Hartland Abbey and Gardens at Hartland North Devon.



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Hartland Abbey Newsletter

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Summer 2007

We have been very busy this summer with functions, weddings and filming. Hartland Abbey is fast becoming a sought after wedding venue; we now have a Civil Licence for three rooms in the house plus the tiny Gazebo overlooking the sea and the Summerhouse in the Walled Gardens . Marquee receptions on the lawns overlooking the parkland are very popular, with the sun setting over the cliffs to the west but the peacocks, donkeys and black sheep are less enthusiastic! There are so many different marquee sites here, with our beautiful coastline a particular favourite. The holiday cottages, Blackpool Mill and The Bear, are also being booked by wedding guests as convenient and fun places to stay.

BBC Filming of ‘Sense and Sensibility’

During May the BBC spent three weeks here for the filming of Jane Austen’s classic, ‘Sense and Sensibility’, adapted by Andrew Davis. Janet McTeer, Mark Williams and a star studded cast braved the rain and gales which May so cruelly provided for them! Our car park was the unit base with all the usual paraphenalia associated with filming – huge lorries for make up, catering and costume, actors’ winnebagos, horses, carriages etc; it was very exciting! The donkeys had a particularly good time; the smart horses used in the film arrived with some very special hay most of which was stolen by the very greedy donkeys! Our visitors were amazed to see actors and actresses wandering about in period costume or coachmen buying ice creams; it was certainly an added attraction. At the end of the week all the huge vehicles cleverly departed without leaving a sea of mud for which we are eternally grateful.

Blackpool Mill Cottage was transformed with some beautiful additions and a particularly lovely seaside garden, but the rest is secret! The BBC plan to screen this in the autumn and it certainly looks a wonderful production.

Highgate Junior School Reunion

Hartland Abbey has just hosted a reunion for the boys who were evacuated here in the War. It was a very happy occasion with plenty of time for reminiscing about the extraordinary two years from 1939 – 41 that these small boys spent here. Most had come from north London and arriving at the Abbey on their own, some aged only 6, was a life changing experience. Climbing trees, tickling trout, making campfires, being attacked by a fierce peacock called Henry, religious education by the renowned Prebendary Gregory; all have stuck in their memories for ever. The Dining Room was a dormitory called Puffing Billy! The Reunion was organised by Professor Ross Kessel and we were very honoured to be joined by the current, new Headmaster, Adam Pettitt. 15 ‘boys’ attended plus wives, partners and families and after photographs, a huge buffet lunch and a walk around the gardens many returned in the evening for another get together! It is hoped that there will be another Reunion next year on 6^th June 2008.