Tavistock, whose architectural attractions still reflect its historic importance as an ecclesiastical centre, a market town and an industrial community, was substantially rebuilt in the 1840s by the then Duke of Bedford from the profits of the nearby copper mines.
The 20th century has seen the town revert very largely to serving the local farming community.Market Street is part of the town centre and when nos. 18-21 were purchased by the Devon Historic Buildings Trust in 1984 for a nominal £1 each from the West Devon District Council they were in a state of collapse. A public inquiry had halted a proposed redevelopment of the site but this left an apparently intractable problem. The Trust drew up plans for the conversion of the properties into maisonettes and shops, great care being taken to preserve some of the surviving 18th century facades and internal features. After considerable negotiation, grants towards the cost of the work were obtained from English Heritage and a loan of £50,000 from the Architectural Heritage Fund. Work was carried out in two stages, the sale of the nos. 18 and 19 providing funds for the completion of the scheme which was achieved in 1988. Such an ambitious project stretched the Trust’s resources to their limit.Not only had the centre of Tavistock been enhanced but it had been demonstrated that old buildings with the patina of time were capable of contributing to modern needs. The outcome has justified the generosity of the West Devon District Council which not only made the buildings available but also made grants to the Trust under the Housing Acts while the work of restoration was in progress.
The 20th century has seen the town revert very largely to serving the local farming community.Market Street is part of the town centre and when nos. 18-21 were purchased by the Devon Historic Buildings Trust in 1984 for a nominal £1 each from the West Devon District Council they were in a state of collapse. A public inquiry had halted a proposed redevelopment of the site but this left an apparently intractable problem. The Trust drew up plans for the conversion of the properties into maisonettes and shops, great care being taken to preserve some of the surviving 18th century facades and internal features. After considerable negotiation, grants towards the cost of the work were obtained from English Heritage and a loan of £50,000 from the Architectural Heritage Fund. Work was carried out in two stages, the sale of the nos. 18 and 19 providing funds for the completion of the scheme which was achieved in 1988. Such an ambitious project stretched the Trust’s resources to their limit.Not only had the centre of Tavistock been enhanced but it had been demonstrated that old buildings with the patina of time were capable of contributing to modern needs. The outcome has justified the generosity of the West Devon District Council which not only made the buildings available but also made grants to the Trust under the Housing Acts while the work of restoration was in progress.