Tavistock Subscription Library

08/09/2026

Sometimes the smallest objects can tell the biggest stories.Hidden among the books, pictures and historic artefacts of the Tavistock Subscription Library are two small fragments of carved stone. They are easily held in the hand, but their story may stretch back more than six centuries, to the great....

08/09/2026

As part of Tavistock Heritage Open Days, members of The Edge Players will be giving six short, FREE performances in Tavistock Museum.

Discover rarely seen objects, photographs, live performances and displays about mining, trades, and everyday lives.

'MINER and BAL MAIDEN' - 2pm on Saturday 12th September

'THE REVEREND & MRS BRAY' - 2pm on Tuesday 15th September

'WILLIAM MERRIFIELD' - 2pm on Wednesday 16th September

'THE PUNISHMENT BOOK' 2pm on Thursday 17th September

'MINER & BAL MAIDEN' - 2pm on Friday 18th September.

'ABBOT JOHN PERYN' - 1pm on Saturday 19th Septembe

08/09/2026

Everyday lives; Heritage Open Days. Tavi Subs Library; Guildhall Square. 10-4. Fri 11, Sat 12, Fri 18, Sat 19, Sun 20. Come in to meet Amelia, Mary Maria, Anna Eliza, Georgiana, Millicent, Rachel, Beatrice and Mary Ellen and many more women connected to Georgian and Victorian Tavistock.

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.