Rolleston, 12/14/16 Cupar Road

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This house was built in the early 1870s by local builder James Brown. Although now three separate houses, in its early days it was a substantial dwelling, owned for many years by the Walker family. Harry Walker had Westwood (now St Serf’s home) built, and various members of his extended and clearly well-to-do family lived in Rolleston. It was known then as Woodburn Villa or Hillpark. It was given the name Rolleston around 1928.

Rolleston in World War II

In the early years of World War II Rolleston was unoccupied, and along with some other properties in Newport in similar circumstance, it was requisitioned by the government. These requisitioned properties could be used for various purposes. Rolleston was soon occupied by evacuees from Edinburgh. Most of the evacuees however were eventually found homes with local families, and Rolleston then became a hostel for Land Girls. After the war Rolleston was split in three parts.