William Buller Heberden born in 1838 was a high-ranking inland revenue official and a cousin of Boer War general Redvers Buller. Serving as a magistrate, he was also involved in the governance of the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital and the West of England Institute for the Blind together with acting as a churchwarden at St David's, his local church. Educated at Christ Church, Oxford, and son of the vicar of Broadhembury, he was awarded the Commander of the Bath for his government service. Mr Heberden purchased Elmfield House in 1897 and lived there until his death in 1922 at the age of eighty-three.

Patron of many local clubs and societies, he was particularly involved in local cricket with both the city and county clubs. His association with football continued after the demise of Exeter United in 1902 when he was invited to become an office holder by St David's football club, members of the Exeter and District Junior League and opponents of St Sidwell's United predecessors to Exeter City.

His former residence became the Imperial Hotel in 1923, a few months after Mr Heberden's death. It was opened as a Wetherspoons' pub in 1996 and quickly became a favoured pre-match venue for home and visiting supporters alike.