Saltram House

Every couple of months the Devon and Tamar Valley Team of General Managers meet up with their Assistant Director to receive briefings and share best practice. Yesterday we all met at Saltram House in Plymouth.

There are lots of exciting changes happening now at Saltram so we were given a tour so we could see and discuss what is going on. I took a few photographs – some are below and the full photo set is here.

Here’s the Team (longest caption ever…) From left to right me, Iain Beaumont (Cotehele), Dave Cooke (Finance Business Partner), Yvonne Gilbert (Senior Business Support), Lewis Paterson (Knightshayes), Gary Calland (English Riveriera), Heather Kay (Castle Drogo), Toby Fox (Assistant Director), Carol Murrin (Saltram), David Ford (South Devon), Jez McDermot (Buckland Abbey) and Phillip Smart (Killerton).

In essence Saltram House are facing two issues: firstly they are victims of their own success – over 700,000 visitors come to the Park and around 70,000 visitor the House. As a result visitor facilities are struggling are in need of improvement. Secondly the property has recently lost a very large annual grant from English Heritage and need to find new ways to generate income and therefore fund their future.

There is a big plan in the Courtyard explaining the changes – one of which is introducing a £2 car parking charge for non members

There is a brand new Welcome Centre – spacious, light and airy – a big improvement on the previous stable block

I really loved some of the interpretation in the Welcome Centre like this tree and its story

I am very fond of hares – now sadly extinct on Dartmoor – despite their mythical links with the moor, witchcraft and Easter.

A new tearoom has been opening in the old Chapel – VERY nice

Upstairs there is a craft and art shop

Including Sean Hellman‘s wonderful wooden carved birds

Otters may be hard to see in the wild but they make lovely pieces of art

I have only scratched the surface about the changes at Saltram – I suggest you go and see them for yourself – its a great day out and you can find our more here.

Spent yesterday in Plymouth, went to the Royal William Yard, the Hoe, Barbican, City Centre and Saltram. All my photos can be seen here.

It was a bit of a grey cold day but the Royal William Yard still looked impressive with its fantastic setting. It has the most impressive car parking payment system – ideal if you are touchpad savvy – a nightmare if you are not – judging by the queues most people aren’t!