beatty, and fought at The Battle of Jutland. (2) 

After war in 1918, he formed a partnership with his sister Lucy’s husband Frederick George Pile starting a building business at Alverstoke, Gosport, Hampshire “Northcott and Pile, Builders”. George headed the Office and admin, Fred did the practical building side. This partnership lasted seven years. 

George then bought machinery etc. from Germany and set up a new business in making wallpaper at Gosport - “Ashley Wallpaper Co.”  He later started Brighter Homes, bought a factory, and opened shops all over England becoming the largest wallpaper manufacturing company in Britain.

He married Ada in 1913, daughter of well to do business manufacturer at Pinhoe, near Exeter (made silks etc.).  The family moved to Alverstoke, Gosport, Hampshire, as business prospered he  bought Berry Lodge, Gosport, a large house in spacious grounds plus adjoining land used as playing fields by Gosport School.  He eventually became a millionaire, and bought the large estate and farms at Nutwell Court, Lympstone, Exmouth, Devon, which he substantially renovated in the 1940’s. (3) 

He then turned his energies to charitable work and made three magnificent “birthday” gifts to the people of Devon as well as numerous smaller ones. 

In 1961 to mark his 70th birthday he gave £500,000 to set up The Northcott Devon Foundation, which distributes help to many smaller charities. 

In 1962 he established The Northcott Devon Medical Foundation. 

In 1963 he founded The Northcott Theatre, on the University Campus at Exeter.  (4) 

He was also a tireless worker for St Loyes’ College, Exeter, where he was the first president. (4) 

In 1953 he bought a piece of land in Otterton and gave it to the village to be used in perpetuity as a playing field.  (5) 

He was awarded the CBE in 1956 and was awarded the Freedom of Gosport for his services to the town. (2) 

When he died at Nutwell Court in August 1963 he left a wife, three sons and a daughter. (2) 

Compiled  © Roz Hickman  2008 

From 

1. Otterton Parish Registers. 

2. The Times 

3. Notes by his niece Verena May Bendall with the kind permission of her family 

4. Exeter Express and Echo 

5. Otterton Parish Council Minutes   

OT-B-00003 biography any