You are not currently signed into the Member Centre – Sign In.
| An independent voice and a forum for debate for those who find Dartmoor a source of livelihood or inspiration |
The following events have been organised for 2010. More details can be found in our Newsletters. Please note that some events are members only and are indicated as such below. Booking forms for future events are available on the website once the current newsletter has been sent out with forms.
To book a place on any of the events please sign in to the Member Centre and click the Book Event button. When you are signed in you will see Book Now buttons below which can also be used to book online.
Alternatively you can download, print and post a booking form.
When our events are over-subscribed, waiting lists are created. If you find that you cannot attend an event you have booked for, please contact the Honorary Secretary as soon as possible. Your place can then be allocated to someone else.
Monday 13th February, 2:00pm – 4:00pm, SX 428839, 7 miles NW of Tavistock
Mr Graeme Hart has kindly invited us to visit historic Sydenham House in West Devon. This private house dates from circa 1600, and was built by Sir Thomas Wise, High Sheriff of Devon, on the site of an earlier property which the Wise family held from the 14th century. It was further added to by his grandson, Sir Edward, who completed the building in 1656. Cherry & Pevsner (1989) say ‘The present house is one of the few of the C17 in Devon that are really imposing.’
The house was acquired by the Tremaynes of Heligan and Collacombe Manor by marriage. The Wise and Tremayne families owned the Manor of Willsworthy (Peter Tavy) on the west side of Dartmoor from medieval times until at least the mid-18th century. There is a surviving deed dated 29 March 1428 which was written at Sydenham and which confirms the grant of land at Willsworthy in AD 1242. The Tremaynes used the house as a shooting box and dower house until 1938, when it was sold to Major Despenser-Robertson, of jam fame. He was also Tory MP for Salisbury and commissioned Philip Tilden, an architect who worked on Chartwell for Winston Churchill, to restore it.
The house was used as a boarding school for girls during the Second World War and then until 1963. Since then there have been five different owners. The present owners acquired it in 1991 and have been slowly restoring the house and upgrading the farm and buildings.
Park at the house.
Fully booked.
Thursday 15th March, 2:00pm – 4:00pm
Devonia Sheepskin is the last remaining sheepskin tannery in the county, where we will be shown the process through to the finished article. There is also a small museum and visitor centre. The visit should take about 1½ hours.
Turn off the A38 at Dart Bridge towards Buckfastleigh, then turn right at the first roundabout. Go past Buckfast Abbey and continue towards Buckfastleigh Industrial Estate, where Devonia Sheepskin is signposted on the first right turn. There is ample parking on site.
Fully booked.
