Tavistock Subscription Library

31/07/2026

Lift off!

25/07/2026

Tavistock's heritage library in Guildhall Square will be open for Heritage Open Days 11, 12, 18, 19 September 10-4. See you soon.

10/07/2026

There are moments in every major project when years of planning suddenly become real.For the Rediscovering Tavistock Abbey Project, this is one of them.If you've walked along Market Road recently, you'll have noticed that protective barriers have appeared around Betsy Grimbal's Tower and a temporary...

24/06/2026

Tavistock's old lady of a library is 227 years old today, midsomer day 24th June 2026.

This letter dated 9 May 1823 from the 6th Duke of Bedford at Woburn Abbey, addressed to John Carpenter at Mount Tavy, thanks the Tavistock Publick Library subscribers for thanking him for a gift of books, and for enquiring after his health which he says is in a "very precarious state".

The letter is in safe storage at The Box in Plymouth.

13/06/2026

The Subs Library is open till 3pm in support of the Devonshire Association' s Discovery Day in the Town Hall. All welcome. Some nice unusual exhibits out for your delectation.

02/03/2026

21/02/2026

Join local guide Simon Dell for this intriguing evening stroll looking at the darker side of Tavistock which he patrolled as a police officer on many dark winter evenings. Murder, su***de and other dastardly occurrences will be discussed on our walk. Not for the faint hearted.

21/02/2026

📣 Event Reminder – Friday at 7pm!

Join us on Friday, 27th February for Simon Dell’s upcoming Guildhall Talk about the Reverend Bray’s intriguing carved boulders on Dartmoor.

Come along to hear about this curious character, his bardic runes, and the fascinating carvings that form part of his “Sermons in Stones.”

🗓 Friday, 27th February
🕖 7:00pm
📍 The Courtroom, Guildhall
🎟 Free to attend (donations to the Guildhall are always welcome)

You can also view the “Keeping the King’s Peace” exhibition in the Robing Room from 6:00pm before the talk begins.

A great evening of local history awaits. We hope to see you there!

15/02/2026

Thanks for the mention, THT. The subs library is staffed by volunteers every Friday 10-12 when all are welcome to pop in to read, browse, ask questions. A thriving independent local studies library and a charity funded by members' subscriptions, Tavistock Subscription Library has been in Court Gate since 1830. Contact the library to register for free downloads from our catalogue online at https://tavistocksublib.slls.online/

Many of you have been asking how you can keep abreast of plans, developments and opportunities to participate in the Rediscovering Tavistock Abbey project.

Easiest way, follow this feed - click ‘follow’ up top

Or check on www.heritageintavistock.org

There will be many ways in which you will be able to participate over the 2 year duration of the project - and beyond

As a small taster - here’s (probably) the oldest picture we have of Tavistock Abbey - from a 1240 map of Henry III’s perambulation of Dartmoor. ( yes that’s almost 800 years ago!)

You can find wonderful information like this in the equally wonderful Tavistock Subscription Library

Didn’t know we had a subscription library? It’s in Court Gate and is the home to almost every resource about Tavistock’s amazing history.

Keep your eyes 👀 peeled !!

15/02/2026

📣 ~ SHOUT OUT! ~ 📣 📷
Do you have any family photos dating between 1850 ~ 1950 which depict fashions of this period? 🎩🪭 Would you like your photo to be part of a forthcoming exhibition? If so, we would love to hear from you!

Please email Tavistock Museum [email protected]
in the first instance and someone will get back to you.

Thank you! 😃👍