Autumn at Escot Estate
There’s never a dull moment at this time of year! As the sugars in the leaves turn them into those wonderful autumnal colours, so too the ground softens with the seasonal rains. Before it became too wet we managed to run an aerator, or slitter, over the Park, lent to us by Devon Wildlife Trust. […]
Enchanting Escot Bluebells
We are very lucky to have a wonderful display of bluebells each year at Escot, enjoyed by walkers and other visitors to the Estate. Black Aller Woods is always filled with the colour and fragrance of this pretty wildflower, and this year there seem to be more than ever! The scent of bluebells is sweet […]
Himalayan Balsam on the River Tale 2022
Every year,Escot welcomes teams of volunteers to the Estate to help remove the invasive Himalayan Balsam. The report of this year’s activity was put together by Mish Kennaway. June 24: 3 volunteers covered from Tuck Mill to Cadhay Bridge. Disappointingly the stretch through Escot Park had proliferated, although less than 10 plants overall were in […]
Pick it up – please!
Dog mess is always an emotive subject, especially for people who step in it! During the lockdowns, we’ve seen an increase of walkers at Escot Estate. The majority keep to the footpaths, keep their dogs under control, and pick up dog poo. Thank you so much to everyone who helps us in this way. However, […]
Clapperentale Waterwheel Restoration (Escot Park) 2019 / 2020
History The Clapperentale waterwheel was built at the Fairmile forge, part of the Escot Estate, by Huxtables in 1868. Water spun the wheel from above, making it an ‘overshot’ wheel. Because of the flat gradient from the water intake point over half a mile away at Talewater, the leat was prone to regular silting so […]
Escot’s Jungle Staircase
How many couples can say they’ve had their wedding photos taken on a jungle themed staircase? Everyone loves the stairs that lead up into the house, but do you know the history behind it? Escot House was built in 1837 by Sir John Kennaway and as the family home of Sir John-Michael and Lady Kennaway […]
Walking at Escot
At Escot we have a number of public and permissive paths which are enjoyed by local dog walkers, most of whom are responsible, know the countryside code and respect it. Some walkers don’t realise that the driveways are private and there isn’t actually a right of way for vehicles, or public parking except for visitors […]
Escot 2019 Review
As we head into 2020, we thought it would be nice to have a little look back at some of the highlights of the year. We welcomed a huge variety of corporate, community and private events to the house including awards ceremonies, anniversary parties, memorial services and of course, weddings. Amongst the weddings were some […]
Contemporary vs Characterful
In the world of conferences, the choice of venues can be mind boggling. Here in the South West we have an abundance of great venues. Each one has its own worth, So, what are some of the things you need to consider when you’re thinking about hiring a conference venue? Capacity Size matters; if yours […]
Review of 2018
2018 has been quite a year! Here are just a few of our memorable moments. In March, the Beast from the East and partner Storm Emma played havoc with the country. Along with other local venues, we had to cope with a wedding at the time. Our catering supply didn’t get through so Plan B […]
Bluebells in May
Everyone gets very excited when the bluebells start to come out in late April and early May. They seem to be harbingers of warmer weather – and with temperatures in the South West set to rise for the first May Bank Holiday, we’d agree with that! Did you know that the about half the world’s […]
‘Snow’ Joke! Red Alert in Devon
It’s no secret that, along with much of the country, the South West was hit by the recent snow. Devon took a battering as the Beast from the East swept towards us, while from the south came Storm Emma. With a wedding on Saturday, we watched the forecast with some trepidation. When the snow hit […]
