THE HISTORY OF THE DEVON HISTORIC BUILDINGS TRUST |
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“To preserve for the benefit of the people of the County of Devon and of the nation at large, whatever of the English historical, architectural and constructional heritage may exist in and around the County of Devon aforesaid in the form of buildings of particular beauty or historical, architectural or constructional interest, or ancient monuments”. (Extract from Memorandum and Articles of Association). Devon Historic Buildings Trust was formed in 1973 as a joint initiative by Devon Conservation Forum and Devon County Council. It seeks to acquire buildings of historic or architectural merit which might otherwise be demolished or allowed to collapse, to restore them for appropriate current use and to re-sell them, with appropriate safeguards, on the open market. The proceeds are then available for acquisition and restoration of further properties.This revolving fund principle is common to most historic buildings trusts operating elsewhere in the country. In Devon the fund was established by an initial grant of £25,000 from the County Council and a further £5,000 from other local authorities. As a result of continuing support from public authorities supplemented by private and commercial donations and by careful stewardship, the fund has increased greatly over the years. This has permitted projects of greater size to be undertaken.One of the reasons for the success of the DHBT has been its independence from the local authorities which helped to set it up while at the same time having their representatives on its Council of Management. With their disparate professional backgrounds, combined with their enthusiasm for historic buildings, members complement the Project Teams drawn from professional firms whose members have specialised knowledge of historic buildings and their preservation. In addition to itself undertaking the restoration of historic buildings, the Trust has over the years given much advice to other owners, more especially by publishing short but readable and authoritative pamphlets which have been made widely available through the District Councils and other local authorities and by sale to the public. The co-operation of local planning authorities in drawing the Trust's attention to proposals to alter listed buildings has enabled it to offer informed observations. There have even been controversial schemes which have warranted submissions to Public Inquiries in which the Trust's weight has been crucial. As well as acquiring property for rehabilitation, the Trust has also helped persuade owners that their dilapidated property is worth repairing. Success in this way is worth as much as that achieved by the Trust doing the work itself.The purpose of this leaflet is to illustrate the Trust's “track record” over time period. The projects described are diverse in character and scale but involve relatively modest structures. Collectively they form a vital part of our heritage and both the resident population and the numerous visitors to Devon would be the poorer had they not been saved. In the early days some of the projects were over-ambitious for the limited resources then available but the Trust was nevertheless able to playa decisive role in encouraging and supporting others to take them on.Time and money will continue, as in the past, to limit the number and scope of the projects the Trust can undertake. The need for its intervention is endless but only by the continued support both of the local authorities and the public can it keep up its present level of work. But the greatest need, and the only way of guaranteeing the future of the Trust, is public subscription. You may wish to join the Friends of the Devon Historic Buildings Trust, to make a donation, large or small, regularly during your lifetime or by a testamentary bequest. If so, you will find details of how to do so from the Trust. Think what could be achieved by the combined contributions of all the people in Devon who love the visible reminders of the County's history. |
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