Ten Notable Grade I Listed Buildings in Devon
A walk
through
Devon, from the sand dunes of UNESCO
Biosphere Reserve Braunton Burrows to the Agatha Christie Mile in Torquay, proffers
one unforgettable experience after another. Modestly populated and exquisitely
framed by channels
Bristol
and English, the vast county unfurls bountiful, spectacular scenery at every
turn.
Man-made
landmarks form a significant portion of
Devon’s
charm however, especially for sharp-eyed, curious amblers. With the best of
Devon mere hours by rail from Piccadilly
hotels in
London,
here are ten notable and far from pedestrian Grade I listed buildings in the
county.
Dartington Hall, Totnes
A faithful
restoration saved Dartington Hall from ruin in the late 1920s. Nestled on 4.9
square kilometres, the Grade I gem and medieval hall is now home to a
charitable trust and international summer music school. Visitors are most
welcome to stroll the gardens, stay at the on-site bed and breakfast or dine at
the White Hart Bar and Restaurant.
William
Blake plague at Dartington Hall – Photo credit
Rougmont Castle,
Exeter
Devon’s county town is no stranger to heritage landmarks.
Exeter in fact, contains
no less than sixteen Grade I listed buildings.
Superlative Rougemont
Castle is notable for two reasons. Built at the behest of William the
Conqueror, the structure dates back to the 11th century and has
only recently been open to the public after a millennium of crown occupation.
Photo credit
Knightshayes Court, Tiverton
A masterstroke
of Victorian architecture, Tiverton’s grand
Knightshayes Court is a jewel of the
National Trust. The country estate contains one of only three stické courts
left in the world.
Photo credit
Bickleigh
Castle, Bickleigh, Mid
Devon
The
strategic shores of the River Exe in Mid Devon district host the diminutive
village of
Bickleigh’s magnificent Norman manor
house. The earliest portions of the fortified estate herald back to the late 11th
century.
Royal William Victualling Yard,
Stonehouse
The
Stonehouse suburb of
Plymouth contains one of
the most expansive Grade I inscriptions in
England. The Royal William
Victualling Yard, a former Royal Navy depot, spans nine heritage landmarks
on one 65,000 square metre site. Open to the public, the mixed-use development
has won numerous honours in the realm of heritage conservation.
Photo credit
Buckland Abbey, Buckland
Monachorum
This
National Trust abbey house near the
village
of
Yelverton was built
for a Cistercian order in the late 13th century. Sir Francis Drake bought
the property in 1580 and generations after his death, Buckland remained in the
hands of the famous navigator’s family.
Photo credit
A La Ronde, Lympstone
An
unusual late 18th century, sixteen-sided house outside of Exmouth, A
La Ronde is one of the more visually arresting landmarks in
Devon.
The
Church of
San
Vitale, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in
Ravenna,
Italy,
apparently inspired the home’s unorthodox design.
Compton
Castle,
Compton
A notable
cinematic backdrop, Compton Castle
is a marvellous fortified manor and former abode of Sir Walter Raleigh’s
half-brother. The castle interior is a nonpareil example of medieval domestic
quarters.
Photo credit
Royal
Albert
Bridge,
Plymouth
Plymouth’s
Royal
Albert
Bridge
is a prominent city symbol. The brainchild of eminent 19th century civil
engineer, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the River Tamar span is
Devon
icon.
Photo credit
Ugbrooke
Park, Chudleigh
A valley
country manor outside of Newton Abbot and
Exeter,
Ugbrooke
Park was part of the Domesday Book
survey over nine-hundred years ago. The sublime property was in private hands
until 1992. Visitors can now stroll about and enjoy the wonderful Grade I
landmark at a leisurely pace.