Trust History

The lady and her legacy

Dame Hannah Rogers had a passion for working with children over 220 years ago and her legacy lives on today, providing education and care for young people with profound physical disabilities from right across the UK. 

Eighteenth Century

Sir John Rogers, a Member of Parliament for Plymouth, and his wife Dame Hannah Rogers lived in the West Country for many years. Their family home, Blachford, still stands on the outskirts of Ivybridge, looking out over the picturesque Dartmoor National Park.

In 1766 Dame Hannah Rogers died, leaving a legacy of £10,000 to set up a trust fund for the education of `poor and unfortunate children in Devon and Cornwall`. In 1787 her wish was granted when a master and mistress were employed to teach up to 45 children ranging from 8 to 18 years of age.

Nineteenth Century

1n 1887, Lord Blachford, a descendant of Dame Hannah Rogers, presented to the Trust, the land on which the old school stood. It was here orphaned girls were taught and trained in subjects such as domestic service right up until the end of the First World War.

Twentieth Century

In 1925, after a great deal of modernisation, the school building was equipped as an Orthopaedic Hospital School - the first of its kind in the South West. From here the real developments in the Trust`s history began. As other organisations in the region began to offer similar provision the Trustees sought to answer a greater need and in 1949 the Trust pushed the boundaries further and welcomed 27 children with Cerebral Palsy. This time Dame Hannah Rogers Trust was not just a pioneer in the South West - but one of only 4 schools in England to be offering this kind of education and care.

In 1956, not satisfied that they were answering the greater need, the Trustees again sought to expand their work and with the help of the Round Table in Devon raised an incredible £26,000 to expand the school and reach out to more children. A new school for 50 children and students with physical disabilities was built - the first of its kind in the whole country!

Today, Dame Hannah Rogers Trust continues to make history. In 2006 a state of the art respite care unit was opened to provide care and support to profoundly disabled young people and their families and carers.