Dartington Hall Deer Park Walls

DARTINGTON SX76SE SX86SW DARTINGTON HALL 1/128 & 2/128 Dartington Hall Deer Park walls

II

Deer park boundary walls. Circa 1325 in origin, although the walls appear to have been reconstructed later. The existing wall is built of limestone rubble with a rubble capping with a string course. The wall on the east, south and wet sides of the park is virtually complete although it has been breached for gateways in places and a section has been rebuilt on the south side, probably in the C19. Also on the south side a short section has fallen recently (1986 survey). Most of the north side along the banks of the River Dart has been destroyed but the foundations can be seen in places. These walls may replace original palings. The existing wall encloses an area of about 66 acres, but the medieval estimate was about 100 acres. There is an internal ditch along the north west section where the land falls steeply away to the River Dart. A short section in the north west side is actually in the river when it is in flood. The park may have been a compartmented park; for the west section has remains of a massive stone rubble internal wall and earth banks. Another enclosure is Park Copse, an area of high ground to the north of the centre with a steep slope on the north side which drops down to the water meadows of the River Dart. Both enclosures are woodland but the remainder of the park is arable farmland apart from the meadows to the north. The park was enclosed and stocked with deer by 1325. The Martin family held Dartington from circa 1107-1359 and the enclosure of the park may date from Nicolas Fitz Martin's obtaining a "free warren" in his manor from Edward I (1272-1307). In May 1326 it was estimated that the park covered 100 acres. Source: A Emery Dartington Hall, pp 17 and 20

Listing NGR: SX7942663418