Dartington

When Leonard and Dorothy Elmhirst bought Dartington Hall and its estate in 1925, the superb 14th century Great Hall had stood roofless for more than a century. The buildings surrounding the two large quadrangles laid out in the 1390s by John Holland, Earl of Exeter, were being used as stables, cow houses and hay lofts. The Elmhirsts were idealists and since Dorothy (née Whitney) was one of the richest American women of her time, they possessed the resources to put their ideals into practice. They restored the Hall, re-opened it as a progressive school, and set about reviving the local rural economy in line with the ideology of the Indian philosopher, Rabindranath Tagore. The Elmhirsts were closely involved in the creation of the famed Dartington Glass. Sadly, long after their deaths, their school closed in 1995 as a consequence of financial problems and a pornography scandal. But the headmaster’s residence, High Cross House, a classic Modernist building of the early 1930s has now been converted into an art gallery. Visitors are welcome here and also to wander around the 26-acre gardens, dotted with sculptures, surrounding the Hall. There is no charge for entry to the quadrangle and Great Hall, but donations for its upkeep are welcomed. Guided tours are available by appointment.

Dartington Hall hosts more than 100 music performances each year during its International Summer School, a season that attracts musicians and artistes of the highest calibre from all over the world. All year round, even more visitors are attracted to the Dartington Cider Press Centre, a huge gallery on the edge of the estate, which displays a vast range of craft products – anything from a delicate handmade Christmas or birthday card to a beautifully modelled item of pottery.