The building at 4 Market Street, Tavistock, has a rich and varied history. From its early days as part of Germans Boot Making Empire to its role in the thriving Millbay Laundries since 1935, it has seen many transformations. The discovery of the ship painting during the 1986 renovations added another layer to its intriguing past.
Interest in the building surged in the late 1980s. Heritage guru Peter Beacham photographed the ship painting and mentioned it in "Devon Buildings," a book he edited that was first published in 1990. Later, in 2004, the redoubtable Graham Kirkpatrick updated the Historic England listing, providing a detailed description of the building's interior. His succinct summary noted the presence of 16th-century moulded beams, now cut off and replaced by 20th-century steel girders, and the ship painting on the left side-wall, also believed to date back to the 16th century.
The building’s architecture has evolved significantly over the centuries. The upper storey, with its 16th-century moulded beams, is a testament to its historical significance. However, the renovations in the 1980s, which included cutting through these beams and installing RSJ supports, altered its original character. Despite these changes, the discovery of the ship painting has ensured that the building remains a site of historical and cultural interest.
The Tavistock Times article might have downplayed the importance of the ship painting, but local historians recognised its value. The painting, hidden beneath layers of old lime and hair plaster, has preserved a piece of history that offers a glimpse into the past of this remarkable building. As we delve deeper into its story, we uncover more about the building's significance and its place in Tavistock's rich heritage.
You can see the Ship Painting exhibit and digital reconstruction of the painting in the Tavistock Guildhall Heritage Centre prior to its official launch on September 6th.
On September 6th at 1630 Join Dr. Geri Parlby from Tavistock Heritage Trust for a talk on the rediscovery of this one of the UKs best-preserved Tudor ship wall paintings.
Tavistock Heritage Trust are working with partners to restore and save the painting if you would like to make a small donation to support this valuable work please follow this link.
If you would like to find out more about the array of projects Tavistock Heritage Trust are currently involved in follow this link https://www.heritageintavistock.org/our-projects
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