Consultant Plastic Surgeon James McDiarmid spent 13 years restoring this derelict, Grade II* listed Arts and Crafts mansion in Devon, transforming it into Wood MediSpa. He acquired the property in 2008 and began to reconstruct Wood to its former glory after 40 years of neglect, the 116-year-old property now serves as a state-of-the-art surgical clinic. 

Key Details of the Renovation and History: 

  • Property Origin: Built in 1904, the mansion is located on the edge of Dartmoor, set within 30 acres of Grade I listed grounds.
  • Neglect and Restoration: The building was neglected for roughly four decades before Mr McDiarmid began the restoration.
  • Transformation: The project turned the dilapidated property into a fully registered CQC (Care Quality Commission) hospital.
  • Current State: The facility includes a high-tech operating theatre, a dermatology suite, and ongoing, phased development of further areas into recovery rooms for patients.
  • “No Compromise” Ethos: The renovation reflects a philosophy of providing top-tier, specialised care in a tranquil, thoughtfully restored setting. 

Pre-Renovation History 

  • Early 1900s: The original house, designed by architect Dan Gibson with gardens by renowned landscape architect Thomas Mawson, was commissioned by William Lethbridge (one of the founders of WHSmith) as a family home and completed around 1904.
  • 1960s-2000s: The house remained in the Lethbridge family until the 1960s when it was sold due to death duties. It then became a hotel for a period (1971-1981) before being used as a retreat for students and subsequently falling into disrepair and becoming derelict for about 40 years.
  • In 2002 Mr and Mrs Payne bought the property and began attempting to rectify the previous 20 years of neglect but in 2005 sold the estate.
  • 2006-2008: The property was briefly owned by TV personality Noel Edmonds, who realised the immense scale of the restoration project and decided to sell it. 

James McDiarmid’s Renovation (2008-2020) 

The extensive renovation, which lasted around 13 years, involved: 

  • Structural Repairs: This included essential roof and window repairs, treatment of widespread dry rot, and professional asbestos removal.
  • Infrastructure Installation: New central heating and electricity systems were installed to bring the building up to modern hospital standards.
  • Conversion to Clinic: The core of the project was converting the mansion into a CQC-registered private hospital, complete with a custom-designed operating theatre, dermatology suite (featuring advanced laser technology and a dedicated lab), recovery areas, and five in-patient hospital rooms.
  • Preservation of Character: Throughout the meticulous conversion, original architectural features like the panelling, parquet flooring, and plasterwork were retained to maintain the Arts & Crafts character while achieving a luxurious, clinical finish.
  • Garden Restoration: The Grade I-listed gardens, designed by Mawson, were also embraced and restored, contributing to the tranquil setting of the MediSpa on the edge of Dartmoor. 

From 2016, Dr Francesca McDiarmid has been a key figure in the establishment and management of Wood MediSpa alongside her husband, James McDiarmid. While James led the clinical and structural 12-year restoration, Francesca’s contributions are centered on the operational and directorial leadership of the facility. Wood MediSpa gained CQC registration in 2021 and Quad-A accreditation in 2022.

To Present:

The Estates team at Wood MediSpa continue to play a vital role in the facility’s farm-to-table recovery philosophy. Working directly on the 30-acre historic estate, the team manages the formal gardens, parkland, and a specialised kitchen garden to provide fresh, nutrient-dense produce for patient meals. The gardeners work in close collaboration with the culinary team to ensure the patient menu is thoughtfully designed to adapt to the changing seasons, utilising whatever is currently at peak harvest. The team maintains the 30 acres of private grounds to ensure a secluded, tranquil location for post-operative recovery, which is a core part of the unrivalled service promised to patients.  Since the acquisition of the estate by Mr James McDiarmid, the Estates team has been instrumental in the restoration of the listed grounds to their former glory, maintaining the peaceful environment that aids patient recovery.