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Whiddon Park

Introduction

Whiddon Park is a substantial remnant of the large manor house of the Whiddons. The site was probably a medieval deer park and the walls may be medieval as well.

The deer park is at the entrance to the Teign gorge. The site was probably a medieval deer park and the walls may be medieval as well. They are made of granite rubble but carefully built using large pieces of granite. The wall is intact and stands up to three metres high in places. It has a flat top projecting very slightly. There is a ditch on the inside of the wall. The wall encloses the park which originally belonged to Whiddon park House and there is a gateway through it to a drive from the house.
Visitor Access, Directions & Contacts
History

Whiddon Park is a substantial remnant of the large manor house of the Whiddons. The estate was bought by the Drew family of Castle Drogo. White (1850) noted ‘the ancient mansion and woody park of 300 acres'. Stockdale described it as a ‘mansion built in the Elizabethan style and the surrounding scenery of the Park and Wood bounded by the Teign is remarkably beautiful. The Park is in extent nearly 300 acres'.

Period

Medieval (1066 to 1540)

Features & Designations

Designations

  • The National Heritage List for England: Listed Building

  • Reference: Coach house and stable adjoining
  • Grade: II*

  • The National Heritage List for England: Listed Building

  • Reference: Deer park wall
  • Grade: II

  • Local Nature Reserve

  • Reference: Nature Conservation Zone

  • National Park

  • Reference: Dartmoor

Features

  • Boundary Wall
  • Description: The deer park walls may date from the medieval period. They are made of granite rubble but carefully built using large pieces of granite. The wall is intact and stands up to three metres high in places. It has a flat top projecting very slightly. There is a ditch on the inside of the wall. The wall encloses the park which originally belonged to Whiddon park House and there is a gateway through it to a drive from the house.
  • Ditch
  • Description: There is a ditch on the inside of the park wall.
  • Stable Block
  • Pond
  • Description: The old mill pond (now dry, since the 1950s) that served the water wheel nearby. No reference to the mill itself has been found.
  • House
  • Deer Park
  • d
  • Wall
Key Information

Type

Park

Purpose

Ornamental

Principal Building

Domestic / Residential

Period

Medieval (1066 to 1540)

Survival

Part: standing remains

Open to the public

Yes

Civil Parish

Chagford

References

References

Contributors

  • Devon Gardens Trust

  • D.D. and S. Hill