The earliest recorded mention of what is now known as Dartington was in 833 AD in the records of King Egbert of Wessex. By then, the area had been successfully occupied by the Anglo-Saxons and the region between Plymouth and the Dart was already known as the Hams - a region of farm settlements in the valley bottoms. Although Dartington was still probably subject to marauding visits from the Danes, it prospered and grew rich. By the time of the Norman conquest, Dartington was clearly one of the most prosperous settlements in the county and Doomsday records show that the present pattern of settlement with scattered hamlets and farmsteads was already established by then. Indeed there never has been a village of Dartington.

For the next 500 years the fortunes of the owners of Dartington were entwined with the struggles for wealth and power which flowed through Europe and in 1388 the building of Dartington Hall was designed to reflect the position and wealth of its owner, the Lord of the Manor of Dartington, probably a larger area than the present parish.

In 1554 the Champernowne family came into possession of the manor and over the next 400 years eleven generations occupied and quietly managed the hall and its lands.

The agricultural depression of the 19th and early 20th Century led to the breakup of the wider Dartington Estate, to the departure of the Champernownes and the sale of what was left of the Estate to the EImhirsts. They set up an experimental project concerned with rural regeneration, education, and the arts and it is for these activities that Dartington is now generally known in the wider world. (Ref: Anthony Emery: Dartington Hall (1970)).

In November 1997, a public meeting was held to establish the need for a Dartington Village Appraisal, which would give everyone in the village an opportunity to express an opinion on issues within the community. A Steering Group was set up composed of local volunteers, a questionnaire was devised and delivered to every household. Everyone over 10 had the opportunity to respond.

The Steering Group would like to thank the Community Council of Devon (who supported the project with help and advice), and especially all residents who took part; thanks also go to the funding partners: the Parish Council, South Hams District Council, Devon County Council, the Health Authority, the National Lottery Charities Board, and the European Objective 5b Fund.

There will be a Public Meeting held on Tuesday, 13th April 1999 at 7.30 pm at the Dartington Primary School to discuss the results, and where Action Groups can be set up, to take some of the suggestions forward. Advice will be available on sources of funding and other support. We hope you will all come.

A copy of the original analysed data and written comments are available from Totnes Library for inspection and photocopying.

According to 1996 figures, there are 1,619 people living in Dartington. The area of the parish is 1,236 hectares (4.85 sq.miles).

740 questionnaires were delivered, 485 (66%) were returned, a total of 944 people replied to the questionnaire.

The majority of households have one or two members and around two thirds are inside the village. A number of people did not know they lived in Dartington.

Those who replied had more than 630 cars/vans and 24 motorcycles between 485 households, mostly parked off the road or garaged 49.1% of households have one vehicle.