Tag Archive for: Dulverton

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Dulverton Antiques Valuation Day

A brand new event for Exmoor – the Dulverton Antiques Valuation Day! On Sunday 25 March from 10.30am to 3.30pm a mini ‘Antiques Roadshow’ came to town!

Adam Partridge (pictured above) – a famous face from the television on Flog It!, Antiques Road Trip, Dickinson’s Real Deal and Bargain Hunt – has spoken recently on BBC Radio Somerset expressing his eager anticipation for the event. Adam said “When we were asked to offer a team of valuers for this event we instantly said yes! With our salesroom only a few miles away in Hele, we shall be visiting this area a lot in the future”.

Adam and his team of experienced auctioneers joined Visit Dulverton to host the event in Dulverton’s historic Town Hall.  Visitors were invited to bring along their antiques, jewellery, fine art & collectors’ items.  For a small fee the specialists on hand gave a valuation and history of the items that were brought along.  The fee was £5 for a maximum of three portable items per person (that were small enough to carry!). Refreshments and live music were on hand.

Visit Dulverton is also promoting the message of “repair, reuse, recycle” with other stalls at the event -including the team from the Somerset Waste Partnership who took donations of unwanted small tech for reuse (laptops, PCs, mobile phones etc) and helped visitors set up their own community repair groups.

The event was such a success that a second one is planned for Sunday September 23 at Dulverton Town Hall.  Keep an eye on the Visit Dulverton website and social media pages for more information about the event https://visitdulverton.com/dulverton-antiques-valuation-event/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Dulverton Exmoor Literary Festival “A Triumph”!

The inaugural Dulverton Exmoor Literary Festival on 19th and 20th November has been described as a “triumph” by MasterChef judge, restaurant critic and author William Sitwell.

Norman Scott

With a packed programme of fascinating author talks in the Town Hall in Dulverton on the Sunday, culminating in a sellout event with Norman Scott sharing his extraordinary life story and how he survived a murder attempt on Exmoor instigated by 1970’s Liberal politician Jeremy Thorpe.

Norman Scott signing his book, An Accidental Icon.

Creative Writing Workshops

The Saturday programme was held in Dulverton Library with local children’s author Annabel Collis hosting creative writing workshops for adults and children.  Much fun was had and storyboards created by all ages!

Children’s author Annabel Collis hosting the children’s creative writing workshop.

Children’s Authors and The Children’s Writing Competition

The Sunday began with a family audience being treated to a chat with two of Exmoor’s most loved children’s authors, Claire Barker and Victoria Eveleigh, followed by the presentation to Orla Scandrett, age 8, of the winner’s prize in the festival’s Children’s Writing Competition with her story, The Hungry Deer.  The competition judge, author Kate Lord Brown had the tricky task of judging 22 entries from across Exmoor and beyond. The runners up were Thomas Hill, age 7, and Kirsty Tyrrell, age 10.

Orla Scandrett, age 8, with her winning story for the Children’s Writing Competition. With (L to R) authors Claire Barker, Victoria Eveleigh and Kate Lord Brown.

William Sitwell

After a free yoga session at lunchtime with celebrated yogi Colin Dunsmuir, the audience was treated to a talk from William Sitwell about Lord Woolton’s task of feeding the nation during WWII.

William Sitwell gives a talk around his book, Eggs or Anarchy.

The Book Club Talk

The next popular talk was with three bestselling authors of fiction, Veronica Henry, Katherine Webb and Kate Lord Brown.  Veronica latterly congratulated the festival organisers for the warm and inviting atmosphere they had created and, along with the other writers, was delighted to have signed and sold so many books via the festival’s popup bookshop hosted by Waterstones Barnstaple.  The trio of authors were interviewed on stage by Poppy Flaxman, Manager of Waterstones Barnstaple.

Bestselling fiction authors (L to R) Katherine Webb, Veronica Henry and Kate Lord Brown.

Alice Thomson

Alice Thomson, Times columnist, then took to the stage to talk about her remarkable book outlining her many interviews with famous and successful people who had faced adversity in their early lives.

Alice Thomson signing her book, What I Wish I’d Known When I Was Young.

Rugby and the Exeter Chiefs

This illuminating talk was followed by Guardian sports correspondent and author Rob Kitson chatting with South West rugby legend Chris Bentley about all things rugby and the rise of the Exeter Chiefs.  Gossip and laughter was shared by the rugby-loving audience!

Chris Bentley and Rob Kitson sharing rugby stories on stage.

Rob Kitson signing copies of his book, Exe Men, The Extraordinary Rise of Exeter Chiefs.

Festival Feedback

Ali Pegrum, Festival Director, was delighted with how the event had gone and said, “After a long year in the planning, it was wonderful to meet this extraordinary group of writers in Dulverton and bring this new event to Exmoor.  Many complimentary comments have been received from the speakers and the audience, thrilled to have been a part of this inaugural event and hoping it will be repeated.  I’m sure it will!”

Sponsorship

The entire two-day festival had been supported by Dulverton Town Council and generously sponsored by local businesses Exmoor Character Cottages, Stockham Farm Exmoor, Exmoor News, Hedley Price Funeral Directors, Jeff Pegrum Landscaping, PFG Fabrication, Town Mills B&B, Tozers Solicitors, Ware Construction, Rothwell & Dunworth Books, Your First Book, Stags Estate Agents, Osteo & Physio Tiverton, Maitland Walker Solicitors, The Exmoor Feasting Company and The Exclusive Cake Company.

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The Dulverton Trail Fun Run and Canicross – 10 days to go!

Runners of all ages and abilities have just 10 days to enter for the second annual Dulverton Train Fun Run and Canicross on Sunday 18 September.

 

With the start and finish taking place on the Exmoor Lawns in this delightful moorland town alongside the River Barle, the routes of 2km, 5km and 10km cross beautiful Exmoor countryside around Dulverton.  Last year’s event took competitors up a steep track from Marsh Bridge to Court Down – and it became known as the Dulverton Demon!

 

Dulverton is known to be a particularly dog-friendly town and there is the opportunity to run the 5km or 10km routes as a traditional canicross race – with all the fun of letting your dog(s) help you along the paths and up and down the hills!

 

Local business Exmoor Engraving has created some unique wooden medals for all race finishers – cleverly incorporating Dulverton’s logo of the letter D and an artistic impression of an Exmoor stag.

The event has been generously sponsored by Webbers Estate Agents of Dulverton, Tarr Farm Inn and Oggies Music Shop.

 

Numbers are strictly limited so runners are advised to book their places well in advance to avoid disappointment.  Full details and booking links can be found here: www.bookwhen.com/dulvertonfuntrailrun.

 

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Vintage Fun Returns to Dulverton!

The delightful Exmoor market town of Dulverton again held its fun filled Vintage Fair on Sunday 4 September.  The Exmoor Lawns beside the River Barle thronged with people enjoying entertainment and stalls from the post war era.  Despite some light drizzle trying to spoil the occasion during the day, the show went on and the downpours stayed away!

The fabulous Liberty Sisters sang their favourite numbers from the 1940’s and 50’s, with the energetic South West Lindy Hoppers dancing and lindyhopping along.  The ebullient Hot House Combo brought their special blend of swinging jazz to get all toes tapping.  Many visitors dressed in the clothes of the period to add to the atmosphere, particularly those from the North Devon Sports and Classic Car Club who brought along their beautiful historic vehicles.

 

Clare Fairburn, one of the three singing Liberty Sisters, spoke about the event on BBC Radio Somerset earlier in the day saying: “The Dulverton Vintage Fair is one of our favourite places to perform, with a lively and friendly atmosphere and a carefully curated collection of stalls.  A not to be missed event!”

Images above capture the mood of the day, taken by local photographer Simon Ellery.

 

A wide array of stalls kept the visitors busy shopping with a great variety of vintage clothing, vintage style homeware, brocante, antiques, baskets and more.  Refreshments included a cocktail bar run by Dulverton’s own award-winning Exmoor Distillery and beer from local Wiveliscombe brewery Nuttycombe Brewery.

 

The event was generously sponsored by local businesses Exmoor Distillery and Seddons Estate Agents; and through the event the organisers and Dulverton Town Council were proud to be helping the CareMoor for Exmoor initiative which supports nature and heritage conservation across Exmoor National Park.

 

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Visit Dulverton Announces the Winners of the Photographic Competition

Earlier in the summer Visit Dulverton launched a photographic competition to find the best possible photo of the town in 2022. Since the new branding for the town was rolled out in 2021, along with the creation of the town’s Visit Dulverton social media and website, it had become evident that more images of this pretty Exmoor market town and its charming shops, cottages and businesses were needed to promote it to visitors to help support the local tourism economy.

The competition closed on Friday 15 July with a total of 75 images having been submitted.  The judge, multi award-winning photographer Rosie Barnes had a tough job on her hands!  She has now chosen a winner – the delightful image above by Joanne Davies, who will receive the generous prize from Visit Dulverton.

Rosie said: “Joanne Davies’ image of Dulverton’s iconic bridge stood out to me.  The light and colours are beautiful. There’s a reflective feel (that I imagine is how you’d feel at the water’s edge, looking at Dulverton’s beautiful medieval bridge), and the careful placing of the figures within the framework of the bridge’s arches, along with the general lines of composition throughout the image make a really well seen photograph.”

Rosie also chose five other photographs as worthy of particular mention.  All of these will be posted on Visit Dulverton’s social media over the coming days. The first, and the Competition Runner Up is Gary Scarlett’s boater on the River Barle with the iconic bridge in the frame, which Rosie described as being “full of peace and tranquillity”.

The four Highly Commended photographs are as follows:

  • Emma How’s landscape of Dulverton “nestled within the valley with beautiful meadow foreground and framed with trees is also rather lovely”.

  • Michael Pilley’s phone box with wisteria “is a fabulous riot of colour, which always gives visual appeal”.

  • Gill Whitehead’s image of Exmoor House “is a beautiful rendition of Nature’s green and blue working together”.

  • Nick Thwaites’ image of the fields above Dulverton in the snow also deserved a mention “as the skyscape is as good as the landscape”, albeit the view is not readily identifiable as having been taken in Dulverton.

Rosie summed up the competition entries as follows:

“Overall, it was wonderful to see so many photographs in and around Dulverton, a beautiful town with such visual appeal.  The brief was that the images needed to be identifiable as being taken in Dulverton and unfortunately there were a great many, some really breathtaking, that could really have been taken anywhere.  It was also a shame that some were submitted at too low a resolution to be used and there were a few children/cars etc that could have been cropped out.  The iconic bridge featured heavily amongst submitted entries, as did the old tin shack in a field and also the postbox with wisteria.

Dulverton is clearly a stunning little town and I’m envious of anyone who has the opportunity to live or spend time there, so it’s been a pleasure for me, as an outsider, to view all the beautiful entries. One last thing I would say, is that given the beauty already there, that it is absolutely not necessary to add particularly heavy filters to images. They really create an unnecessary fakeness to an otherwise naturally stunning scene. There were a couple of images I really loved, but didn’t choose them because of the filters. Nature is best and Dulverton clearly has that in abundance!”

Visit Dulverton would like to extend their thanks to Rosie Barnes for taking on the judging of the competition.  All of these images will soon be seen on the Visit Dulverton website and in social media, and all those who entered the competition will be notified of the judge’s decisions.

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Launching the all-new Dulverton Exmoor Literary Festival!

It is with a huge fanfare that Visit Dulverton announces its new and exciting event for 2022 – The Dulverton Exmoor Literary Festival!  Taking place over the weekend of 19/20 November and billed as ‘A new Exmoor festival for story-lovers of all ages!”

There will be six hour-long informal talks taking place throughout the day in Dulverton Town Hall on Sunday 20 November, given by bestselling authors and writers on a variety of topics such as politics and drama, sport, psychology, historical, romantic and crime fiction, food and wine, yoga and writing for children.

Festival-goers can expect an illuminating talk from Norman Scott discussing his recently-released memoir An Accidental Icon, looking back at his life and his much-documented turbulent relationship with 1970’s Liberal politician Jeremy Thorpe, including his attempted murder on Porlock Hill. The UK’s most respected rugby union columnist, Rob Kitson, will talk about his bestseller Exe Men: The Extraordinary Rise of Exeter Chiefs, and MasterChef judge William Sitwell, one of Britain’s leading food writers, will discuss the history of food, including the problems associated with feeding Britain during WWII – so topical today.

Festival Director, Ali Pegrum said “Since first imagining the festival at the beginning of the year, we have received an immense amount of encouragement and support from a host of authors, writers, publishers and libraries right across the South West – all keen to help promote Exmoor’s very own inaugural literary festival and encourage reading and writing for everyone. As the Southern Gateway to Exmoor, Dulverton is the perfect place to host such an event and we hope that it will be repeated annually.”

Details of other bestselling authors attending the festival will be released shortly, along with the full programme and links to ticket purchasing.  Each talk will include time for audience questions, followed by author book signing in the festival’s in-house popup bookshop provided by Waterstones Barnstaple. There’ll even be an opportunity for a brief seated yoga meditation therapy session with Colin Dunsmuir, writer and a leading voice in the global yoga community.

The winner and runners up of the Dulverton Exmoor Literary Festival Writing Competition will be announced on the Sunday, with the winning entry read out by the competition’s judge, historical fiction author Kate Lord Brown.  The competition will be open to all children from Reception to Year Six, more details to follow.

The entire two-day event has been generously sponsored by local businesses Stockham Farm Exmoor, Exmoor News, Hedley Price Funeral Directors, Jeff Pegrum Landscaping, PFG Fabrication, Town Mills B&B, Tozers Solicitors, Ware Construction, Rothwell & Dunworth Books, First Design Print Web, Stags Estate Agents, Osteo & Physio Tiverton, Maitland Walker Solicitors and The Exclusive Cake Company.

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The fabulous Dulverton Vintage Fair is back!

By popular demand, the pretty Exmoor market town of Dulverton is again holding its exciting Vintage Fair this year.  On Sunday 4 September you will discover a celebration of vintage style suitable for all the family from 12 noon to 5pm on the Exmoor Lawns beside the River Barle.  The event attracted over 1800 visitors to join in the fun last year, and it is hoped that this year’s event will be just as well attended.

The fabulous Liberty Sisters will be singing their favourite numbers from the 1940’s and 50’s with the energetic South West Lindy Hoppers dancing and lindyhopping along.  The ebullient Hot House Combo will bring their special blend of swinging jazz to get all toes tapping.  Visitors dressing in the clothes of the period are definitely encouraged!

There’ll be a wide array of stalls selling a great variety of vintage and retro clothing, vintage style homeware, brocante, jewellery, gifts, antiques, baskets and lots more.

Unique WWII military vehicles and vintage tractors will be there, as well as a host of historic vehicles from the North Devon Sports and Classic Car Club.  The organisers are delighted that this year a rare 1943 Half Track (an American armoured personnel carrier) will make an appearance at the Fair.

Traditional tea, cakes and other hot and cold refreshments will keep visitors fed and watered – including a Cocktail Bar run by Dulverton’s own award-winning Exmoor Distillery and beer from local Wiveliscombe brewery Nuttycombe Brewery.

The event is generously sponsored by local businesses Exmoor Distillery and Seddons Estate Agents; and through the event the organisers and Dulverton Town Council are proud to be helping the CareMoor for Exmoor initiative which supports nature and heritage conservation across Exmoor National Park.

Keep an eye on the Vintage Fair page for more information.

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A Day at the Dulverton Artisan Food, Drink and Crafts Festival!

What a treat it was to attend the first Dulverton Artisan Food, Drink & Crafts Festival on Saturday 9th July!  The sun shone, the flags flew and the Exmoor Lawns beside the River Barle in this pretty Exmoor market town buzzed with folk enjoying the produce from over 30 stalls.  All the stallholders were local producers from across Exmoor, the Quantocks and North Devon.  Very few food miles here!

The festival was the brain child of Dulverton’s Town Council Chair, Christine Dubery, who had gathered together a selection of some of the best local artisan producers.  She said “We wanted to create a summer event to celebrate the extraordinary variety of quality local small independent craftspeople and producers that are often difficult to discover in a rural community.  To have them all in one place in Dulverton was ideal and gave visitors on the day the chance to explore the town and its shops and eateries too.”

With free admission, festival goers enjoyed stalls selling home-produced meat, beer, cider, spirits, cakes, puddings, jams and pickles. Gifted craftspeople had stalls of clothing, homeware, leather goods, bags, gifts, pet products and more. Exmoor was fully represented with Exmoor Fudge, Exmoor Tea, the Exmoor Pizza Pod and who could resist a delicious Italian sausage roll from Exmoor Feasting or a beautifully blended Pina Colada from Exmoor Distillery?  Live music kept feet tapping throughout the day.

Families made much of the sunshine by paddling in the River Barle under the iconic medieval bridge whilst devouring ploughman’s lunches from Selworthy Pantry and ice creams from Scrumdiddly Gelato. Local business YASU Therapies were offering reiki massage experience sessions in the shade beside the river.

It was great to see members of Dulverton’s Fire Brigade chatting to visitors outside the Fire Station opposite the festival, encouraging new volunteers to join their incredible team – with the occasional loud toot from the red fire engine!

For a full list of the artisans that attended the festival follow this link.

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Dulverton’s new summer event – the Artisan Food, Drink & Crafts Festival

In the charming Exmoor market town of Dulverton, you’ll discover another brand new event to enjoy this summer – the Dulverton Artisan Food, Drink & Crafts Festival on Saturday 9th July.

Free to attend from 10am – 4.30pm in the picturesque setting of the Exmoor Lawns in the heart of Dulverton alongside the River Barle, this exciting new event will be celebrating the many artisan producers located across Exmoor, the Quantocks and North Devon.  The perfect opportunity to shop truly local and support many local small independent businesses.

You’ll discover over 30 stalls from local producers – a selection of gifts, clothing, homeware, leather goods and of course home-produced meat, beer, cider, spirits, cakes, puddings, jams, pickles… to name just a few!  There’ll be Exmoor Tea, Exmoor Fudge, Exmoor Distillery, Exmoor Engraving, Exmoor Crafts, Exmoor Feasting platters – we’re very proud to be Exmoor’s Southern Gateway here in Dulverton!

Don’t miss the Selworthy Pantry stall selling ploughman’s, teas and coffees, or the Exmoor Pizza Pod and their amazing handmade hand-stretched pizzas – and a Dulverton favourite, Scrumdiddly Gelato’s scrumptious ice cream!

Go to the festival page to learn more and to see the list of producers attending.  Supported by Dulverton Town Council.

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Dulverton Launches a Photo Competition

The branded flags and bunting are flying in the beautiful Exmoor market town of Dulverton!  With blue skies and leafy trees all around, now is the perfect time to discover some fabulous new photos of Dulverton in all its summer glory.

Visit Dulverton has launched a photographic competition to find the best possible photo of the town in 2022. Since the new branding for the town was rolled out last year, along with the creation of the town’s Visit Dulverton social media and website, it has become evident that more images of this pretty Exmoor market town and its charming shops, cottages and businesses are needed to promote it to visitors and support the local tourism economy.

The competition is to be judged by award-winning photographer Rosie Barnes and there is a generous prize to the winner.  All entries to be submitted electronically to hello@visitdulverton.com before Friday 15 July.  This gives those entering the competition time to take photos of the town during the inaugural Dulverton Artisan Food, Drink & Crafts Festival on Saturday 9 July if they wish. Photos submitted are to be identifiable as having been taken in Dulverton.

The town’s exciting and original new branding was officially launched on Somerset Day, 11th May 2021 and features the letter D formed out of the many colours of Exmoor throughout the seasons, with a cut out artistic impression of an Exmoor stag in the centre.

Terms and Conditions of Entry: Please note that all photos submitted must be your own work, must not be copied, must not contain any third party materials and/or content that you do not have permission to use and must not otherwise be obscene, defamatory or in breach of any applicable legislation or regulations.  The competition closes at midnight no Friday 15 July and all entries to be submitted electronically by that time by emailing them to hello@visitdulverton.com  All entries to be supplied in the knowledge that they will be used by Visit Dulverton to promote the town and therefore must be free of any copyright. Large high resolution files to be submitted separately. The judge’s decision is final.

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