Tavistock Town

2015-2017

Tavistock Town Council Working for the local community A Warm Welcome from Sport and Recreation General Information Nearby Attractions the Town Mayor Local Interest List of Events Acc The Present essibility History

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Contents A Warm Welcome from the Town Mayor

n my role of Mayor it gives me great Close to the town centre is an Welcome Ipleasure to welcome you to the town entertainments venue called The Wharf of Tavistock. which offers a variety of arts, cinema, theatre and live music events. Tavistock is situated on the edge of Dartmoor National Park and is an Tavistock has many historic buildings excellent base for a West Country one of which is the Town Hall. This holiday. We have a diverse range places building, situated on Bedford Square, to stay in and around town. plays host to many community events throughout the year. Adjacent to Bedford Whilst in Tavistock you should take Square is the town Museum which time to look around our superb Pannier houses many exhibits and has a variety Market. Over many years visitors to of specialist displays. our Market have been delighted by the variety of goods on sale. We have Next to the Museum is the Guildhall which recently expanded the experience with the was for some years unoccupied but was addition of stalls on the perimeter of the recently purchased by the Town Council main building. and will be developed for community use.

Tavistock is lucky in that the main Tavistock provides ideal access to shopping streets have maintained a Dartmoor National Park which provides balance between a variety of independent an opportunity to walk, cycle, horse specialist shops and national outlets. ride or simply stop and admire the ever When a short rest from the shopping changing views it has to offer. experience is required we have a range of cafés and restaurants offering a wide When in the town you are in the place choice, with something for everyone. known as ‘The Gateway to and West Mining World Heritage Sites’. The Meadows is the largest recreation area in the town and is situated between the The Town Council is very proud of our Canal and the River Tavy. This extensive town and what it has to offer both visitors area offers the opportunity to sit and relax and locals. As Mayor of the town I do whilst for the younger visitor we offer a play hope you enjoy what we have to offer. I park with many of its pieces of equipment also hope you remember Tavistock as being upgraded during 2015. a great place to visit and that you will be back to see us again soon. Nearby we have a swimming facility, namely Meadowlands Leisure Pool. Councillor Harry Smith Mayor of Tavistock

4 Tavistock Townwww.tavistock.gov.uk Hall 3 Accessibility History

A30 It was around 800AD that an Iron was reputed to be a huge man History Location Dartmoor National Park Age fort, recorded as Tavy-stoc who was still alive in 1066 when Tavistock stands in the heart of A38 (“stockade settlement by the he held the manor of Lamerton, an area of tremendous natural Tavy”), and known as The Trendle, among others. Tavistock manor beauty. It is the Western Gateway to was erected on the hill to the went to the Church in 981AD. A Dartmoor and the Eastern Gateway north-east of the present town. It stone coffin, or container for re- to Cornwall. The was probably inhabited up to but burial, was dug up in the Abbey follows Devon’s western The Town not beyond the Roman period. By Cloister near the corner of Plymouth boundary and is the heart of The Town is a linear town following about 920AD the settlement had Road and Abbey Place, and was the Tamar Valley, an Area of the route of the River Tavy. The become a Saxon hamlet under the found to contain the bones of a Outstanding Natural Beauty. lush valleys surrounding the administrative district of Lifton. The massive man thought to have been Access town have given rise to fame and present town developed around Ordulf, grandson of Ordgar. They the Benedictine Abbey founded have been re-interred in the Parish Easily reached from the A30 fortune for the town with it now here in the 10th Century. It is Church, and an inscribed slab and A38 trunk roads into Devon, being renowned for fine produce believed work on the Abbey started marks the spot. Dedicated to St Tavistock sits on the North South and markets. Tavistock was voted in 974AD and that it took seven Mary and St Rumon the Abbey was bisecting road, the A386, which Best Market Town in 2004, the years to build as 981AD is the date large enough to contain 1,000 men. connects Plymouth in the South West Country’s Best Food Town in of the Charter from King Ethelred It is interesting to note that a monk with Barnstaple in North Devon. 2006 and Devon’s Best Farmers when the Abbey was known to be here was the first printer in Devon, There are 4 buses an hour into Market in 2006. Tavistock is a ‘Fair in existence. The founder of the with one of the earliest known Plymouth, and regular services into Trade town’ with many outlets and Abbey was Ordulf, son of Ordgar presses in outside London the surrounding villages. There is specialised local traders providing who had been the set up in this Abbey. Sailing up the a bus that connects Tavistock with quality individual products. and who died in 971AD. Ordulf died Tamar and then travelling overland, Dartmoor, going via Shopping in the wide range of local in 1010AD. Ordulf’s son, also Ordulf, the Vikings raided Tavistock and to Yelverton and returning along and specialist shops in Tavistock is the same route. In the Summer a pleasant change from the usual months the Sunday Rover ticket chain store High Street. allows travel around and over the Moor all day on different types of The Area transport for one very reasonable price. Plymouth provides Tavistock Apart from Tavistock’s own beauty with its nearest mainline train and charm it is also a centre for station which not only links to exploring the jewels of the South the rest of the country, but also West. Within one and a half hours provides a link to Bere Alston or travel one has an abundance of to pick up the Tamar National Trust properties and the Valley rail line, one of the prettiest Garden House, Paignton Zoo and branch lines in the country. The the world renowned Eden Project. line follows the Tamar valley and With all this and plenty more on crosses the Tamar at over offer Tavistock is the ideal place to an impressive viaduct. base your holiday.

Abbey Ruins in the Churchyard 6 www.tavistock.gov.uk 5 in 997 they razed the Abbey to the to become Sir Francis Drake. He ground. Abbot Lyfing, who died in left home to become apprenticed 1027, was able to rebuild the Abbey on a ship trading in the Channel and and bring it even greater prosperity in 1567 Drake and Hawkins sailed than before. Under the influence out of Plymouth on a slave-trading History of the Abbey the town prospered voyage to the West Indies, and and spread. After the dissolution first tangled with the Spaniards. By of the Monasteries by Henry VIII in 1588 when he helped the Lord High 1539 its lands and revenues were Admiral of England to defeat the granted to John Russell, first Earl Spanish Armada, as immortalised of Bedford, whose descendants by that famous game of bowls on became the Dukes of Bedford. Plymouth Hoe, he had been knighted Tavistock, which had received by for his services to the its Market Charter from Henry I Country (and her Treasury). He made in 1105, developed from its wool his home at Buckland Abbey close trade, enjoying a dispensation to to Tavistock. On Plymouth Road manufacture woollen cloths known is Edgar Boehm’s Statue of Drake, as Tavistock Kersies. The wool erected by the 9th Duke of Bedford in trade flourished for many years, and 1883. Around its granite pedestal are the town prospered from its weekly bas reliefs depicting scenes from the markets, being the centre of a large life of Drake – the first Englishman to farming district. circumnavigate the world. Although more famous than its Tavistock It also had the distinction of being counterpart, the Statue of Drake on one of the stannary towns where Plymouth Hoe is a copy of the original all the mined metal was weighed, Tavistock model, and does not stamped and assessed for duty. possess these bas reliefs. Drake died From the 12th Century considerable during his West Indies Expedition in quantities of copper were mined and 1594, being buried at sea. after a gradual decline, the mining industry by 1850 was booming in William Browne, the poet, was born this area from the famous Devon in Tavistock. He was educated at Great Consuls Mine, which had Tavistock Grammar School around started in 1844. This was once the 1600. Although his style of poetry richest source of copper in Europe, is now unfashionable, Browne and the relics of old workings are undoubtedly influenced other common, some standing stark and poets, including Milton and Keats. awesome against the sky, some On the exterior wall of the Parish softened by a cloak of ivy, others Church may be seen an inscription lost to the sight of all but the most to this Son of Tavistock; born in determined searcher. Tavistock 1590.

In 1542 Tavistock’s most famous son The year 1626 saw an outbreak was born at a farm at Crowndale just of the Plague in Tavistock, and downstream on the Tavy – he was 600 died. The west country had

8 www.tavistock.gov.uk 7 become Puritan by this time, and Earl of Bedford was created Duke suspicious of the pro-Catholic King of Bedford and the title Marquis of

Charles. The Fourth Earl of Bedford Tavistock was given to the heir. The History was also of Puritan Persuasion, burgesses and freeholders of the and Tavistock was represented at town elected one of their number Parliament by John Pym whose each year to be the “Portreeve”, the portrait hangs in the Town Hall highest local government office. and who played a large part in The title comes from the Anglo- the drawing up of the Petition of Saxon “Port” (for Market Town) Rights. During the Civil War Devon and “Reeve” (for steward). The was predominantly in support of Fourth Duke of Bedford presented Parliament, and in November 1642 the Town with a matched pair of the Royalist Army from the Duchy of silver maces in 1761, and these are Cornwall captured the town. There carried in procession before the was a great deal of skirmishing Town Mayor at all civic events. around Tavistock, as the Royalists During the French wars of the tried to capture Plymouth. At one 18th and 19th Century Tavistock time the town changed hands three was a “parole-town”, and captured times in a month. French officers were allowed to be billeted in the town and roam within In 1644 King Charles himself came strict limits. Still to be seen on the to Tavistock, and stayed in the house Tavistock to Whitchurch road is the of the Glanvill family in Pym Street. “Honour Oak” which marked the He left after a week having failed to boundary in 1814. subdue Plymouth, and his son later visited in 1645. He immortalised A daily mail coach linked Tavistock the town by declaring in later years with London via Exeter. It arrived whenever anyone mentioned the at the Bedford Hotel at 11am each weather, “if it is raining anywhere morning and left for London at 3pm. in my kingdom it will be raining in At this time there was a Methodist Tavistock”. In 1646 the siege of revival in the west country, and the Plymouth was raised, and Tavistock Industrial Revolution began to affect was finally recaptured by the the town. Mining increased, a canal Parliamentarian New Model Army. to Morwellham was constructed, and in 1859 the Great Western In 1682, partly to try to curb the Railway came. A programme of power of the Bedfords, Charles slum clearance and redevelopment II created Tavistock as an began under the control of the incorporated Borough, with Mayor Seventh Duke of Bedford which left and Corporation. Revoked later by the town much as it is seen today. James II, this was the first attempt at some form of self-government for the residents. Later that century the

www.tavistock.gov.uk 9 The Present 13th Century foundation work of the John Wyse, a master clothworker, Abbey church can also be seen to serve as a guild chapel for these there. A tiled pavement originally workers. Its roof has finely carved Tavistock itself is unique for its green scheduled as Ancient Monuments. from that area is on display in the beams and bosses and the timbers stone buildings (“Hurdwick” Stone The most picturesque is the Court parish church. are supported by angels along from a local quarry), which have a Gate, an archway leading from each wall. A few ancient carved More fragments of the great Abbey subtle charm. Many of them were Bedford Square to Guildhall Square. bench ends can still be seen in the can be found in the Police Station built with stone taken from the Abbey The archway houses the Town church, with excellent reproduction

and some of the outer wall and Present The when it was demolished after Museum, displaying many of the alongside. The stone pulpit and the the monks’ Stillhouse – where the Dissolution. town’s Industrial Revolution features brass eagle lectern are also copies and the “Subscription Library” – medicines were distilled – runs The town’s focal point is Bedford of medieval designs. The altar table one of the oldest private libraries in along the bank of the Tavy between Square, flanked by the parish is Elizabethan. The organ is richly Devon. The Arch stands on the site Abbey Bridge and the Meadows. church (St Eustachius) and the Town carved with Saints in niches. of the main entrance to the great The quiet, secluded river path is Hall, built in 1859 as part of the re- courtyard of the Abbey. known as the Abbey Walk. Outstanding among the monuments development carried out by Francis, and memorials in the church is a Inscribed stones preserved in the the Seventh Duke of Bedford, A ruined Gatehouse in the garden handsome tomb with the effigy of Sir Vicarage gardens are much older whose statue stands outside the of the Vicarage in Plymouth Road is John Glanville, Portreeve of Tavistock even than the Abbey, dating from Guildhall, erected in 1848. The re- known as Betsy Grimbal’s Tower – about 1600, Recorder of Plymouth the 5th Century, which are also development was paid for largely the traditional story is that a jealous and Sergeant at Law. He is shown in scheduled as Ancient Monuments. from the huge royalties the Duke was monk or soldier murdered a woman Judge’s Robes resting at the elbow. A Town Trail leaflet is available from receiving from mining operations on called Betsy Grimbal there. His wife is shown kneeling at the side the Tourist Information section in his Estates. of the tomb with their five children A section of the Abbey’s cloister the Post Office, guiding the visitor – now all headless – one of whom Nearby are most of the existing walling still stands in the churchyard around 22 historic locations, and became Speaker of the remains of the Abbey. All are across the road and some of the about 3 miles in length. “Short” Parliament. The Parish Church The Town Hall Dominating the town centre, Tavistock’s beautiful parish church One of the most attractive features is dedicated to St. Eustachius, a of Bedford Square is the Town Roman Officer who was martyred. Hall (see photo page 2). The It was dedicated in 1318, but most crenellated and pinnacled building, of the building dates from the 15th completed in 1860, has a beautiful Century, although the tower is older. vaulted, beamed ceiling and will The church consists of nave and seat approximately 190 guests for chancel, north aisle, two south aisles a dinner, 500 people for a show or and a western tower which contains conference, and has full disabled eight bells and a mechanical access. The oak beamed and carillon. One of the arches at the panelled main function room base of the 106 feet high tower houses a number of portraits originally led to the Abbey. The of Tavistock’s noted dignitaries, Clothworkers’ Aisle in the church including the Bedford family, Drake was built in 1445 by the widow of and Lord John Russell. There is a fully licenced bar and a separate

Betsy Grimbal’s Tower – originally the West entrance to Tavistock Abbey www.tavistock.gov.uk 11 conference room with all facilities seen as being one of the best in the Mondays Mixed Market for up to 40 people, and a modern South West having been voted Best (open on Mondays summer holidays and kitchen available for any caterer Market Town in Britain in 2004. The Christmas only) to use with crockery and cutlery main Charter Market is held every Tuesdays Antiques & at their disposal. The Hall is fully Friday, with the day being known Collectables licensed for entertainment and civil locally as ‘Market Day’, and together ceremonies. Events in the main hall with the Tuesday, Wednesday, Wednesdays Mixed Market range from weddings, banquets, Thursday and Saturday markets Thursdays Mixed Market balls and dances, conferences and adds dimension to the shopping Present The dinners. To contact the Town Hall experience available in Tavistock. Friday Charter Market please ring 01822 617232 or e-mail The town presents itself as a busy 1st Saturday Aladdin’s Cave [email protected] Devon Market Town whilst retaining 2nd Saturday Craft many old customs and traditions. The Pannier Market Many small individual shops and 3rd Saturday Mixed cafes occupy the perimeter of the 4th Saturday Victorian Fair The town’s market used to be held Market and are open every day, 5th Saturday Extra Mixed in Bank Square, now a car park, these are well worth a visit. The Market’ but was replaced in 1860 by a Market is open to the public from stone built covered Pannier Market, 9am – 4.30pm, with various types Please see the website for details of situated behind the Town Hall. The of market being held on different additional Monday opening in the Pannier Market bustles with activity days, as follows; summer and Christmas periods on most days of the week, and is Contact details – 01822 611003 www.tavistockpanniermarket.co.uk

Tavistock Museum Tavistock Museum, situated in Court Gate, is a community museum located within an important group of public buildings built from mining royalties by the Bedford Estate, which includes the Town Hall, old Police Station and Guildhall. The archway under Court Gate has Medieval origins and is accordingly classified as a scheduled ancient monument. The two rooms above the gateway and the cottage are nineteenth century buildings with a Grade II listing. Towards the end of 2010 the Museum was refurbished, and extended, allowing for a new

Interior of Pannier Market 14 www.tavistock.gov.uk 13 welcome area as well as better Other Buildings of Interest 1915, and was not revived for sixty- For more information regarding the eight years. Then in 1983 the role history of the Town Crier role, please disabled access. Historic buildings are marked with was resurrected by Dick Lloyd, visit www.tavistock.gov.uk. The museum re-opens for the 2013 blue ‘heritage building’ plaques by landlord of the Tavistock Inn. Mr season from a new ground level the Town Council. Lloyd was succeeded by Ron Shopping entrance off the Guildhall Square. Many of the town’s older houses and Davies in the 1990s, followed by It now has a new Welcome Area The old streets radiating from cottages were demolished when Bob Rose in 1997. Mr Rose retired and Interpretation Room. There is a Bedford Square contain shops for the town centre was re-planned by from the role in 2009. Tavistock state-of-the-art audio-visual system every taste and need. Within easy Present The the Duke of Bedford. Examples of Lions then held a competition to which will show short films relating walking distance of the car parks 19th Century model village grouping elect a new Town Crier in July 2010, to the West Devon and Cornwall and bus station is a delicatessen are the cottages built at Westbridge as part of their annual Carnival, Mining World Heritage Site (of which famous throughout the South West, in 1850. In total, the Duke built 250 which was won by David Turner. Tavistock is part) and more local and the casual visitor can easily cottages at Tavistock, Gulworthy, short films such as Tavistock Abbey The Town Crier can be seen find tiny specialist and art shops in and the Bedford Cottages. Morwellham (the medieval “port” of representing the town at many civic old mews. Hotels, restaurants and Tavistock on the River Tamar) and events, as well as being invited to cafés cater for the inner man, and The Museum’s principal roles near the mines. The cottages, many take part in events being held by seats around the pedestrianised are informing about the history of of which still stand, were built at an the many organisations in the area. Square allow rest for tired feet. Tavistock, and being the custodian for overall cost of £22 each. important artefacts from the town. In the shadow of the Statue of The Museum is staffed by Drake in Plymouth Road is the volunteers, and generally holds an restored Fitzford Gatehouse, all exhibition which runs throughout the that is left of the Fitz’s medieval season. In 2015 the themes are; mansion. It is said that King Charles ‘The Challenging Road To Peace used the old Chevalier House in Since WW1’ (Tavistock Peace Market Street as his headquarters at Action Group) and ‘The Traders some time during the Civil War, and of Tavistock. in this vicinity are most of the period The Museum opens daily from houses of the town. 11am – 3pm from Easter to the end Occupying a terraced site on the of October each year. hillside near the Okehampton Road, just beyond the town, is Kelly College, which was founded and endowed by Admiral Kelly in 1877 and has become a well-known public school. History of the Town Crier Tavistock has had a number of Town Criers, the earliest traceable back to around 1836. There had been a series of Town Criers when the office lapsed in

16 www.tavistock.gov.uk 15 Local Interest

Goose Fair roast chestnuts and mulled wine Tavistock is the centre of Devon in are available. The traffic stops and October when the famous Tavistock crowds throng the streets to begin Goose Fair is held in the town. The the run-in to Christmas itself. second Wednesday in the month Dartmoor has become the day when the

Dartmoor, like good food or wine, Interest Local population is swollen to four or five has to be tasted to be appreciated. times the norm with visitors to this Covering 366 square miles, it is ancient Fair, which combines the the last, still largely unspoilt, great traditional livestock markets, fancy wilderness of Southern England. It goods stalls and novelties with has many characteristics but if one all the fun of a modern tends to predominate above all amusement funfair. others, it must surely be isolation, Dickensian Night allowing people the ability to escape. Each year on the last Friday in Despite its rugged contours it is moorland granite occupies 248 been and Lord November the town shops and basically a table land – an island square miles, of which 118 square of Dartmoor. charities host a “Dickensian of granite set in a sea of other rock. It is an uncultivated waste miles of the plateau towers above Evening” when shops open late, In the early days, Dartmoor was in an agricultural county, but by the 1,200 feet contour and 28 traders dress in Victorian clothes an important source of tin supply no means bleak or barren. The square miles above 1,600 and winter delicacies such as and from the first available records feet level. in 1156, the production of tin from In prehistoric times it was open the moor was in excess of 70 tons country. The Saxons made a year. During the reign of Queen individual settlements on the Elizabeth I the average production borders and in sheltered valleys, was 100 tons a year. Most of the but the Celts appeared to have old smelting houses and other largely ignored it in favour of the mining remains on the moor date sea shores and estuaries. When apparently from this era. King John deforested Devon, Man of the Bronze Age left his Dartmoor and Exmoor remained mark upon the hills and valleys of Royal Forests, subject to Dartmoor. Their habitations are forest laws. represented by the remains of hut Since 1336-37 when Edward III circles which vary between 12 created his son Edward Prince and 30 feet in diameter, in places, of Wales, Duke of Cornwall, gathered in clusters within circular and granted him the Castle and enclosures now called “pounds”. Manor of and the Chase One of the charms of Dartmoor is of Dartmoor, whenever there has that it affords a complete museum of been a Prince of Wales he has also the culture of the Early Bronze Age, The Goose Fair cont page 20 18 www.tavistock.gov.uk 17 TavistockTAVISTOCK Town TownCentre Centre

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0 220 yards 1/4 mile  Statue / Antiquity + Surgery / Clinic Other Building + Pharmacy Town Centre Map produced by G.Caines, Tel 01822-612163. 20The Tavistock Town Map, showing the whole Tavistock area, is available from the Tourist Information Centre www.tavistock.gov.uk 19 List of Events

January June Farmers’ Market on Bedford Square- Farmers’ Market on Bedford Square- 2nd and 4th Saturdays each month 2nd and 4th Saturdays each month Tavistock Flea Market in Town Hall – Robey Trust Steam Fair – annually 3rd Sunday each month (please see www.therobeytrust.co.uk Events of List February for details) Farmers’ Market on Bedford Square- Tavistock Flea Market in Town Hall – 2nd and 4th Saturdays each month 3rd Sunday each month The Parish Church Tavistock Flea Market in Town Hall – Tavistock Group of Artists Event – 3rd Sunday each month annually (please see www.tgartists.co.uk for details) a museum whose treasures are well prone to wander on the highways, March nigh inexhaustible. from the ubiquitous and enquiring July Farmers’ Market on Bedford Square- Dartmoor ponies to the tough, hardy Dartmoor is the mother of the great 2nd and 4th Saturdays each month Farmers’ Market on Bedford Square- little Scotch black-faced sheep. It is rivers of Devon. In the vast tracts 2nd and 4th Saturdays each month always advisable to drive carefully Tavistock Flea Market in Town Hall – of bog are nurtured the Avon, the Tavistock Flea Market in Town Hall – across the moor, bearing in mind 3rd Sunday each month Erme, the Yealm, the Tavy, the Teign, 3rd Sunday each month the possible nearby presence of the East and West Dart, the Taw and April animals. It is illegal to feed these Tavistock Lions Carnival Week and the Plym. animals, because it encourages Farmers’ Market on Bedford Square- Parade - annually 2nd and 4th Saturdays each month There is nothing grim about them to congregate near the August Dartmoor, it is a land of magic and roadside where they become traffic Music & Arts Festival held April/May enchantment. In 1951, Dartmoor hazards, and are vulnerable to injury - annually Farmers’ Market on Bedford Square- was designated a National Park, and death. 2nd and 4th Saturdays each month Tavistock Flea Market in Town Hall – and the Dartmoor National Park was Just a short drive away from 3rd Sunday each month Tavistock Flea Market in Town Hall – formed to preserve its attractions Tavistock lies Dartmoor Prison 3rd Sunday each month and to ensure that it might be and “Hound of the Baskervilles” May Cheese Fair in Town Hall – bi- enjoyed by all who wished to visit country. A Prison Museum is Farmers’ Market on Bedford Square- annually it. It is best enjoyed on foot or on open to the public and worth a 2nd and 4th Saturdays each month horseback. There are numerous visit. The Dartmoor National Park roads across the moor, and car Tavistock Flea Market in Town Hall – Authority has provided information parks are provided for the many 3rd Sunday each month centres, manned throughout the thousands of people who like to tourist season and situated on the Tavistock Garden Festival – Spring motor across the moor and stop to moor, the nearest being the old Bank Holiday weekend annually admire the scenery. Dartmoor is still Prison Officer’s Mess building in largely unfenced, and animals are Princetown.

22 www.tavistock.gov.uk 21 September Christmas Tree Festival, St Eustachius Church - late November/early Farmers’ Market on Bedford Square- Nearby Attractions December annually 2nd and 4th Saturdays each month Tavistock Flea Market in Town Hall – December major route for ore from the Moor 3rd Sunday each month The Garden House Farmers’ Market on Bedford Square- going down to be processed 2nd and 4th Saturdays each month The Garden House itself was built October at the turn of the 19th Century as and supplies coming up from the Tavistock Flea Market in Town Hall – the new vicarage for Buckland ships moored at Morwellham. The Farmers’ Market on Bedford Square- 3rd Sunday each month Monachorum, replacing the Wharf in Tavistock was one end 2nd and 4th Saturdays each month Tavistock Lions Club Festival of Light medieval vicarage whose ruins can of this link. Now Morwellham is Tavistock Goose Fair – 2nd - annually be seen in the Walled Garden. an open-air museum, depicting Wednesday in October annually. the life of a busy nineteenth- Please visit www.tavistock.gov.uk In 1945 it was bought by Lionel century community, the highlights Tavistock Flea Market in Town Hall – www.tavistocktownhall.co.uk and Fortescue, an old Etonian include the restored Tamar ketch 3rd Sunday each month www.tavistocklions.org.uk for schoolmaster who was an Garlandstone and a riverside exact dates and details of Events, as November obsessive gardener. Lionel made tramway ride into the mine. Attractions Nearby relevant. the Walled Garden into a romantic Farmers’ Market on Bedford Square- Costumed staff give talks and Other Events terraced garden filled with the very 2nd and 4th Saturdays each month best plant varieties. Over the past demonstrations in authentic Tavistock Lions Club Hot Air Balloon 20 years, the garden has been cottages and workshops. Quayside Tavistock Lions Club Fireworks Display Festival periodically (see extended to include a further 6 walks, a farm, Victorian inn, wildlife - annually www.tavistocklions.org.uk for details) acres of naturalistic planting. A reserve and nature trails complete a full day out for the whole family. Tavistock Flea Market in Town Hall – Regular Book Fairs and other events in series of themed gardens have 3rd Sunday each month the Town Hall (please visit been created including a Cottage The Wharf Garden, Quarry Garden, South Dickensian Evening – last Friday in www.tavistocktownhall.co.uk to view African Garden, Acer Glade, wisteria Tavistock’s newest amenity is built November annually Events Diary for exact details and dates) bridges, and dovecote, linked in the former buildings of the Canal together by numerous twisting Wharf. These Victorian buildings pathways. were leased in 1988 by West Devon Borough Council from The Town The Garden House is a horticultural Council, and they were identified charity open every day during the as being particularly suitable for season and offering homemade tourism and leisure facilities. The refreshments, children’s trails and area standing beside the Canal now plants for sale. encompasses the Meadowlands Morwellham Quay swimming pool and Arts Centre. Morwellham Quay Historic Port The fully equipped auditorium is and Copper Mine, just four miles used for theatrical performances by from Tavistock off the A390, is a local, national and travelling theatre fascinating preserved village in a companies, regular film shows, beautiful riverside setting. In the concerts, cabaret, exhibitions late 19th Century Tavistock was by local and national artists, linked to Morwellham by a canal conferences, and private functions. fed by water from the Tavy, and a Facilities include fully equipped

24 www.tavistock.gov.ukTavistock Town Hall 23 rehearsal rooms, a gallery for art miles of riverside and woodland exhibitions, a café and licensed bar. walks, linking the steeply terraced garden with pools, dovecote, the National Trust Properties , a working water mill Lydford Castle and adjoining estate workshops, industrial ruins and the Quay, with There have been two castles built in tea room and the restored Tamar Lydford, the first was built soon after sailing barge Shamrock. the in AD 1066 but is no longer visible above ground, and Buckland Abbey the second one (in the photo) was Take a voyage of discovery to constructed in 1195 following a wave 13th Century Buckland Abbey, the of law and order problems across home of Sir Francis Drake. The England. It included a stone tower story of this Medieval monastery, Lydford Gorge Saltram

with a surrounding bailey, and rapidly Attractions Nearby which was uniquely converted to This imposing mansion boasts became used as a prison and court to A beautiful woodland walk along a Tudor home, unfolds through some exceptional plasterwork by administer the laws in the the top to the gorge leads down to exhibitions, ancient buildings Robert Adam and a virtually intact of Dartmoor and was also the Stannary the spectacular 90 foot White Lady and furnished rooms. Explore Georgian painting collection. Also Court, which had jurisdiction over the waterfall. Enchanting riverside walks the legendary life of Sir Francis of interest are the Great Kitchen, procedures for tin mining in Devon and lead to a deep ravine scooped out Drake, his circumnavigation and Chapel Gallery and Orangery. The over the behaviour of the tin miners in by the River Lyd as it plunges into a the story of the Armada. See the garden has splendid specimen trees the Devon Stannaries. The tower was succession of whirlpools including Drake memorabilia, including his and a number of interesting follies; rebuilt in the middle of the 13th century, the thrilling Devil’s Cauldron. famous Drum and standards. The the landscaped park has many fine probably in the 1260s by Richard, the Great Hall features beautiful Tudor This famous gorge on the western walks and the estate was used for . It was redesigned to plasterwork, while the kitchen has edge of Dartmoor is 1½ miles long and filming Sense and Sensibility. resemble a motte and bailey castle, the atmosphere of four centuries of provides an exciting and unforgettable an antiquated design for the period, domestic use. There is the massive adventure for all the family. Lanhydrock but one that was heavily symbolic stone Great Barn, unusual box- Castle Drogo of authority and power. In 1342 the hedged herb garden and walks in The finest house in Cornwall, superbly castle, still being used as a prison the grounds. India tea baron, Julius Drewe’s set in wooded parkland of 450 and courtroom, passed to the Duchy dream house, this granite castle, built Finch Foundry acres and encircled by a garden of of Cornwall, who owned it until the between 1910 and 1930, is one of the rare shrubs and trees, lovely in all 20th century. A fascinating, early 19th Century most remarkable works of Sir Edward seasons. There are 49 rooms, ranging forge, powered by three water wheels, Lutyens, combining the grandeur of from the richly-furnished main rooms which produced sickles, scythes a medieval castle with the comfort of reflecting Victorian comfort to servants’ Enchanted and remote, perched and shovels for both agriculture and the 20th Century. It is a great country bedrooms, the great kitchen and the high above the wooded banks of mining. The power of the massive house with terraced formal garden, evocative nursery wing. First built in the the Tamar, Cotehele was owned by tilt hammers, heat from the furnace, woodland spring garden, huge 17th Century and largely rebuilt after a the Edgcumbe family for nearly six rumbling water wheels and screeching circular croquet lawn and colourful fire in 1881, the principal rooms all have centuries. One of the least-altered of the grinding stones make the whole herbaceous borders, standing at more beautifully worked plaster ceilings. medieval houses in the country, it building vibrate during the regular than 900 ft overlooking the wooded Through the crenellated gatehouse of contains original furniture, armour demonstrations, transporting the visitor gorge of the River Teign with stunning 1651 is an idyllic walk down to the River and tapestries. The large estate has back into Dartmoor’s industrial past. views of Dartmoor and delightful walks. at Respryn Bridge.

26 www.tavistock.gov.uk 25 Sport & Recreation General Information

The rivers around Tavistock are well as the Tavistock Amateur Operatic Tourist Information Opening Times: Monday, Tuesday, stocked, but much of the salmon and Society, Tavonians Dramatic Society, Thursday and Friday 9am – 6pm. trout fishing is preserved although Tavistock Group of Artists, Rotary, Round The Tavistock Tourist Information Centre Closed on Wednesdays permits can be obtained. There are Table, Lions, Women’s Institute, Royal is situated within the Post Office at Saturday 9am – 4pm several fish farms in the local area that British Legion (Tavy Club), West Devon Abbey Place. Tel: 01822 612218 allow fishing and hire out rods and Club, political clubs, Scout and Guide Local Government equipment to visitors. organisations. There are also several Markets and Fairs The Tavistock Town Council consists Livestock Market – Published dates riding stables in the district. of 17 Councillors (including the Mayor) Tavistock Golf Club has an 18- (Wednesdays and Fridays) hole course on Whitchurch Down, Tavistock is on the new Devon Coast to and its meetings are held in the Council Tel: 01822 610080 which commands beautiful views Coast National Cycle Network Route 27 Chamber in Drake Road. Dates of all Committeee and Town Council Meetings Pannier Market Tel: 01822 611003 of Dartmoor. A second golf course cycle track, and there are cycle routes over are available from the Town Council (Hurdwick Golf Club) is to be found the Moors. Cycles are available for hire Or go to Tel: 01822 613529 or at www.tavistockpanniermarket.co.uk on the Brentor Road. A fine cricket from shops in Tavistock, see details under www.tavistock.gov.uk. General Information General pitch is laid out at the Ring on ‘General Information’. The town forms part of the West Citizens Advice Bureau Whitchurch Down. Devon Borough Council area which Kingdon House, North Street, Tavistock Town Guided Walks has a Council of 31 Members, with The “Meadows” is a well-maintained Tel: 08444 111 444 From April through to the end of its offices being in Tavistock. West public open space laid out with children’s October guided walks are conducted Devon Borough Council now shares Registrar of Births, Deaths play apparatus, floodlit hard tennis courts every Friday afternoon at 2pm until services with South Hams District and Marriages and a bowling green. At the northern Council, whose offices are in Totnes 3.30pm from under Court Gate Arch – end of the “Meadows” is a leisure pool, Tel: 01822 813600 The office is situated in the offices of looking at the history of this fascinating West Devon Borough Council, Kilworthy Tavistock’s latest water attraction – a The Devon County Council’s offices are town. Throughout the year there are Park, Tavistock. Open by appointment tropical paradise pool filled with fun for all at County Hall, Exeter. also some ‘Tavistock by Twilight’ Monday, Wednesday and Thursday the family. Well worth a visit. Tel: 0845 1551015. evening walks, meeting at 7pm outside 9.30am-4.00pm (closed Tuesday and Tavistock is part of the Torridge/West The town has private badminton, archery, of the Bedford Hotel, looking at other Friday) Tel: 0845 155 1002 Devon Parliamentary Constituency. tennis, bowls, hockey, football, rugby, points of interest and at the “darker Police Station cricket, squash, athletics and rifle clubs. side” of Tavistock. Full details of town Town Hall Tavistock Police Station, Abbey Rise, A wide range of social and cultural walks can be found at For the Manager call 01822 617232 or Whitchurch Road, Tavistock Tel: Non-Emergency Number 101 or interests are provided for by such groups www.moorlandguides.co.uk go to www.tavistocktownhall.co.uk 999 for Emergencies Library Car Parking The library is situated on Plymouth Road opposite the Bus Station and is Abbey Car Park (63 spaces) backed by the resources of the whole Bank Square Car Park (16 spaces) county through the Inter-Book Lending Bedford/Wharf Car Park (237 spaces) Scheme. Facilities are also available Brook Street Car Park (106 spaces) for exhibitions of an educational Guildhall Square Car Park (38 spaces) nature. A mobile library service for the Riverside Car Park (120 spaces) surrounding rural area is also available. A diary of events in and around Russell Street Car Park (20 spaces) Tavistock is maintained and operated from the Library.

28 www.tavistock.gov.uk 27 Education Opticians Nursing & Residential Post Offices Tavistock College (State Angus McPhie, 7 Market Street, Homes Tavistock Post Office, Abbey Place Tel: 01822 618539 Comprehensive), Crowndale Road, Tavistock Tel: 01822 612863 Abbotsfield Hall Nursing Home Tavistock, Tel: 01822 614231 Vision Express (formally Batemans) Orchard Close, Tavistock Whitchurch Post Office Mount Kelly College (Independent), 5 West Street, Tavistock Tel: 01822 613973 Tel: 01822 612518 Parkwood Road, Tavistock, Tel: 01822 813100 Tel: 01822 612759 Chollacott Nursing Home Tavistock Community Primary School Specsavers, 3 West Street, Tavistock 61 Whitchurch Road, Tavistock Churches and Chapels and Nursery Unit (State), Crowndale Tel: 01822 619910 Tel: 01822 612811 Parish Church of St Eustachius Road, Tavistock, Tel: 01822 616044 Bill Opticians, 77 West Street Crelake Residential Home Bedford Square, Tavistock Tel: 01822 616673 (office) Tavistock Church Schools Federation: Tel: 01822 615223 4 Whitchurch Road, Tavistock Tel: 01822 616224 Our Lady of the Assumption and St St Peter’s Church of England Junior Dentists Mary Magdalen Roman Catholic Church School (State), Greenlands, Tavistock, Veterinary Surgeons Road, Tavistock Tel: 01822 614640 Abbey Mead Dental Practice Tel: 01822 612645 25 Plymouth Road, Tavistock Drake Vets, 65 West Street, Tavistock St Rumon’s Church of England Infants Tel: 01822 611121 Tel: 01822 854255 Methodist Church, Chapel Street, School (State), Dolvin Road, Tavistock, Tavistock Tel: 01822 611049 Tel: 01822 612085 Andrew Brown, 9 Plymouth Road, Westmoor Veterinary Centre Tavistock Tel: 01822 617788 Brook Lane, Tavistock Tavistock United Reformed Church Whitchurch Community Primary School Russell Street, Tavistock Harwood Dental Practice, 8 Watts Road, Tel: 01822 612561 Information General (State) School Road, Whitchurch, Tel: 01822 614613 Tavistock Tel: 01822 616202 Tavistock Tel: 01822 615694 Equest Equine Veterinary Clinic Down Farm Tel: 01822 613838 Tavistock Salvation Army Mount Kelly Preparatory School Lynbridge House Dental Practice Kilworthy Hill, Tavistock (Independent), Mount Tavy Road, Lynbridge House, 26 West Street, Tel: 01822 615465 Tavistock Tel: 01822 612828 Chemists Tavistock, Tel: 01822 612244 Tavistock Abbey Chapel (Christian Bambinos Children’s Centre, R G & J M Parnell, Springhill Dental Boots The Chemist, 5 Duke Street Brethren), Abbey Place, Tavistock 54 Plymouth Road, Tavistock, Practice, 33 West Street, Tavistock Tel: 01822 612609 Tel: 01822 617691 Tel: 01822 613112 Tel: 01822 613416 Day Lewis Pharmacy, 81 West Street Society of Friends, Canal Road, The Old School Children’s Centre, ADP Tavistock, Kilworthy Park Tel: 01822 612104 Tavistock Tel: 01822 614596 Tel: 01822 610884 Church Hill, Whitchurch, Morrisons Store, Plymouth Road, St Andrew’s Parish Church, Whitchurch Tel: 01822 612362 Chiropodists Tavistock Tel: 01822 610743 Tel: 01822 617780 Whitchurch Montessori Nursery, Alice Hulme, Horndon House, Horndon, Cycle Hire Kings Community Church St Peter’s School (see above) Mary Tavy Tel: 01822 810034 Pixon Lane Tel 01822 610570 Tel: 01822 613927 Dartmoor Cycles, 8 Atlas House, West Down Podiatry & Chiropodists Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses Brook Lane Tel: 01822 618178 Health Services 9 Plymouth Road, Tavistock Plymouth Road Industrial Estate Tel: 01822 613796 Tavistock Cycles, Paddons Row, Brook Tel: 01822 870590 Tavistock Hospital, Spring Hill, Tavistock Street Tel: 01822 617630 Amanda Fane de Salis, Abbey Mead The town has a Council of Churches Tel: 01822 612233 (Tavistock Area Churches Together). Natural Health Clinic, 7 Plymouth Road, Banks Community Health Services Tavistock Tel: 01822 610020 Tavistock Clinic, 70 Plymouth Road Barclays Bank plc, 6 Bedford Square Newspapers Tel: 01822 615935 Mary Zimmerman, 2 Birchwood Close, Tel: 08457 555555 Tavistock Times/Gazette Tavistock Tel: 01822 617817 14, Brook Street, Tavistock TSB plc, Bedford Square Doctors’ Surgeries Tel: 01822 613666 Stannary Surgery, Abbey Rise, Tel: 0845 3000 000 Abbey Surgery, 28 Plymouth Road, Whitchurch Road, Tavistock PL19 9BB HSBC, Bedford Square Tavistock Tel: 01822 612247 Tel: 0203 322 9884 Ext 53164 Swimming Pools Tel: 08457 404404 Tavyside Health Centre at Abbey Rise Meadowlands Leisure Pool Whitchurch Road, Tavistock National Westminster Bank plc The Wharf. Tel: 01822 617774 Bedford Square, Tel: Tel 01822 613517 or Kelly Enterprises Kelly College, Tel: 0845 788 8444 01822 616131 Parkwood Road Tel: 01822 813165

30 www.tavistock.gov.uk 29 The Wharf hosts a full and varied seven day-a- week programme of events for every taste, from recent cinema releases to live music nights and one-off spcial events.

Other facilities include an art gallery with ever Specialists in Caravan & Motorhome Service & Repair changing exhibitons, a licensed bar and coffee shop with canal-side terrace and ample convenient All services are carried out by fully qualified engineers ACCESSORY SHOP parking and easy access for all. To find out what’s Calor Gas Stockists on, pick up a copy of our magazine, call in, phone 8 Bay NCC Approved Workshop the Box Office or visit our website for the latest Accessory shop and Calor Gas Stockists information! For opening times please see LPG gas Qualified and Certified Engineers our website for details. 01822 611166 www.tavistockwharf.com Insurance approved repair centre [email protected] www.tavistockcaravans.co.uk Damp repairs our speciality CAM (The Wharf) Ltd The Wharf All aspects of repairs carried out 01822 834945 Tavistock Motor movers supplied and fitted Devon A390 Tavistock to Gunnislake (4 miles from PL19 8AT Pre-arranged costed collection & delivery Tavistock) service available (locations local to Tavistock)

Professional Taxi 4HIRE Service in Tavistock 01822 618440 www.4hiretaxi.com This year (2015) Tavistock Golf Club will celebrate its 125 anniversary – 125 years since 12 local golf enthusiasts

Client 4Hire File Name 7173 Town Council Guide Advert V2 agreed to form a Club for the purposes of playing golf on Artworker - Finished Size 127x28mm Whitchurch Down. Permission was granted by the Duke of Creative Director Mike Lane Proof Stage 02 Artwork % 100% Modification Date 01/12/14 1:21PM Bleed 3mm Bedford at a rent of 1/- per year and, with agreement from Map supplied by Graham Caines - copyright Tavistock Town Council the Commoners for a yearly payment of £5-2-0, Tavistock Images - copyright INDmedia and Tavistock Town Council Golf Club came into being. Design - [email protected] The Club is now one of the top clubs in Devon Whilst every care has been taken in the compilation of this publication, the statements contained herein are renowned for its superb course, the first class believed to be correct at the time of publication, the publishers and promoters of this publication shall not be held facilities of the club, excellent food and the many liable for any inaccuracies. The publishers and promoters do not sanction or endorse any of the products and social activities. The initial membership of 23 services that feature in this publication. gentlemen and 10 ladies would be amazed and Tavistock Town Council and INDmedia cannot be held liable for the origination of text, map and images delighted that players of all ages – men, women and (other than those supplied by INDmedia) within this publication. juniors – now enjoy all that this great club has to offer. They would be especially pleased that this year members have excelled themselves and have won the county’s top Trophies. THE OLD RECTORY

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