T Dartington Amenity Research Trust

DATE: 1958-1993

LEVEL: Series

Administration and Research records for: Dartington Amenity Research Trust (DART); Dartington Institute of Community Studies (DICS); Dartington Institute (DI); Dartington Centre for Education and Research (DCER); and Dartington Action Research Trust. The records were primarily accumulated by Michael Dower and Peter Downing through their roles as Directors of the various activities.

Subjects include: the formation; administration; research programme; publication of research reports; finance; appointments; development; meetings; mergers; and dissolution of the various activities.

Material includes: correspondence; research reports; publications; minutes; papers; pamphlets; leaflets; maps; plans; photographs; press cuttings; news letters; and journals.

Dartington Amenity Research Trust (DART) was established in 1967 by the Dartington Hall Trust in association with the Leverhulme Trust as a charitable trust and independent unit, primarily to study recreation in the countryside and related aspects of rural and urban amenity. The interest of DART were national in scope and included: the study of natural resources and their use; rural land use and economy; social welfare; tourism and recreation. In the initial phase, the work of DART was concentrated on tourism and recreation and their implications. This was especially in relation to Dartington and their own properties as research on these themes was of direct value to Dartington and through Dartington, a wider circle of people. DART believed in contributing to thought on tourism and recreation by carrying out practical experiments and by doing controlled research on them.

For the first six years DART concentrated on recreation and tourism developing four main strands (research, practical experiment, advisory work, education and publication) in order: to show how diverse rural resources can be used for recreation and tourism, consistent with conservation and to the benefit of the rural economy; to study the implications of recreational use of resources, particularly the environmental impact, and the problems of method management; to advise Dartington Hall Trust and associated groups on the aspect of land development and management; and to contribute to public discussion and action in relation to the environment of Devon and the South West. For the following years DART was concerned with: resource planning; rural land use; heritage conservation; planning for leisure; and social and economic needs of communities. By 1980, leisure had lost it's prominence on the political agenda, so DART concentrated on land use and management and social and economic development. This move was very significant in bringing credit to Dartington and notable achievements of projects completed in the 1980s, but it also incurred growing financial commitments.

Dartington Institute of Community Studies (DICS) was established in October 1980 by the Dartington Hall Trustees and the Institute of Community Studies. DICS operated as a department under the Dartington Hall Trust with finance from the Elmgrant Trust. Michael Young was the Chairman and Michael Dower acted as Director. DICS engaged in research, policy studies, educational activity and practical innovation. Its focus was on the social and economic viability of communities, self-help within communities, personal, social and cultural development, and responsible use of resources. DICS acted as a means to express Dartington ideas to the outside world and introduce outside ideas into Dartingtons internal planning. It also acted as source of advice and modest grant aid for local enterprises.

In 1981 it became necessary to rethink the future of DART. This coincided with thoughts about the function and future of DICS. Although they were separate different identities they were linked by Michael Young and Michael Dower. In 1982 DART and DICS were merged under the joint trading name of Dartington Institute.

This created a complex legal position. DART was a charitable trust without incorporation or limited liability. DICS not a legal identity therefore operated under the legal umbrella of DART. DI was not a legal name therefore a new legal body Dartington Centre for Education and Research (DCER), a charitable company limited by guarantee was established to provide a frame work for the Institution. By 1984, DI became the trading name incorporating DICS and as an associate of DART, DCER the legal name with DART remaining as a legal identity used for continuing contracts but its accounts were merged with DI.

In 1985 Michael Dower resigned as Director to become Chief Officer of the Peak District National Park and Peter Downing was appointed Director. In 1986, Dartington Centre for Education and Research became Dartington Action Research Trust. DI remained the trading arm of the new DART and in 1987 it was converted into a limited company. In 1988, DI (DART) was wound up as an independent unit and became a department of The Dartington Hall Trust. Its library was handed over to Seale-Hayne Agricultural College, and its archive retained on the Dartington estate.

Information for Researchers

All papers belonging to The Dartington Hall Trust Archive (with the exclusion of Dartington Hall School pupils individual records) are held at the Devon Record Office. All enquiries relating to research should be made to Devon Records Office, Great Moor House, Bittern Road, Sowton, Exeter, Devon EX2 7NL
+44 (0)1392 384253
+44 (0)1392 384256
devrec@devon.gov.uk
www.devon.gov.uk/record_office

The following requests should be made direct to the Archives & Records at The Dartington Hall Trust as shown below:
Copies of images as seen on The Dartington Hall Trust online catalogue with appropriate reference number (Ref No.)
Permission to publish or quote from any document held in the Dartington Hall Trust Archive
Former pupils of Dartington Hall School wishing to view their records
Archives & Records
The Dartington Hall Trust
Dartington Hall
Totnes TQ9 6EL
01803 847200
yvonne.widger@dartington.org

This information is copyright The Dartington Hall Trust