Tavistock Guildhall Heritage Centre

26/08/2026

🌟 Thank you, Discovery Group! 🌟

And that's a wrap on another fantastic summer of Discovery Group activities at the Guildhall Heritage Centre!

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us over the summer holidays. We hope you enjoyed getting creative, solving mysteries, building, making and discovering more about Tavistock's fascinating heritage. 🏛️🏴‍☠️🕵️⛏️🌿

And, of course, a very special thank you to all the wonderful Tavistock Heritage Trust Discovery Group volunteers. Your enthusiasm, creativity and hard work have created such fun, engaging and memorable sessions for local children and families. 👏👏👏

But the Discovery Group doesn't stop when the summer holidays end…

🏫 We also welcome visiting school groups to the Guildhall Heritage Centre, helping bring Tavistock's heritage alive for pupils studying local history.

Workshops can be tailored to support different areas of learning, with sessions including Building Tavistock, Down the Mine, Our Mining Heritage, Inventors and Inventions, Crime and Punishment, and Inspiring KS3.

From exploring Tavistock's historic buildings and mining heritage to experiencing the Victorian courtroom and old police cells, these sessions provide pupils with an engaging, hands-on way to connect with the history of their local area.

📚 School sessions take approximately two hours and can be tailored to suit your focus of learning.

If you're a teacher or school interested in finding out more please contact the Discovery Group at:

📧 [email protected]

Thank you once again to everyone who made our summer sessions so special.

Don't forget we are open 10am - 4pm, Tuesday - Saturday with FREE entry. We look forward to welcoming many more young heritage explorers to the Guildhall!

25/08/2026

We're getting ready for the final summer holiday activity session at the Guildhall Heritage Centre tomorrow (Wednesday), and this time we're stepping back in time to explore Abbey Life.

Children can enjoy a morning of hands-on activities inspired by life at Tavistock Abbey, including:

✒️ Have a go at calligraphy
🌱 Plant a seed
🐝 Discover the life cycle of a bee
🧶 Try your hand at weaving
…and more!

📅 Wednesday 26th August
🕙 10.00am–1.00pm
📍 Guildhall Heritage Centre

🎟️ FREE entry – with a suggested donation of £1 per child to help cover the cost of materials.

Children must be supervised by an adult. Step-free access is available.

This is our last Discovery Group session of the summer, so don't miss the chance to join us for one final morning of creativity, discovery and family fun!

We hope to see you there!

Tavistock Heritage Trust

22/08/2026

We are here until 4pm!

20/08/2026

🌍 JUST 2 DAYS TO GO! 🌍

Join us at Tavistock Town Hall this Saturday, 22nd August, as we celebrate 20 years of the Cornwall & West Devon Mining Landscape UNESCO World Heritage Site.

✨ What can you discover?

🎥 Step inside the spectacular 360° dome film From Granite to Galaxies – a breathtaking 20-minute journey from Cornwall's granite and mining heritage to the space age. Screenings will take place throughout the day.

🏛️ Meet local heritage organisations and find out more about Tavistock's fascinating history and the World Heritage Site.

👨‍👩‍👧 Enjoy family-friendly mining activities with the Tavistock Heritage Trust Discovery Group.

🎤 Hear Simon Dell talk about Tavistock Canal and its role in our mining heritage, 2–3pm.

🎭 Meet characters from Tavistock's mining past, brought to life by Tavi Fringe.

And don't miss the Tavistock Guildhall Heritage Centre stand! We'll be sharing more about our remarkable Grade II listed building – including some fascinating before and after photographs showing how the Guildhall has changed over the years. Come and see if you can spot the differences!

📅 Saturday 22nd August 2026
📍 Tavistock Town Hall
🕥 Doors open at 10am
🎟️ FREE ENTRY

Come along, explore, discover and celebrate 20 years of our World Heritage. We look forward to seeing you there!

17/08/2026

We've been so busy we haven't told you about Simon Dell's next talk here at the Guildhall!

Courtroom Talk – Napoleonic Artwork of Dartmoor Prison

Step back in time and discover the extraordinary creativity of the Napoleonic prisoners of war held at Dartmoor Prison in this fascinating illustrated talk by Simon Dell.

To pass the long hours of captivity and earn money to buy food and extra clothing, many prisoners produced intricate works of art and astonishing miniature models. Among their finest creations were beautifully detailed ship models and even working guillotines, painstakingly carved from beef bone.

These remarkable pieces offer a unique insight into the ingenuity, skill and resilience of the men imprisoned on Dartmoor more than 200 years ago.

Join Simon as he explores the stories behind these extraordinary artefacts and uncovers this fascinating chapter of Devon's history.

📅 28th August 2026
🕡 Doors open: 6:45pm
🕖 Talk starts: 7:00pm
📍 Courtroom, Tavistock Guildhall Heritage Centre
🎟️ Free to attend – donations to support the Guildhall Heritage Centre are always warmly welcomed.

Whether you're interested in local history, the Napoleonic Wars, or the incredible craftsmanship of these prisoners, this promises to be a fascinating evening. We look forward to welcoming you.

14/08/2026

We love hearing from visitors to the Guildhall Heritage Centre. We exist so that people can enjoy our beautiful Grade II listed building, discover new stories and make lasting memories. Hearing what inspires our visitors means so much to us.

This week, mother and daughter Sue and Bel paid us a visit, and we were absolutely delighted by what they shared with us afterwards.

Bel, aged 16, created this wonderful drawing of our famous arsenic green dress, capturing its beauty and detail so perfectly. We were blown away by her talent!

Thank you, Bel, for allowing us to share your amazing artwork. We hope it inspires other visitors to look a little closer at the stories we have here at the Guildhall. 👏👏👏🎨💚

13/08/2026

Did you see the Rediscovering Tavistock Abbey project at Betsy Grimbal's Tower on BBC Spotlight tonight? Exciting isn't it!!

Interested in finding out more?

We recommend following the Rediscovering Tavistock Abbey page to keep up to date on all the latest developments.

Hopes £500k restoration can reveal Tavistock Abbey's secrets - BBC News

A project at a medieval tower aims to uncover Tavistock Abbey's hidden history.

05/08/2026

✨ Step inside an unforgettable 360° experience this August! ✨

Join us at Tavistock Town Hall on Saturday 22nd August, from 10.30am to 3.30pm, for a special FREE event celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape UNESCO World Heritage Site.

🌍 'From Granite to Galaxies' is a spectacular immersive 360° dome film that takes audiences on an incredible journey through time – from the molten creation of Cornwall's granite, through the Industrial Revolution and mining heritage that shaped our communities, to today's exciting space-age technologies and a sustainable future powered by the very minerals beneath our feet.

🎥 The immersive film lasts approximately 20 minutes, with multiple screenings taking place throughout the day, giving visitors plenty of opportunities to experience this unique attraction.

Alongside the dome experience, discover more about Tavistock's remarkable heritage by visiting information stands hosted by local heritage organisations, including:

🏛 Tavistock Guildhall Heritage Centre
🏰 Tavistock Heritage Trust
📚 Tavistock Museum
👮 Museum of Policing in Devon & Cornwall
📖 Tavistock Subscription Library
📜 Tavistock Local History Society
🌿 The Devonshire Association
⛏ Cornish Mining World Heritage Site

Families can enjoy mining-themed activities with the Tavistock Heritage Trust Discovery Group, while local historian Simon Dell will be giving an illustrated talk on Tavistock Canal and its role in our mining heritage at 2.00pm.

There will also be the chance to meet specialist conservation experts working on the Rediscovering Tavistock Abbey Project, browse heritage displays, enjoy refreshments and perhaps even bump into a few familiar faces from Tavistock's mining past as members of Tavi Fringe bring history to life!

📅 Saturday 22nd August 2026
📍 Tavistock Town Hall
🕥 10.30am – 3.30pm
🎟 FREE ENTRY

Whether you're passionate about local history, fascinated by science and innovation, or simply looking for a great day out, this promises to be an experience that's truly out of this world!

Visit Tavistock

04/08/2026

🏴‍☠️ Ahoy, mateys! We're all set for tomorrow's Discovery Group: All at Sea! ⚓

The team has been busy preparing a morning packed with pirate-themed fun, and we can't wait to welcome you to the Guildhall Heritage Centre tomorrow (Wednesday 5th) from 10.00am–1.00pm.

Children can enjoy a range of hands-on activities, including:

🗺️ Making a treasure map
⛵ Building a boat
🏴‍☠️ Creating a pirate hat
🌍 Discovering the incredible story of Sir Francis Drake's circumnavigation of the globe

While you're here, don't forget to visit our Tavistock Ship Painting interpretation area, where you can uncover the fascinating story behind this remarkable artwork and its connections to Tavistock's mercantile activities.

🎟️ FREE entry (suggested donation of £1 per child to help cover the cost of materials).

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Take a look at our photos to see what's in store, then come along and join us for a swashbuckling morning of creativity, discovery and family fun. We look forward to seeing you!

Tavistock Heritage Trust

04/08/2026

Why not pop into the Guildhall Heritage Centre to explore our latest exhibition, then have a chat with the wonderful volunteers in the Visitor Information Centre, who will be delighted to help you plan your next adventure.

There's so much to see and do in Tavistock this summer!

🌦️ Don’t let a little dampness spoil your day!

If today’s weather has put your outdoor plans on hold, why not pop into the Tavistock Visitor Information Centre in Guildhall Square?

Our volunteers know Tavistock and the surrounding area inside out and can help you make the most of your day with personalised recommendations tailored to your interests.

Looking for ideas? We can point you towards:

☕ Cosy cafés and great places for lunch
🏛️ Museums, galleries and historic buildings
🛍️ Independent shops and local makers
🚗 Scenic drives across Dartmoor
📚 Heritage attractions and hidden gems
🎭 What’s on today and over the coming days

And when the sun returns, we’ve got the area’s most comprehensive range of walking, cycling and outdoor activity maps and guides ready for your next adventure.

So if the weather has you wondering, “What shall we do today?” … come and ask us. That’s exactly what we’re here for.

📍 Tavistock Visitor Information Centre
Guildhall Square