T Dartington Hall Laboratory

DATE: 1930-1994

LEVEL: Series

Run by J B E Patterson, who took over in the early stages from W K Slater, the department provided a unique service both on the estate and in the area. The soil survey of South Devon was part of the general soil survey being made in Hampshire, North Wales, Shropshire, Kent, Northumberland, Somerset, Hereford and Scotland.

The research programme included investigations into: replacement of concentrates in the ration of milking cows by dried grass; possible causes and prevention of a disease affecting sheep at Hedge Barton Farm, Manaton, and comparisons with a similar condition in New Zealand; effects on the moisture content and composition of wilting freshly cut grass; co-operative work with the Agricultural Education Association on the composition of clay fractions; and effects of applications of high, medium and low soluble slags to swedes.

A report (May 1937) defines the work undertaken by the department as: general and routine analysis - done to ensure commodities are being bought of the desired quality and that supplies continue to be consistent with this; research and investigations - done to ensure the uniformity and quality of all Dartington products for sale in the open market; intelligence covers advisory work for the farms, orchards and gardens departments on soils and fertilisers.

Staff details in the folders include J B E Patterson's work on the ARP Committee during the Second World War.

There is also a set of bound Laboratory Bulletins dating from 1934 to 1939.

The estate science laboratory was founded in 1927 with Peggy Wales in charge and was then known as the Chemistry Department. She was advised by Dr Glasstone of University College, Exeter who visited weekly. Dr W K Slater was Director of the Laboratory from 1928-1929, succeeded by J B E Patterson from 1929 until its closure in 1946.

The three functions of the laboratory as originally proposed were commerce, research and education, all closely interrelated. The main types of work were routine analysis for departments; research or investigation, information and the provision of a library available to everyone on the estate.

Samples were examined and analysed annually for departments and advice given. This included the farms, orchards, gardens soils and fertilisers, cider, apple juice; the sawmills lubricating oils and fuel; and also paints, insecticides, dyestuffs, fabrics, minerals, detergents, milk, feeding stuffs, and estate water supply. For example fertiliser trials on grassland were carried out over several years; experiments on the making and feeding value of grass silage by different processes; soil survey of South Devon; and work on a deficiency disease of sheep.

Analytical work in the terms of a soil survey for England and Wales was undertaken for the Ministry of Agriculture from 1939.

It was resolved at a meeting of the Dartington Hall Trustees in 1946 to close the department. There were three main reasons for this: the formation of the National Agricultural Advisory Service in 1946 to administer all agricultural scientific and advisory work on a national basis meant there was no longer a need for a private research station; with the departure of Dr Slater from Dartington in 1945 there was no trustee, or member of the Board of Dartington Hall Ltd, primarily interested in scientific research; and the third reason that Patterson was intending to leave. The soil survey work was to be transferred to Rothamsted.

The laboratory premises were initially located in the East Wing of the Courtyard from 1927-1928. From 1928 to 1935 it was in the Barton Workshop, formerly the old Sunday School, and from 1935 to 1946 at Central Office.

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