EditorialKnowle Terrace, Walkhampton: formal complaint to Dartmoor National Park Authority
The Dartmoor Society has lodged a formal complaint with Dartmoor National Park Authority in respect of procedural and other matters relating to the planning consent (application no. 0251/06) granted for eight units of social housing off Knowle Terrace, Walkhampton.
Click on this link to read the full text of the formal complaint
The main features in our June 2008 Newsletter appear below.
The copyright of the following Newsletter material belongs to The Dartmoor Society (unless otherwise stated).
Click on the hyperlinks below to read the articles
When we went a Gipsying: Sabine Baring-Gould’s quest for folklife in Devon and Cornwall
Annual General Meeting, Talk by Chris Gregory and Presentation of Dartmoor Society Awards
Festival of Dartmoor Literature 9-11 May
April 2008 marked the tenth anniversary of The Dartmoor Society. During the ten years of our existence, we have become recognised as a strong and respected voice on Dartmoor affairs and our membership has grown steadily. We have become a registered charity and last month held an ambitious – and successful – Festival of Dartmoor Literature. Our achievements are covered more fully by Tom Greeves in his Chairman’s Address at our April 2008 AGM, which is covered in this Newsletter.
This summer we have our usual varied programme of events, which are set out on page 24.
I am grateful to Chris Chapman, Martin Graebe, Tom Greeves, Tony Hill and Peter Mason for their contributions to this edition of the Newsletter.
With my resignation from the Executive Committee, this Newsletter is the last that I shall produce as Editor. I would like to thank all my colleagues on the committee and many members for their kindness and support during my period of office as Newsletter Editor and Membership Secretary.
Mike Hedges
Those attending our AGM will know that Mike Hedges has decided to step down from the Executive Committee, after ten years of dedicated work fulfilling various key roles on behalf of the Society – Newsletter Editor, Membership Secretary and Website Manager. Sue Andrew has also decided to give up her position on the Executive Committee after eight years as Honorary Secretary.
The Society is greatly indebted to both of them, and will mark their contribution in due course.
We are delighted that Gerald Quinn and Chris Wright have agreed to take on the roles of Membership Secretary and Website Manager respectively.
A key position we need to fill urgently is that of Newsletter Editor. We are looking for someone with computer and editorial skills, who can continue the high quality production of our three Newsletters throughout the year, starting with October 2008. Please don’t be shy about coming forward or suggesting someone who might take on this exciting and vital role.
We also need to find an Honorary Secretary who would manage the administration of the Executive Committee (sending out agendas, writing Minutes, keeping records, etc), besides handling general Society correspondence and booking venues for varied meetings and events.
Please contact the Chairman, Dr Tom Greeves (01822 617004 or tomgreeves@btconnect.com), if you are interested in any of these roles, or know anyone who might be (whether they are presently a member of the Society or not).
The Dartmoor Society has lodged a formal complaint with Dartmoor National Park Authority in respect of procedural and other matters relating to the planning consent granted for eight units of social housing off Knowle Terrace, Walkhampton. Despite extensive correspondence with DNPA since November 2007, the Society feels that its concerns have not been addressed.
Outline and full planning applications were considered by the DNPA in October 2003, March 2005 and June 2006. In the first two instances, permission was refused, while in the latter, it was deferred for assessment of housing needs. The Dartmoor Society objected to each application
An application for full planning permission appeared once more before the Committee on 7 September 2007. There was no consultation with the Cultural Heritage Service of DNPA. Again, the Society objected. A site inspection was held and, on 5 October 2007, the application was granted.
The principal reasons for our complaint are:-
Burrator Parish Council specifically requested that someone from DNPA should attend the Site Inspection to discuss the historic environment and the importance of the hedge bank. Concern was also expressed by the Council about the omission of the historic elements of Knowle and the hedge bank from the proposed Conservation Area. Nobody from the Cultural Heritage Service, nor indeed anyone with expertise about the historic environment, attended the site inspection. The Dartmoor Society feels this was a failure by DNPA in their duty, as set out in the Environment Act 1997, to foster the economic and social well-being of the local community.
The site is within a field bordering the south side of the Black Brook. It extends from Walkhampton village to Knowle. A hedge bank forms the south side of the field, and borders the public road between Walkhampton and Horrabridge. Walkhampton is an ancient settlement mentioned in AD 1084, while Knowle is documented from AD 1244 and is the site of a manor house. Yet on all the applications considered by DNPA members, there was no comment from the Cultural Heritage Service, apart from 4 March 2005 when it noted ‘there was no evidence of anything of archaeological significance’.
Before the DNPA meeting of 5 October 2007, members were given a statement on the historic environment of the site prepared by our chairman, Dr Tom Greeves, who has some 40 years of professional experience of Dartmoor’s archaeology. He drew attention to the fact that the tithe map of c.1840 showed a very large building (since demolished) within the planning application field. He suggested that this building might be the site of the manor house of Knowle, and that the site was therefore significant as the only historic open ground between the village and the manor site. He also highlighted the significance of the historic hedgerow as bordering one of the five ancient lanes leading to and from Walkhampton.
On 30 November 2007, Tom Greeves, on behalf of The Dartmoor Society, drew attention to four archaeological features on the site:
i) Significant mounded earthworks on the site of the very large building shown on the tithe map.
ii) A probable leat running along the inside edge of the hedgerow bordering the road. This probably supplied water from the Black Brook to the ancient manor of Knowle. A large portion of this feature will be destroyed if the roadside hedgerow is translocated.
iii) An earthwork bank in the central lower portion of the field.
iv) A steep scarp on the site, either the result of substantial flooding or possibly a medieval tinworking limit.
None of these features had previously been mentioned by any officer of the DNPA Cultural Heritage Service, who have visited the site only once, in September 2007, and have been unable to supply copies of any notes recording features of archaeological interest on that visit.
The Society is especially concerned that several Local Plan Policies relating to the historic environment were never drawn to the attention of DNPA members as being relevant to the planning application. In particular we noted that:
· Policy AH1, designed to protect the setting of visible archaeological remains considered nationally important. The setting of the surviving standing buildings of Knowle in relation to the village, the building earthworks and the probable leat are pertinent to this policy.
· Policy AH2, designed to prevent damage to sites of local archaeological importance or their setting. All archaeological features in the field and at Knowle would fall into this category, especially the leat, the building earthworks, the whole setting of Knowle and the hedgerow.
· Policy BL1, intended to protect the setting of historic buildings and the integrity of historic town or village plans. The buildings at Knowle are relevant, as well as the field itself and the historic road system.
· Policy BL2, designed to protect open spaces that make a positive contribution to the visual or historical character of the local built environment.
· Policy BL4, stressing the importance to Conservation Areas of open spaces, views and approaches. As a Conservation Area boundary for Walkhampton was proposed by DNPA on 7 Sept 2007, this policy is highly relevant to the site.
Click here for the full text of our complaint letter
by Peter F. Mason
Anyone who has in the last six months walked the footpath from Lustleigh to Manaton that crosses the River Bovey at the Clam Bridge will have seen the new footbridge. Made from steel, wood and imported stone at a cost of £35,000 (excluding the costs of the helicopters that were used to fly materials in) this over-engineered bridge is a response by Devon County Council and the Dartmoor National Park Authority (DNPA) to a concern over safety – a concern that many of us believe to be exaggerated.
The Clam Bridge, River Bovey (photo: Peter F. Mason)
We understand that no formal risk assessment was carried out before the decision was taken to build a new bridge and the option of repairing the Clam was not fully explored. Those of us campaigning to keep the Clam Bridge, including Lustleigh and Manaton Parish Councils, accept that it is in need of repair and it may be necessary to improve safety by, for example, adding a second hand rail. However, it is essential that the location of the bridge is taken into consideration – you have to be relatively fit to reach the bridge in the first place.
The construction of the Clam Bridge is similar to the stone clapper bridges which are common on Dartmoor. However, as Crossing noted in his 1912 “Guide to Dartmoor”, clam bridges are ‘seldom seen on Dartmoor’. The Clam Bridge in the Bovey Valley is believed to be the last Clam Bridge made from tree trunks on a public path on Dartmoor.
As long ago as July 1896 Lustleigh Parish Magazine reported that the tree trunks of the Clam Bridge were to be replaced because they were in a dilapidated condition. Given that they probably have a life of more than 25 years there is every reason to believe that there has been a Clam Bridge in that position for over 140 years, and probably much longer. This is supported by the fact that a footbridge at that site is marked on the 1864 Ordnance Survey map.
At the time of writing, DCC are proposing to fence the bridge off and the DNPA are shifting responsibility for the bridge on to the parish councils. This despite a key objective of the Authority being to “conserve and enhance the cultural heritage of Dartmoor”. Repairing the Clam Bridge could also provide a model for less engineered, more sustainable bridges in other locations on Dartmoor. This object lesson could become essential because DCC appear to be taking the line that when footbridges and other river crossings become dangerous they will be replaced by bridges similar to the one they have built to replace Clam Bridge. We are told the loadings for this are to the British Standard 5400 – this is the same standard as the one used for building footbridges over motorways! The consequences for the character of Dartmoor do not bear thinking about if this is carried out. Is every clapper bridge and set of stepping stones to be replaced by over-engineered steel, imported stone and wood monstrosities of the type that has been imposed upon the beautiful, unspoilt landscape of the Bovey Valley?
Peter F. Mason
In response to Tom Greeves' comments in Newsletter 31 on the proposal to re-work Hemerdon Mine, a member has asked that we point out that tungsten has many civilian uses other than for manufacturing armaments. These include light bulb filaments, plus applications in space, medical, nuclear and engineering research.
When we went a Gipsying: Sabine Baring-Gould’s quest for folklife in Devon and Cornwall
by Martin Graebe
On Saturday 23rd February, members gathered in the beautiful and apposite setting of Lewtrenchard Manor, the former home of Sabine Baring-Gould, to hear Society member Martin Graebe present a talk on Baring-Gould and the Songs of the West Country. Martin has kindly provided a summary of his talk, which now follows:-
In his talk Martin Graebe presented an outline of Baring-Gould’s life and work as a collector of folk song and folklore, with a particular focus on his activity on Dartmoor. Baring-Gould fell in love with Dartmoor as a boy and his uncle, Thomas Bond, gave him a copy of Rowe's Perambulation of Dartmoor. As Baring-Gould says in the introduction to his own Book of Dartmoor:
It arrested my attention, engaged my imagination, and was to me almost as a Bible. When I obtained a holiday from my books, I mounted my pony and made for the moor. I rode over it, round it, put up at little inns, talked with the moormen, listened to their tales and songs in the evening, and during the day sketched and planned the relics.
He never forgot this experience. In 1888, when he mentioned it over dinner to his host, Daniel Radford, he was persuaded that he should make a collection of the songs of Devon and Cornwall. He took up the challenge with enthusiasm.
At first he wrote to newspapers asking people to send him songs and he made a number of contacts, such as that with Charles Spence Bate, who invited him to hear James Helmore and Robert Hard sing at his house in South Brent. He also invited singers from around Lewtrenchard to come and sing at his own house. He met a number of great singers that way including James Parsons of Lew Down, John Woodridge of Thrushelton, Edmund Fry and Will Huggins of Lydford as well as many others. After a while he realised that the best way to get songs was to go out to the singers in the pubs and in their own homes, particularly in out-of-the-way places. To increase the efficiency of his collecting he drafted in two helpers to note down the tunes while he recorded the words. These were Henry Fleetwood Sheppard, a Yorkshire parson and Frederick Bussell, an Oxford don whose mother was one of his tenants. With one or the other of these two musical experts he would make long journeys in search of song, often staying overnight at pubs where the singing men gathered.
He gravitated towards Dartmoor, probably because of his love for the area – ‘no-one can be ill on Dartmoor’, he said and believed that Dartmoor air kept his bronchitis at bay. Much of his song collecting was done within a 25 mile radius of Lewtrenchard. This was, roughly, a day’s journey out and back by horse and carriage, though he made a few longer trips into Cornwall, staying overnight with friends or at small inns. Feet also played their part, as recorded by Fleetwood Sheppard who wrote in a letter to Baring-Gould:
I shall always have a pride in, and look back with pleasure to the days when we ‘went a gipsying' collecting material, and when from time to time you led my weary old limbs on long tramps of 6 or 8 miles, so beguiling the way with springy Dartmoor turf and springy Dartmoor air and your own springy companionship that I knew neither fatigue nor satiety.
He wrote about some of these trips and the people that he met, though not always with complete accuracy – he was, above all, a storyteller. By comparing these accounts with the original manuscripts and rough notes made by Baring-Gould and his colleagues we can tease out the details of some of these adventures through sun and, of course, the worst of Dartmoor rain. Characters like Sally Satterly of Huccaby Bridge were brought to life by Baring-Gould’s pen and we can find more about them in census records and newspaper accounts.
Martin and Shan Graebe at Lewtenchard Manor (photo: Mike Hedges)
Baring-Gould’s song collection is a unique record of the songs that were current among the men and women of Devon and Cornwall, and particularly Dartmoor. When we add to that his work on the folklore of the region and his observations on the lives of ordinary people it can be seen as a remarkable achievement. Baring-Gould published many of his findings as collections of songs and folklore, but his observations also provided the material for his novels and magazine articles – more than 1,240 separate publications on a host of different subjects, from saints to firewood.
He gave a number of collections to regional and national institutions before he died. This includes a fair copy and the original rough notebooks of his song collection which is in the West Devon Record Office. In 1992 a further store of songs and other manuscript material was discovered which has caused excitement among scholars in a number of disciplines. The Baring-Gould Heritage Project was created by Wren Trust working with a number of other partners to copy the various folk song manuscripts and publish them as a microfiche edition. This project was completed in 1998 and sets were placed in each of the major Devon libraries as well as in national libraries. Work continues to transcribe the songs for performance and to share with the community from which they came.
Martin and Shan Graebe concluded the presentation by singing one of the songs from the collection before answering a number of questions from the audience.
Martin Graebe
(Editor’s note: this was a truly memorable event, with Lewtrenchard Manor being the perfect setting for a talk about the work of its former owner, Sabine Baring-Gould. It was particularly special for the beautiful singing of Martin and Shan. Afterward we were given a fascinating tour of the Manor by Dr Ron Wawman, of the Sabine Baring-Gould Appreciation Society.)
A full complement of 25 members found their way down beautiful sinuous lanes to Bowden Mill, about a mile west of North Bovey on the afternoon of 15 March. Unfazed by heavy rain, our hosts Harry and Margaret James invited us into their cosy kitchen (formerly the mill itself) where, through glass, we could see some of the mill machinery – a great wooden frame and cogged iron wheels for converting the rotation of the waterwheel to drive the millstones up above. Harry explained how they had systematically and lovingly restored the remarkable complex, and created a comfortable home.
We heard how Harry had found a tinners’ mortar stone (on which tin ore was crushed by stamps) in the stream, thus proving the existence of an early tin mill on the site. But as a corn mill the site was working on a large scale in the 19th century and was restored after a fire in about 1850. Millers with the names Coleridge, Cole and Setter all worked at Bowden, with the last milling being done in about 1954-5 (some of the last on Dartmoor).
In 1993 Harry and Margaret acquired the property from Sid Setter (who had been apprenticed at Bowden as a miller, before the War). Wherever possible, original features were left intact and recycled materials used for the restoration. For example, some timber floorboards came from the Royal Hotel, Teignmouth, and some stone from Okehampton churchyard! We heard how planning permission has now been granted for a micro-hydro scheme, requiring a separate turbine house.
We were refreshed with a delicious home-made tea, and then ventured outside (where it was still raining steadily). The little stream (which tumbles down from Heatree and Coombe) was in full spate. We inspected the frame of the old 18ft x 6ft waterwheel made in an Exeter foundry (still to be fully restored), admired its underground tailrace, and were then taken up behind the mill and the workers’ cottages to a massive millpond, recently emptied of silt.
Everyone was hugely impressed with the dedication of Harry and Margaret and what they had achieved. Bowden Mill is one of those Dartmoor gems – quiet, unobtrusive, and deeply resonant of the moor’s history, but also full of potential as an example of how to adapt to the needs of modern society. It will be fascinating to watch the further development of this marvellous place. None of us really noticed the rain – we were all so absorbed by what we saw and learnt, and all are deeply grateful to Harry and Margaret for their time and hospitality.
Tom Greeves
Annual General Meeting, Talk by Chris Gregory and Presentation of Dartmoor Society Awards
60 members attended the 10th Annual General Meeting at Postbridge Village Hall on Saturday 5th April 2008.
The Chairman, Dr Tom Greeves, welcomed Peter Beacham, President of the Society, and all those attending the Annual General Meeting.
He then introduced the Guest Speaker - Chris Gregory, Deputy Land Steward of the Duchy of Cornwall, who gave an illustrated talk on ‘The Management of an Upland Estate’. He first explained the history and extent of the Duchy estate, created in 1337 and now comprising 54,648 hectares spread over much of southern England from London to Cornwall. Recently, a farm in Wales has been purchased. The Dartmoor portion of the estate (28,000 ha) is the largest single holding. The overall estate has a capital value of £552 million, and produces a net annual surplus of £14.1 million. The Dartmoor holding consists of 22 equipped farms, 121 residences, 16 pubs/shops/hotels, 13 workshops and 200 miscellaneous tenancies. It produces an annual surplus, most of it coming from residential and commercial premises. He then took two case studies for Dartmoor – 1) Farming and 2) Princetown.
Before 2005 between 60-70% of hill farming income was provided by the public purse in the form of subsidy. Now he suggested that the fundamental principle was that ‘the health of the environment will dictate the future surplus of the estate’. The shift since 2005 from a headage-based system to one based on area required new approaches in the form of partnerships.
Chris Gregory (photo © www.chrischapmanphotography.com)
Chris Gregory cited the Dartmoor Hill Farm Project as a good example of a new venture, nurturing ideas and promoting positive change. The Simmental valley in Switzerland has been visited as an exemplar where for 30 years a form of Co-operative has been in place, with branded products etc. giving ‘added value’. Farmers and tourist businesses are working hand in hand.
The Dartmoor Tourist Association has been reformed as the Dartmoor Partnership and a project manager is now employed to promote the notion of a Dartmoor product whereby people ‘buy into a little piece of the landscape’.
Princetown is a unique urban/rural challenge. It is an artificial and isolated settlement, historically dependent on the Prison (still the major tourist ‘attraction’), and vulnerable to the whims of policy. But in the 1980s the Home Office relaxed the requirement for prison officers to be resident in Princetown, and the nature of the settlement changed. Around 30% of the housing is ‘social housing’.
A plan for the regeneration of Princetown was launched in 1989, just before the property slump. It was not until the late 1990s that the first new dwellings were built. About 100 new homes have now been built, the school role is increasing, a youth centre has been refurbished and a new community centre is on its way. On the corner of Duchy Square the major new development of an Arts and Craft Centre with workshops and housing is being constructed. Consideration was given to keeping the historic Bolts Store and Morwenna House but the former was considered to be in too poor a condition (partly the fault of the Duchy) and the latter, although in reasonable condition, could not be integrated into the new complex. There is a waiting list for workshop space. There is a new vibrancy about the place.
In questions, Gerald Quinn expressed concern about the increase in vegetation on the moor. Chris Gregory acknowledged this and said it was imperative that policymakers understood how vital livestock was to Dartmoor.
Len Jones asked about the Ministry of Defence and the Duchy (the current licence for training will come to an end in 2012). Chris Gregory replied that if Government decided that there was a need for continuing training on Dartmoor the Duchy would work with stakeholders and the Prince of Wales to best accommodate that need on a principle of sustainability.
Len Jones also asked about the fate of the Chapel at Merrivale Quarry. Chris Gregory said that the Blacksmith’s Shop at the Quarry had recently been re-roofed by Nick Fell. The Chapel might need ‘a substantial rebuild’ but was ‘in the centre of the radar screen’.
Quentin Morgan-Edwards asked what the Duchy view was on military training. Chris Gregory replied that the Duchy would do what it had to do while remembering the importance of preserving the Dartmoor estate
Peter Beacham gave a vote of thanks, summing up Chris Gregory’s talk as being full of ‘clarity, candour and confidence’, and especially applauded his confident approach in the current political, social and economic climate.
The meeting then proceeded to the formal part of the Annual General Meeting.
Apologies were received from Sue and Bill Andrew, Moira Aylett, Simon Dell, Miles and Gail Fursdon, Christopher Gardner-Thorpe, Mike and Jen Hedges, Bill and Jill Smith, Martin Stephens-Hodge, Geoff and Jan Wrayford.
The Minutes of the 2007 Annual General Meeting were approved without correction.
Dr Tom Greeves then read his Chairman’s Address. Tom began by saying that it was almost exactly ten years ago to the day that The Dartmoor Society was formally launched, on 4th April 1998, in Moretonhampstead. Even before that, in February 1998, our very first Newsletter had set the scene for a ‘new and refreshing’ body addressing issues such as hill farming, use of resources of stone and timber, services in rural communities, etc, while stimulating debate about national parks, the 40 mph speed limit, historic buildings and much else. We also emphasised that social events were important too, for the success and wellbeing of the Society. It was our hope that ‘the very existence of The Dartmoor Society will change the way people think about, and respond to, Dartmoor’. A decade on from our beginnings, could we be satisfied that we had achieved our founding aims?
Tom said he felt privileged to be able to state objectively that our achievements had been very real. Firstly, we had maintained a high level of quality, consistency and integrity in our work – the record was in the public domain in the form of our splendid Newsletters. More specifically, we had been bold enough to open debate and discussion about Dartmoor issues, never before tackled properly in the post-war period.
Through our highly successful annual Debates, we had explored a fascinating range of important topics - the 40 mph speed limit, tourism, the military use of the moor, the china clay industry, buildings of the 19th and 20th centuries, national park designation, renewable energy, vegetation and the future of Dartmoor villages. These debates had met our original aim of being lively, good-humoured and informative.
The Debate which had perhaps had the most immediate influence had been the one on vegetation in 2006 – everyone is now talking about the topic, but we were definitely the first to address it in a public forum. Our Debate on renewable energy in 2002 also had a direct spin-off in the form of the Dartmoor Hydropower Survey, but also, Tom believed, in opening the eyes of officers of DNPA to new possibilities.
Since 2000 we had commented in some detail on various draft DNPA Local Plans, Management Plans and, most recently, the Local Development Framework Core Strategy. We had also tackled the Biodiversity Action Plan, the Burrator Management Plan, and proposals for MoD training on Cramber Tor, as well as the MoD Environmental Appraisal for the Dartmoor Training Area. Tom believed that our views were taken seriously and it was always pleasing when a few chinks of light appeared – for example, a realistic figure for annual visitor numbers on Dartmoor (3.8 million rather than 11 million) was now used; policies on ‘eyesores’, orchards and charcoal burning had been modified in a constructive way; and much else.
Even Burrator, the proposed treatment of which was a stimulus for the founding of this Society, had seen some progress. Our information had enabled ‘listed’ status to be given to Burrator Lodge and Dam. More recently, the Iron Store of 1901 was no longer being vilified but had a proposal for maintaining it as an educational resource, and the revival of an Archaeological Working Party was due to our efforts.
Our annual Awards had touched a wonderful range of people who often had gone largely unrecognised, and our Research Lecture and Research Fund had both got off to a promising start.
That our membership had risen from an initial 300 to approximately 600 individuals also indicated that we had been doing something right. Just as the visits we organised had consistently been highly informative, so our social events of summer Barbecue and winter Revel had been highly enjoyable.
Tom went on to say that the Society had also been very fortunate in our Committee members – in ten years we had had only three Treasurers, two Hon. Secretaries and one Newsletter Editor. He reported that Mike Hedges, who had been on the Committee since the start in 1998, first as Newsletter Editor and then with the additional role of Membership Secretary (since 2000), had decided to give up his Committee position and officer duties for personal reasons. He had made an enormous contribution to the success of the Society in the diligent and efficient way in which he had produced the Newsletter and organised the membership and subscription payments. Tom was sure members would want the Committee to mark his service in some way, and this would be discussed soon. Mike had kindly agreed to produce the June Newsletter and to maintain membership records until his replacement was in post, but his imminent departure meant that we were now looking for a new Newsletter Editor, a Membership Secretary and also a Website manager. Jen Hedges would no longer be able to continue as Minutes Secretary. So, if anyone was interested in filling one or other of these stimulating and interesting roles, they should contact Tom or any other member of the Committee.
Tom thanked all other members of the Executive Committee very warmly for their support throughout the past year. Others who must be thanked specifically were Jen Hedges for acting as Minutes Secretary, Sue and Bill Andrew for organising the Barbecue, Tony and Liz Hill for the Revel, Martin Stephens-Hodge for provision of last year’s Christmas card image, Keith and Janet Strelling for despatch of the cards, Simon Murray for being our Examiner of Accounts, and Justine Colton, Mary Alford and Graham Colton for continued reporting of livestock incidents. David Hedges had also helped with our website. Thanks were due too to Shirley Harris for replacing the Ducks Pool Memorial visitors’ book and stamp when necessary.
What of the Future? Five contemporary issues on Dartmoor were ones we must keep a close eye on:
· The state of vegetation and the future of hill farming which were inextricably linked. Somehow the stranglehold of Natural England/Defra had to be broken, and control and responsibility for management of the commons given back to the graziers.
· Renewable energy – it was extraordinary that DNPA had still not produced a renewable energy ‘plan’ for Dartmoor, as it was certain that we could produce sufficient environmentally friendly energy to meet the needs of the resident population of the national park.
· Housing and the consumption of resources – DNPA were still allowing far more new dwellings to be built than allocated in the County Structure Plan. But these errant decisions paled into insignificance given the Government’s proposals for thousands of new houses in Devon as a whole. These would almost certainly greatly increase demand for water and other resources of the moor, strain traffic capacity and services in general, and increase the recreational impact of visitors.
· Democracy – none of the 35,000 residents of DNPA could go to a polling booth and vote for a candidate standing for direct election to Dartmoor National Park Authority, despite that authority having probably the greatest influence on their lives and surroundings. Hopefully others would become aware of this ‘black hole’ in the British democratic process.
· Crownhill Down – Wolf Minerals planned to reopen the tungsten/wolfram mine at Hemerdon. This could potentially have a devastating affect on a huge area of lovely open moorland and its associated rich archaeology. Tom hoped that we would be able to forge partnerships to ensure the best outcome for this marvellous area of ground.
Tom expressed his hope that members would support our Festival of Dartmoor Literature, to be held in Tavistock over the weekend of 9-11 May 2008. Finally, he hoped that the next ten years would see us building on the links already established. We must try a little harder to be invited to some of those tables where Dartmoor issues are being discussed or decisions taken. Tom concluded by saying that we were a dynamic, thoughtful, constructive and innovative Society, with much to offer Dartmoor and its communities in the future, and as Chairman, he thank members warmly for their support and he would strive to maintain the enviable reputation we had already acquired.
***
Peter Beacham thanked Tom and paid tribute to his ‘indefatigable’ leadership of the Society over the past ten years. He said that the Dartmoor Society often reminded him of the words by W. G. Hoskins at the end of his Introduction to his book Devon in which he wrote of ‘immemorial, provincial England, stable, rooted deep in the soil, unmoving, contented, and sane.’
Peter Fillingham then presented the Hon. Treasurers’ Report. The previously circulated statement of Income & Expenditure for the calendar year 2007 was proposed for acceptance by him, seconded by Dr Keith Strelling and unanimously approved. There were no questions to the Treasurer. The Chairman thanked Peter very warmly for his careful yet relaxed style of management of the Society’s funds.
Election of Executive Committee Members
The Chairman first proposed that Peter Beacham should be elected to serve another term as President. This was seconded by Quentin Morgan-Edwards and was unanimously approved.
Peter Beacham then took the chair for election of the Chairman. Dr Tom Greeves had been proposed by Peter Fillingham and seconded by Tony Hill. His election was unanimously approved.
Tom Greeves then took the election of the Hon. Treasurer. Peter Fillingham had been proposed by Mike Hedges and seconded by Jen Hedges, and his election was unanimously approved.
Three general Committee posts were then considered: Dr Keith Strelling (proposed by D. Keeling and seconded by B. Raeke), Geoffrey Wrayford (proposed by Mrs J. Wrayford and seconded by Mrs B.M. Neason) and Dawn Hatton (proposed by D. B. Hatton and seconded by M.H. Palmer). Election of all three was unanimously approved.
Election of Independent Examiner of Accounts
Peter Fillingham put forward the name of Simon Murray who had expressed a willingness to continue as the Independent Examiner of the Society’s accounts. This was unanimously approved.
Newsletter Editor & Membership Secretary’s Report
Mary Alford, Sue Andrew, Jonathan Aylett, Ralph Aylett, Chris Chapman, Graham Colton, Tom Greeves, Dawn Hatton, Dave Hatton, Marion Saunders, Elisabeth Stanbrook and Geoffrey Wrayford, for writing articles or providing information and photographs for the Newsletter.
Since the last AGM, the number of memberships (single and family) had risen to 381. 247 members (almost exactly two thirds) chose to pay their annual subscriptions by Standing Order, a very great help in reducing administration.
Mike requested that, following subscription increases, members who have still not returned a new Standing Order or otherwise advised the Society of their intentions on membership, to please inform him of their intentions. This will help to reduce further administration.
Following his decision not to seek re-election as Newsletter Editor and Membership Secretary, Mike said he would continue with production of the Newsletter and administration of the membership database to allow time for a successor to be found. He added that, during his 10 years on the Committee, it had been very rewarding to watch the Society develop its membership base to nearly 400 and become a serious contributor to discussions on issues affecting Dartmoor. He thanked his colleagues on the Committee and the many other members who had helped him carry out his duties, and wished the Society well for the future.
Any Other Business
Karen Eberhardt-Shelton asked whether Moor Poets would be part of the forthcoming Festival of Dartmoor Literature as they were mentioned in the Minutes of the 2007 AGM. Tom Greeves replied that contact had been made with them and it was hoped that they would participate, but that there was not space within the very full weekend programme to give them a specific slot.
The Annual General Meeting closed at 4.10pm
Dartmoor Society Award 2007 and Award 2008
Thanks to the suggestion of a member, it had been decided to present future Awards at the AGM. The Society Award for 2007 was to have been presented to Eric Webber of Chagford ‘for his dedicated service to the community’ through nearly 60 years in the retail trade, but sadly he had died before the presentation could be made. However, his widow, Mrs Eileen Webber, and son Chris Webber were present to receive the Award (in the form of a unique inscribed plate handcrafted by Penny Simpson and Susanne Haines). Tom Greeves said that Webber & Sons of Chagford was a ‘shining example of a successful local business’. He also commented that it very much reflected the Society’s interest in the social and economic wellbeing of Dartmoor communities.
In response, Mrs Eileen Webber said how delighted and honoured she was to receive the Award on behalf of her late husband. Chris Webber told the meeting how proud his father was to know that he was due to receive the Award and that he had commented that it was ‘ a real award from real people’, which gave him immense satisfaction.
Chris and Eileen Webber with the late Eric Webber’s 2007 Dartmoor Society Award
(Photo © www.chrischapmanphotography.com)
The recipient of the 2008 Award plate had not been told of his selection, but Tom Greeves revealed that it was none other than Chris Chapman, who had been lured to the meeting to photograph the 2007 Award presentation. Tom paid tribute to Chris’s work as a photographer of Dartmoor, although Lancashire-born. He compared him to Ted Hughes, also from northern England, who had made Dartmoor his adopted home. Chris, too, he said, could be described as a poet and was a superlative craftsman with a very generous nature, which shone through his work. He captured the very essence of Dartmoor’s rugged culture. The Award was being made to him ‘for his outstanding documentary photography of people and place’ over more than three decades.
Chris Chapman and his 2008 Dartmoor Society Award, with left, Tom Greeves and right, Peter Beacham
(Photo © www.chrischapmanphotography.com)
Chris Chapman was completely taken by surprise, so much so that he wrote the following day to Tom as follows:-
“Now that I have recovered somewhat from the emotion and surprise of receiving the 2008 Award, I felt that I should write and say that this award, given to me by The Dartmoor Society, has really touched me. Dartmoor has been my home now for some 33 years and my affection for both the place and its people will, I am sure, keep me tied to its heartstrings for the rest of my life. I only ever intended to stay for one year, working on a set of pictures about hill farming communities that I had proposed to the Arts Council in 1975, but somehow I became sucked in, rooted and made so welcome that I simply couldn't bear to leave.
Some years ago a neighbour accused me of being unadventurous with my camera, and hinted that I should travel more and see the world. But like my old friend James Ravilious, I found enough to inspire me by staying in one place, growing with the seasons, watching the changes, scratching below its surface and recording all of its very special qualities for others to share. For me The Dartmoor Society is all part of this, a voice that stands up for its culture as well as its beauty. The calling is not a duty as such, but one that is born out of love for place. Please convey my sincere thanks to all concerned. I am honoured to have received this award and also extremely proud to be a member of such an inspirational society.”
The meeting then broke for tea at which there was a splendid 10th Anniversary cake baked by Jen Hedges. Tom Greeves thanked his wife Elisabeth for producing and organising the rest of the lovely tea.
Festival of Dartmoor Literature 9-11 May
As the keynote 10th anniversary event of The Dartmoor Society, the Festival of Dartmoor Literature could not have gone better. The weather was sunny and pleasantly warm, the staff of the Town Hall (which was a splendid venue) looked after us very well, and the speakers and performers were all excellent, with a wonderful diversity and richness of content. The atmosphere was very relaxed and refreshing, with excellent bookstalls provided by Bookstop, Geoff Cox and James Crowden. Between 50-100 people attended every session.
To have the cream of contemporary writers about Dartmoor gathered in one place was both exciting and a real delight. All presentations were memorable (some on the Sunday morning against a backdrop of music and hymns celebrating Pentecost!), but it was Tim Pears’ very personal evocation of growing up in the Teign valley which was particularly impressive.
Ancillary activities included 1½ hours of readings about Tavistock performed by the Tavonians and friends, preceded by the beautiful singing of Kate Walker performing William Browne’s songs set to music by Andrew Wilson, a visit to the inscribed stones in the vicarage garden, and dancing by Tinners’ Morris.
Left to right: Bernard Knight, Myfanwy Cook (Session Chair) and Michael Jecks
Left to right: Lillian Harry, Tania Crosse and Marcia Willett
The Festival was documented by Chris Chapman with a complete sound recording of the weekend and still photography. A full report on the Festival will be written and circulated to sponsors and others, and will be available in some form for our members too. We were fortunate to attract an Awards for All grant for the Festival which guaranteed our financial security.
Very many thanks to all who made this unique event possible.
Left to right: Tim Pears, Sue Andrew (Session Chair) and Salley Vickers
Left to right: James Crowden (Session Chair), Alice Oswald and Mark Beeson
(All photographs in this article © www.chrischapmanphotography.com)
For those who weren’t able to attend the weekend, there are still copies of the Souvenir Programme available. This is a 16-page A5 full colour booklet, with a Foreword by Michael Morpurgo, profiles of 21 speakers and performers, plus a 2-page article on ‘Dartmoor’s Earliest Writing – The Memorial Stones in Tavistock Vicarage Garden’. There are also pieces on Tavistock, the Festival itself, and The Dartmoor Society. This should become an historic collectors’ item, so do order now @ £2.50 per copy post-free from PO Box 38, Tavistock PL19 0XJ (cheques payable to The Dartmoor Society).
Tom Greeves
Dr Kevin Bishop, Chief Executive (National Park Officer), Dartmoor National Park Authority, Parke, Haytor Road, Bovey Tracey,Devon TQ13 9JQ
28 February 2008
FORMAL COMPLAINT BY THE DARTMOOR SOCIETY
Re: APPLICATION 0251/06 CONSTRUCTION OF EIGHT UNITS OF SOCIAL HOUSING OFF KNOWLE TERRACE, WALKHAMPTON
The Dartmoor Society wishes to lodge a formal complaint in respect of procedural and other matters relating to application no. 0251/06 (Construction of eight units of social housing off Knowle Terrace, Walkhampton), with special reference to the significance of the historic environment. Despite extensive correspondence with the Director of Planning & Sustainable Development (DNPA) since 20 November 2007, the Society does not feel that its concerns have been properly addressed.
The Dartmoor Society was established in 1998 to be ‘an independent voice for those who find Dartmoor a source of livelihood or inspiration’. It is a registered charity (no. 1111066) with broadly educational aims. It has a membership of some 550 persons, and has built an enviable reputation for encouraging debate and discussion about Dartmoor, based on accuracy and fairness. The Society has consistently commented in detail on DNPA Management and Local Plans (Local Development Framework) and other discussion documents, and is keen to engage in the work and thinking of Dartmoor National Park Authority.
In its earliest guise this application appeared before DNPA Development Control Commitee in October 2003 as application 0675/03 for Outline Planning Permission for building houses on the site. This had a recommendation for refusal as ‘unjustified and premature development in the open countryside’. There was no consultation with the Archaeology & Historic Buildings Section of DNPA.
The application reappeared (no. 002/05) before the Development Control Commitee on 4 March 2005, for full planning permission, with recommendation for a site inspection. The Archaeology & Historic Buildings Section recorded ‘No objection, there is no evidence of anything of archaeological significance’. The Dartmoor Society was among the objectors. The application was refused on account of the inappropriate location, the loss of a significant length of important hedgerow, the detrimental effect on the character and appearance of that part of the national park contrary to several county and national park policies, Circular 12/96 and Planning Policy Guidance Statements. The fact that the access would be likely ‘to increase the conflict of traffic movements’ was a further reason for refusal.
A new application appeared (no.0251/06) before the Development Control Commitee on 2 June 2006, with a recommendation for refusal on essentially the same grounds as in March 2005. The Dartmoor Society wrote a letter of objection dated 16 May 2006. There was no consultation with the Archaeology & Historic Buildings Section. The application was deferred, for assessment of housing needs.
The application for full planning permission appeared once more (no. 0251/06) before the Development Control Commitee on 7 September 2007, with a recommendation that it should be granted. There was no consultation with the Cultural Heritage Section (formerly Archaeology & Historic Buildings) of DNPA. The Dartmoor Society was among the objectors. It was agreed that there should be a site inspection.
The Site Inspection was held on 24 September, and the report of its panel was presented to the Development Control Commitee on 5 October 2007, with a recommendation that the application be granted, which it was. Minute 886 (included in the agenda for the Development Control Commitee meeting of 5 November 2007) recorded the decision.
C. Reasons for Complaint
Since the very first application in October 2003, Burrator Parish Council have been consistent objectors to the proposal. The Parish Council specifically requested (by emails of 17 Sept 2007 sent respectively to Sue Goodfellow and Jane Marchand) that someone from DNPA should attend the Site Inspection ‘to discuss the historic environment and the importance of the hedge bank’. Concern was also expressed in the same emails about the omission of the historic elements of Knowle and the hedge bank from the proposed Conservation Area. Nobody from the Cultural Heritage Service attended the site inspection. The Dartmoor Society feels this was a failure by DNPA in their duty, as set out in the Environment Act 1997, to foster the economic and social well-being of the local community. The consequence was that nobody with expertise about the historic environment was present at the site inspection.
The site in question is within a field bordering the south side of the Black Brook. It extends from the core of the village at its SE end to Knowle at its NW end. A hedgebank forms the south side of the field, and borders the public road between Walkhampton and Horrabridge. Walkhampton is an ancient settlement mentioned in AD 1084, and Knowle is documented from AD 1244 and is the site of a manor house. Despite the Historic Environment Record (which is always recognised to be only a partial record, constantly evolving) having an entry only for Knowle, the potential historic context of this field and the ancient road system is self-evident (see below re Conservation Area). Yet on all occasions since October 2003 when the application had appeared before DNPA members, there was no comment whatsoever on the agenda from the Cultural Heritage Service (previously Archaeology & Historic Buildings), apart from 4 March 2005 when the Service noted ‘there was no evidence of anything of archaeological significance’.
Before the DNPA meeting of 5 October 2007 members were circulated with a statement on the historic environment of the site prepared by Dr Tom Greeves, an independent archaeologist with some 40 years of continuous research and professional experience of Dartmoor’s archaeology, and a former archaeologist to DNPA (1979-1985). His statement had been requested by Burrator Parish Council in the absence of any response from DNPA (see C.1, above). He drew attention to the fact that the tithe map of c.1840 showed a very large building (now disappeared) within the planning application field, although not on the proposed site of the houses themselves. He suggested that this building might be the site of the manor house of Knowle, and drew attention to the fact that the planning application field ‘takes on special significance as the only historic open ground between the village and the manor site, and deserves recognition as historic open space.’ He also drew attention to the significance of the historic hedgerow as bordering one of the five ancient lanes leading to and from Walkhampton, and thus providing an important historic connection between the Knowle manor site and the village At the same meeting on 5 October 2007 a statement from the Cultural Heritage Service, in response to Dr Greeves’s statement, was read out to members. This was written by Jane Marchand on 25 September 2007 and its tone was generally dismissive of the cultural and historic significance of the field. Subsequently, The Dartmoor Society learnt that another statement had been provided to officers by the Cultural Heritage Service, written by Keith McKay on 25 September 2007 in response to Dr Greeves’s statement. This was much more sympathetic to the cultural and historic environment of the site, but was not provided for members at the meeting of 5 October 2007. The Director of Planning & Sustainable Development later acknowledged (letter to Tom Greeves 26 Nov 2007) that ‘reading out both statements would have reduced any subsequent confusion’.
In a letter from Chris France to Tom Greeves dated 17 Jan 2008 it was stated that an officer (Jane Marchand) of the Cultural Heritage Service visited the site on 18 September 2007. This is the only known record of a site visit by officers of the CHS, and DNPA have been unable to supply copies of any notes recording features of archaeological interest on that visit.
On 30 November 2007 Tom Greeves, on behalf of the Dartmoor Society, drew attention to four archaeological features in the field in question. None of these had previously been mentioned by any officer of the DNPA Cultural Heritage Service. The features are:
i) Significant mounded earthworks on the site of the very large building shown on the tithe map. These are visible from the proposed site of the houses.
ii) A probable leat running along the inside edge of the hedgerow bordering the road. This is a substantial ditched feature, extending 2-4m out from the base of the hedge into the field. The ditch itself, although shallow, is impressive, being 1-2m wide. Along its northern edge is a distinct levelled area 1-2m wide before the ground slopes away naturally towards the stream. The feature follows the contour and extends from the SE corner of the field (closest to the village), to a point beside the earthworks of feature (i), where the ground falls quite steeply towards the hedge forming the NW boundary of the field. It seems quite probable that this ditched feature was a leat supplying water from the Black Brook to the ancient manor of Knowle, as it follows the most logical route for such a supply. A large portion (at least 90m) of this feature will be destroyed if the proposed translocation of the roadside hedgerow takes place.
iii) An earthwork bank in the central lower portion of the field.
iv) A steep scarp on the site of the proposed houses, which is either the result of substantial flooding, or which may have an origin as a limit to which medieval tinners worked on the stream.
None of the above features was drawn to the attention of DNPA members on the site inspection, or in committee.
The hedgerow
In a letter to Mrs Luke, Clerk to Burrator Parish Council, dated 16 November 2007, Chris France, in answer (c) to specific Parish Council questions (p.6), stated that if members were to refuse the application on account of the historic significance of the hedgerow, he and his section would defend their decision if the matter went to appeal. This advice was not given to members at the Cttee meeting of 5 October 2007.
At the Committee meeting of 5 October 2007 a member wished to recommend refusal of the application because of its effect on the historic environment. He received no help whatsoever from the officers who should have advised him which policies he might consider as supporting his arguments. Instead, he was told that Local Plan Policy AH1 should be ignored.
The Dartmoor Society is specially concerned that several Local Plan Policies relative to the historic environment were never drawn to the attention of DNPA members as being relevant to the planning application. In particular we note
· Policy AH1 which is designed to protect the setting of visible archaeological remains considered nationally important. In this instance the setting of the surviving historic structures (i.e. standing buildings) of Knowle in relation to the village, plus the earthwork remains of the building (now vanished) shown on the tithe map, and the probable leat, are pertinent.
· Policy AH2 designed to prevent damage to sites of ‘local archaeological importance’ or their setting. All archaeological features in the field and at Knowle would fall into this category, especially the leat, the building earthworks, the setting of the whole Knowle complex, and the hedgerow bordering the ancient road.
· Policy BL1 is intended to protect ‘the setting of historic buildings’and ‘the integrity of historic town or village plans’ – in this instance the buildings at Knowle are relevant, as well as the field itself and the historic road system.
· Policy BL2 is designed to protect ‘open spaces’ that ‘make a positive contribution to the visual or historical character of the local built environment’.
· Policy BL4 stresses the importance of ‘open spaces’, ‘views’ and ‘approaches’ with reference to Conservation Areas. Given that a Conservation Area boundary for Walkhampton was proposed at the DNPA Development Control Committee meeting of 7 Sept 2007 (see below), this policy is obviously highly relevant to the field in question.
On 5 September 2007 Tom Greeves, on behalf of the Dartmoor Society, wrote to the Director of Park Management with comments on the report on Future Conservation Area Designations which was on the agenda of the DNPA meeting of 7 September 2007 (NPA/07/064). He drew attention particularly to the proposal for Walkhampton and argued that all the historic road system and the historic manor of Knowle, plus the field linking it to the village, should be included in any Conservation Area in exactly the same way as the church has been linked to the village by open fields (see map on p.35 of the report).
In a letter to Mrs Ward of 5 December 2007(CMF/AH/0251/06), the DNPA Director of Planning & Sustainable Development used essentially the same argument in relation to the open fields between the village and the church – ‘the fields between the church and main village are a vital component of many views and are essential to the character of the place’. The Dartmoor Society is concerned that this argument has been used to link one historic element (the church) to the village but has been denied in the case of another significant historic element (Knowle Manor) and the open field (the planning application site) which is equally essential to the character of that part of the historic settlement.
D. Summary
In summary, The Dartmoor Society believes there to have been serious failings in administrative procedure relating to this application, contrary to the purposes and duties of national parks as set out in the Environment Act 1997, which have resulted in a perverse and irrational decision to approve the application.
· The specific request of the Parish Council for advice (at the site inspection) on the historic environment was ignored.
· DNPA members were not advised that the Director of Planning & Sustainable Development was prepared to defend at appeal (if necessary) a refusal of the planning application based on the importance of the historic hedgerow.
· Archaeological features in the field in which the houses are proposed were not drawn to the attention of DNPA members.
· In particular, a significant ditched feature, likely to be an historic leat leading to Knowle manor, was never drawn to the attention of DNPA members, despite the fact that some 90m of it would be destroyed in the proposed ‘translocation’ of the historic hedgerow.
· No advice was given to DNPA members regarding the historic landscape setting of the planning application field in relation to the village and Knowle.
· DNPA members were not informed of the request by The Dartmoor Society to modify the proposed Conservation Area to include Knowle, the planning application field and hedgerow; neither were they informed of the concerns of the Parish Council that these features had been excluded.
· Several relevant Local Plan Policies (itemised above under C.4) were ignored and not drawn to the attention of DNPA members.
· No support was given by officers to a DNPA member who, in committee, wished to argue a case for refusal of the planning application on ‘historic environment’ grounds.
Tom Greeves, on behalf of The Dartmoor Society, PO Box 38, Tavistock, PL19 0XJ
28 February 2008