TAVISTOCK’S most popular landmark, a magnet for public celebrations and relaxation, is under threat.

Wonderful views from The Pimple across the town into Cornwall and east into Dartmoor are famous, and the surrounding moorland is crossed by paths used by generations of dog-walkers, joggers and families, but the privately owned, little building has been so neglected that it needs urgent work to close-up the broken doorway and a plan for the future.

The Pimple on Whitchurch Down, commissioned by the Duke of Bedford in 1914 from England’s most famous 20th century architect Sir Edwin Lutyens, was the entrance to a new reservoir. Designed and built in 1914 as a ‘Folly’, Lutyens wanted it to be more than the entrance to a reservoir supplying the town and he built a focal point for the town’s pleasure: the shared pleasure of subsequent generations of townspeople and visitors (which we are still able to enjoy 100 years later) is a measure of his care and vision, even on this small scale.

His bigger and very familiar work includes a great many nationally important buildings including: the London Cenotaph, nearer home Castle Drogo Okehampton ­— now part of the National Trust and of course smaller private homes, such as ‘Little Court’ on Down Road (not far from The Pimple) and in addition, and not least, Tavistock’s much cherished Pimple — his smallest design excluding a doll’s house for the royal family.

In 1909 the Duke of Bedford had invited Lutyens to Tavistock to discuss some major plans. The Duke’s great scheme came to nothing but Lutyens was commissioned by a local man, a Major Gallie, to build ‘Little Court’ on Down Road, one of the homes to be served by the new reservoir.

A later owner of ‘Little Court’ concerned for the neglected Pimple’s future, campaigned for the Grade II historic building’s status awarded in 1983. When the building became redundant South West Water sold it to a local owner with responsibility for upkeep.

The Pimple is a remarkable triangular structure: three walls of local Hurdwick stone supporting three triangular roofs of Delabole slate. It is, despite its unique shape ,symmetrical but its silhouette appears to change from one vantage point to another. Its only decoration is a ball finial placed at the apex but despite a very plain construction and outline its position overlooking the town and unusual shape would confirm, if there was ever any doubt, that the design is the inspiration of Lutyens. Originally it was called ‘The Outlook’ but its more familiar local name The Pimple really does suit its quirky appearance.

Lutyens was interested in Devon and this year, when the country commemorates the end of the First World War, we can remember that as well as the grand houses throughout the land, Lutyens designed the Dartmoor Cemetery on the Somme as a resting place for some of the Devonshire Regiment’s dead, the Regiment’s memorial in Exeter Cathedral and the Somme Devonshire Cemetery.

Grade II status is only limited protection and even if the immediate problem, a smashed entrance, is quickly dealt with, there is an important longer term question; how to deal with damaged stone work, roof tiles and seating. In other words how will Tavistock preserve this unique part of our heritage for the future?

West Devon Borough Council has fixed a notice to The Pimple warning the owner to take action to close the broken entrance by early August. If they fail to do so the council does have the power to board up the opening to make the building safe and can charge these costs back to the owners.