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COUNTRY LIFE ® CnovEmbOer 14U, 2012 NTRY LIEvFERY WEEEK How the Duchy changed £3.20 w www.countrylife.co.uk Britain RESTORATION/ARCHITECTURE Architecture and renovation: NOVEMBER 2012 14, 14 how to build your dream house PLUS: Is there a vintage car in your shed? Farewell: Carla Carlisle’s final column We celebrate the Duchy of Cornwall How the Duchy of Cornwall has changed countryside thinking Today, The Prince of Wales is marking an important anniversary: 60 years as The Duke of Cornwall. Paula Lester discovers how he has transformed the Duchy of Cornwall into a thriving organisation reliant as much on the people who work for it and live on the land as on the founding principles of his vision he Prince of WaLes’s passion well-documented support of and passion for for rural life and landscape is well organic farming, traditional architecture and wild- known. What is less commonly cele- life conservation, it’s not surprising that he, brated, however, is his commitment, personally, has helped to boost the Duchy’s Tthrough the Duchy of Cornwall, to regene- income (£18.3 million in 2011–2012) through ration in general. Whether it be the Campaign myriad enterprises, such as the Duchy home farm for Wool, social-housing schemes or encourag- at highgrove, the Duchy Nursery at Lostwithiel ing young people and former offenders to find and the Duchy holiday Cottages. Duchy ori- work, The Prince has created a forward-think- ginals, the organic food business he founded ing, well-oiled machine of its own time. in 1992, as part of a commitment to what he calls Created by edward III in 1337 to provide the a ‘virtuous circle’ of providing natural, high- heir to the throne with an income independent quality organic and premium products, has of the Crown, the Duchy is a private estate that generated £3.5 million for charity since it was funds the public, charitable and private activ- relaunched by Waitrose in september 2010. ities of The Prince of Wales and his family. Many of those we spoke to for this article When elizabeth II ascended to the throne in identified The Prince’s long-term vision as one 1952, Prince Charles—then aged three— of the main strengths of the Duchy, bolstered became the 24th Duke of Cornwall. The by his desire to pass it on in a stronger condi- longest serving of any of the successive Princes tion. ‘across all of our estates, and in all of our of Wales who have inherited the Duchy, Charles business operations, i will continue to try to will today (November 14), on his 64th birthday, ensure that the Duchy makes a real and lasting mark 60 years as Duke of Cornwall. contribution to the communities in which we encompassing more than 131,974 acres across live and work,’ The Prince has said. ‘Diversity 23 counties—mostly in the south-west of is perhaps its greatest strength—and its con- england, including the isles of scilly, but also tinuation is one of the most important things in Gloucestershire and herefordshire—the we can hand on to the next generation.’ estate’s main income derives from the com- Did you know? mercial management of its land and properties. l When The Prince was officially proclaimed The Duchy crest features 15 gold bezants Duke of Cornwall at Launceston Castle in emblazoned on a black shield. although it’s 1973, his feudal dues included a pair of white unclear why the county originally adopted such gloves, gilt spurs, greyhounds, 1lb of pepper a bold emblem, some believe the design springs and cumin, a bow, 100 silver shillings, wood from when the king’s eldest son was captured for his fires and a salmon spear by the saracens during the Crusades. Loyal l The Duchy of Cornwall gave £522,000 to Cornishmen, it is said, helped to raise the ran- charity in the year ended March 31, 2012 som of 15 golden coins, or bezants. The shield l it employs 130 members of staff is thought to commemorate this Prince’s ransom, l There are more than 270 ancient monuments with the legend ‘one and all’ noting a splendid across the Duchy, including the castles at joint effort by Cornishmen to save their Prince. Tintagel, restormel and Launceston. since taking over the estate’s management l some of the oldest parts are the Dart, at the age of 21, The Prince has created a tan- salcombe and Kingsbridge, avon, Tamar, Looe, gible and thriving example of his vision for helford and Camel estuaries, and coastal fore- Andrew Lawson Photographysustainable living. Given his royal highness’s shore around Cornwall and the isles of scilly ➢ 46 Country Life, November 14, 2012 We celebrate the Duchy of Cornwall l The Duke has right of wreck on ships Duchy tenants greatest strength. ‘it’s like a wise old ing to struggling sheep farmers who wrecked on most of the Cornish shores feel that The Duke uncle—it might take time to make deci- could no longer get a decent price for of Cambridge sions, but they’re usually the right ones.’ older ewes The Duchy Home Farm Manager (right) will con- Did you know? ‘Back in the 1980s, organic farming tinue his father’s l The Duchy home farm was con- The ‘starter’ farmers was seen as pretty cranky and The pioneering work verted in 1986 and is a flagship farm ‘When the phonecall came telling us Prince was conscious of the fact that for the organic movement we’d actually got it [the tenancy of many people were against what he l Duchy originals was launched 20 a recently created ‘starter farm’], we was doing. But he said: “if the Duchy years ago and is now run in partner- were terribly excited,’ admits live- can’t afford to try this, who can?”,’ ship with Waitrose—it started with stock farmer Matthew heard. The reveals David Wilson, farm manager the oaten biscuit. There are more 41-year-old, his wife, Christiana, and at highgrove since 1985. than 200 products now and all profits their son and daughter will move into ‘Working for The Prince could not go to The Prince of Wales’s Charit- their newly refurbished farmhouse be anything other than an opportunity,’ able foundation, with more than £10 on the Bradninch estate near Cul- he adds, citing the success of red- million raised to date lompton, Devon, this month after 15 clover pasture as the achievement he’s l Duchy originals makes organic years and 10 attempts to secure their most proud of. ‘representing his views, hair-care products devised by leading first farm tenancy. which i happen to share, is a huge hairdresser Daniel Galvin Jnr ‘Unless you’ve been through the privilege. he says “seeing is believing” l Patron of the rare Breeds survival process, you don’t realise what an and it’s true. farmers judge crops and Trust, The Prince has long advocated achievement it is—tenancies don’t livestock at a glance, so it’s best to the use of breeds such as Tamworth and get handed out at fairs,’ explains Mr come and have a look at what we do.’ Large Black pigs, irish Moiled, Glou- heard, who, having worked as a herds- admitting to still ‘getting a buzz cester, shetland and British White cattle, man, a relief milker and a share from looking at a field of good-looking and hebridean and Cotswold sheep farmer, is looking forward to calling cows or sheep, or a nice, clean wheat or l The home farm runs a successful the shots. ‘There is a lack of oppor- barley blowing in the breeze’, Mr Wilson vegetable-box scheme providing tunity in the UK,’ he attests. ‘a lot of Chris Ison/PA Archive/Press Association Image; Duchy Originals/Waitrose; Nick Turner/Nature Picture Library believes the Duchy’s longevity is its locally sourced produce to more than land is generation owned and agri- 140 families culture is difficult to break into. But l The Prince encourages the growth we’re ready to get stuck in.’ of heritage seeds at home farm to for Matthew’s Texan-born wife, keep the gene pool alive Christiana, the Duchy has been a reve- As patron of the l organic mutton is sent to Calcot lation. ‘i had no idea what it was Rare Breeds Manor hotel, Tetbury, Gloucester- before i moved here—Britain is very Survival Trust, shire, and The ritz, London. The lucky to have something like this,’ The Prince farms Prince launched the Mutton renais- she says. ‘We’re going to be very breeds such as sance campaign, championing meat happy on the farm—we can’t wait to Cotswold sheep from two-year-old sheep, after speak- move in for Christmas.’ www.countrylife.co.uk Did you know? senses in order to engage in learn- The Kingsbridge Did you know? l after leaving university, The Prince ing,’ she elaborates. ‘a classroom estuary at l The Prince has helped to increase spent time working on a sheep farm with an ever-changing ceiling and Salcombe and the Duchy’s capital value—to which on Dartmoor to get first-hand experi- a carpet of leaves is far better than East Portlemouth he has no access—by 30% in the past ence of the difficulties faced by tenants one with four walls—we don’t do in Devon is one of six years chalk and talk.’ the oldest parts The schoolmistress Grateful that the Duchy was will- of the Duchy The vicar ‘i’ve always loved the outdoors, but ing to invest in refurbishing the Mill although neither an employee of the it was my dad who first suggested the Barn on the farm for the school, Duchy nor a tenant, the rev angus farm would be a great place for a Charlotte admits she was surprised aagaard and his thriving south nursery school,’ explains Charlotte by how readily the estate accepted London parish of North Lambeth and Lucas when asked what inspired her the idea.

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