Summary
In the 14th century, the World Heritage town of Tavistock was designated as one of Devon’s four Stannary Towns by King Edward I. Drawing on the mineral-rich soils located at the western edge of Dartmoor, these towns provided tin to much of Europe.
Metal mining was a significant occupation for centuries, reaching its zenith in the 19th century during a copper boom.
Tavistock’s most renowned figure is Sir Francis Drake, the privateer and explorer, who resided at Buckland Abbey for 15 years.
From the late Medieval period to the 20th century, Tavistock’s narrative was intertwined with the Earls and Dukes of Bedford, who were responsible for the splendid ensemble on Bedford Square and a distinctive style of vernacular architecture visible throughout the town.
1. Dartmoor
Tavistock is situated on the western boundary of a national park that spans 954 square kilometers.
This ancient granite moor features hilltops with exposed rocky outcrops known as tors.
The highest of these is High Willhays, approximating 620 meters above sea level.
Between the peaks are misty, boggy areas that inspired Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Hound of the Baskervilles.
A notable aspect of the landscape is the Dartmoor Pony, a semi-wild breed that roams freely across the moors.
The National Park Visitor Centre in Princetown, where Conan Doyle once stayed, is an excellent resource for maximizing your experience in the park.
The center offers an interactive introduction to Dartmoor’s wildlife, a conservation garden featuring regional species, and temporary exhibitions held in a former ballroom.
2. Tamar Valley
Located south and west of Tavistock is another protected area straddling the Tamar River on the way to Plymouth.
The Tamar Valley is recognized as both an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and part of the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Visiting the valley’s lush greenery and medieval stone crossings, one would hardly suspect that over 100 mines once operated along the banks, extracting tin, lead, silver, and most significantly, copper.
The export docks at Morwhellam Quay function as an open-air museum, illustrating the valley’s copper trade during the 1800s.
Cotehele, another notable excursion, is a late-medieval mansion situated on an estate that provided silver to the Royal Mint.
3. Pannier Market
Henry I granted Tavistock the right to hold a weekly “Pannier Market” in 1105, and this tradition has continued for 900 years.
The term “pannier” derives from the baskets used for transporting goods.
The Pannier Market operates in a grand covered hall from Tuesday to Saturday, between 09:00 and 16:30. Historically, the primary market day is Friday, known as the Charter Market.
On this day, visitors can purchase local fresh produce, as well as specialties such as freshly ground coffee and olives sourced from Spain.
Tuesday is dedicated to antiques and collectibles; Wednesday and Thursday feature mixed markets with a focus on crafts, while Saturday varies between collectibles and arts and crafts.
4. Buckland Abbey
As the name indicates, this splendid residence was converted from a Cistercian monastery established in 1278 following the Reformation.
Visitors can observe the arches, pillars, and remnants left on the walls by the lost adjoining church, along with the Great Barn of the monastery.
In 1541, Buckland Abbey was sold by the crown to Richard Grenville, a Member of Parliament, whose son Roger commanded the Mary Rose, tragically losing his life when it sank in the Solent in 1545. Francis Drake resided at Buckland Abbey for 15 years, and his collateral descendants remained until 1946, when the property was transferred to the National Trust.
The interior features period details from the Elizabethan to Victorian eras and is filled with remarkable museum pieces.
A meticulously crafted replica of Drake’s Drum, a snare drum that Drake carried with him on his voyages, is prominently displayed, emblazoned with his coat of arms (the original is kept in climate-controlled storage), alongside a self-portrait by Rembrandt, recently verified in 2014.
5. Merrivale
Among the most remarkable remnants of prehistoric habitation on the moor is Merrivale, a Bronze Age settlement comprising a complex of ritualistic sites.
The site dates back approximately 4,500 years and was likely used until around 1000 BC. Visitors can explore a stone circle, a stone row, two stone avenues over 200 meters long, several standing stones, and numerous burial mounds.
A notable feature is a stone burial chamber (a kist), which, when opened, revealed sharpened flints and a whetstone for polishing stone tools.
Merrivale also interconnects with more recent archaeological findings, such as the remnants of tin mining and smelting buildings alongside the River Walkham and its tributaries, as well as a granite quarry that remained operational until the 1990s.
6. The Garden House
Situated in a valley on Dartmoor is a beautiful garden frequently regarded among the finest in the nation.
The Garden House serves as a horticulturist’s paradise, showcasing over 6,000 varieties and inspiring visitors from March to October.
Here, a naturalistic planting approach allows flowers to blend seamlessly, resulting in unique and vibrant color combinations.
The centerpiece of the garden is the walled area, with a 16th-century vicarage tower overseeing the entire space.
Other noteworthy areas include a bulb meadow in spring, a South African garden, a cottage garden, and an acer glade.
The Garden House also refers to the mansion that replaced the vicarage in the 1800s, offering an elegant space for coffee or afternoon tea.
Visit to appreciate the crocuses in March, the rhododendrons and azaleas in spring, and the vibrant display of Japanese maples during autumn.
7. Tavistock Museum
This appealing town museum is managed by a team of dedicated volunteers and is located in the historic Court Gate adjacent to the Town Hall.
The primary exhibition space occupies two rooms on the first floor, where visitors can delve into Tavistock’s mining heritage and discover Sir Francis Drake’s connections to the town.
Exhibits include an impressive collection of rock specimens sourced from mines in the Tamar Valley, along with preserved mining tools, and a video presentation detailing the history of the Benedictine Tavistock Abbey, founded over a century before the Norman Conquest.
Additionally, one can explore displays related to Tavistock’s approximately three hundred “Bedford Cottages”, unique houses built according to an innovative template in the mid-19th century.
8. Town Hall
Presented to the town by the 7th Duke of Bedford in 1860, Tavistock’s town hall showcases vernacular architecture (Bedford Style), characterized by Perpendicular Gothic Revival elements.
This striking building features clustered chimney stacks, decorative battlements, a slate roof with four dormers, and an elegant central oriel adorned with its own delicate crenellations.
The main hall possesses impressive dimensions, accommodating 400 beneath its finely carved oak beams.
The Town Hall often serves as a venue for weddings, but it also hosts various activities like yoga classes, a recurring flea market, and exhibitions by local art groups.
9. Tavistock Canal
This waterway was constructed in the early 19th century to transport goods such as copper ore, slate, and limestone between Tavistock and the major inland port at Morwhellam Quay, located ten miles south on the River Tamar.
Although the Tavistock Canal does not accommodate boat traffic, visitors can walk along its towpath to admire stone bridges, ancient locks, picturesque waterfront cottages, and the solemn Shillamill Aqueduct.
For an enlightening afternoon, an open-air museum at Morwhellam Quay preserves the historical village, two copper mines, the docks, quaysides, and a Victorian farm.
No intact barges from the Tavistock Canal remain; however, the museum displays a wrought iron rudder salvaged from the waterway in 1976.
10. Dartmoor Prison Museum
Few prisons in the UK possess such notoriety as HMP Dartmoor, which has been operational for over 200 years and stands as a prominent structure in the heart of the National Park.
Among its notable former inmates is Éamon de Valera, President of Ireland, imprisoned for his role in the 1916 Easter Rising.
The prison museum housed within 19th-century dairy buildings unveils the establishment’s origins as a prisoner of war camp during the Napoleonic Wars and examines the evolving purpose of the facility over the decades.
An array of artifacts, including arts and crafts created by inmates along with model carts and boxes made from mutton bones by French prisoners of war, is on display, alongside seized contraband, crude weapons, manacles, and uniforms.
A poignant exhibition narrates the experiences of conscientious objectors detained at Dartmoor during the First World War.
11. Tamar Valley Donkey Park
Across the Tamar in Cornwall lies a sanctuary for donkeys rescued from farms and homes.
The park is home to over 20 amiable donkeys, ranging from just a couple of years old to 35. The Donkey Park relies on entry fees for its operations, emphasizing the well-being of its inhabitants.
Children can engage in feeding and grooming the donkeys and taking them on short walks.
Additionally, the park features sheep, pigs, and playful goats known to “pickpocket” visitors, along with guinea pigs and rabbits eager for cuddling.
Visitors may also enjoy refreshments at Holly’s Cafe, which serves cream tea, and children can expend energy in both indoor and outdoor play areas.
12. St Michael’s Church, Brentor
Brentor refers to a village at the base of Brent Tor, a 330-meter hill.
This formation is the remnant of a weathered Carboniferous volcano, composed of lava and breccia that erupted through ancient seas millions of years ago, subsequently transformed into a hillfort during the Iron Age.
Crowning Brent Tor atop these prehistoric earthworks is St Michael’s Church, arguably boasting one of the most spectacular locations in the country.
The church is constructed from volcanic stone, dating back to the 13th century, with modifications made in the 15th century.
It accommodates 40 worshippers and contains a 17th-century memorial stone on the north wall, along with a 15th-century font featuring an octagonal stem and base.
On the southern outer wall of the tower, a slate sundial is carved with the 12 signs of the zodiac, dated 1642.
13. Church of St Eustachius
A remarkable example of Perpendicular Gothic architecture located on Bedford Square, Tavistock’s parish church serves as an important historical document of the town’s Medieval heritage.
The church was largely completed between 1350 and 1450, incorporating the southernmost Clothworkers’ Aisle, which highlights the significance of the textile industry to Tavistock during this period.
Among the notable features are the 14th-century water stoup, an octagonal baptismal font carved in the 15th century, roof bosses from the 15th century, and tomb monuments dating from the 1600s (Fitz and Glanville). Additionally, the 19th-century stained glass is exquisite, including a window created by the illustrious Arts and Crafts artist William Morris.
14. Cotehele
Located downstream from Morwhellam Quay on the Cornish side of the Tamar River is a Grade I Medieval and Tudor residence that remained in the ownership of one family, the Edgcumbes, until the 20th century.
Cotehele’s origins trace back to the early 1300s, though the existing structure was erected over two phases between the 1480s and 1520s.
Thereafter, minimal alterations have been made to this magnificent granite and slate mansion, a testament to the estate’s rich silver resources.
From March to October, the house can be toured to view historically significant furniture and fixtures like the Cotehele clock, which was installed around the beginning of the 16th century, and stands as the UK’s earliest turret clock in situ.
The grounds of Cotehele are open year-round and extend down to the Tamar, where visitors can find Cotehele Quay.
Docked at this site is Shamrock, the world’s sole ketch-rigged Tamar sailing barge, constructed in 1899, with the Edgcumbe Tea Room providing delightful cream teas by the fire.
15. Farmers’ Market
On Bedford Square, in front of the stately Town Hall, Tavistock hosts its farmers’ market on the 2nd, 4th, and 5th Saturday of the month from 09:00 to 15:00. Purchasing directly from producers promotes sustainability and supports the local economy.
Visitors have the opportunity to engage with stallholders, the individuals responsible for growing, baking, rearing, catching, smoking, pickling, or brewing the produce, who are eager to discuss their offerings.
The market was recognized as Devon Life’s “Best Farmer’s Market” in 2018.
