BUILDERS have been putting the finishing touches to a two-year project to restore a range of historically important farm buildings at Kilworthy Farm, near Tavistock.

The scheme has been supported by a £345,000 grant from English Heritage and has meant the nationally significant buildings have been saved from ruin.

The buildings at Kilworthy Farm are Grade II listed and have been on the English Heritage Buildings at Risk register since 1998.

The grant has enabled a team of builders to restore the cowhouses, granary and stable buildings ? mostly by protecting them from the elements through repairs to the roof structures and rainwater drainage.

Farm tenant Sandra Vallance said: ?It?s fantastic to see the old buildings being repaired like this and we are planning to show them off to the public on the special access days throughout the year when there will be tours and teas available.

?It?s interesting to think the farm buildings are still being used for agricultural purposes as they were originally, nearly 150 years after thei

construction.?

A condition of the English Heritage grant was that the public be allowed access on 28 days a year, and at other times by appointment.

The idea of educational visits is also being explored with local schools and colleges.

The significance of the farmstead at Kilworthy derives from its history as part of the Duke of Bedford?s extensive Devon estates.

During the mid to late 19th century, the immense wealth of the Great Consols copper mine in the Tamar Valley funded the transformation of West Devon?s entire landscape.

Most of the Bedford Estate farms were remodelled, along with the town centre of Tavistock.

Kilworthy Farm was almost completely reconstructed in 1851 as a Victorian factory farm, representing the most innovative period of 19th century agricultural improvement.

The farm buildings comprised the whole range of functions, including the threshing barn driven by a huge water-wheel, granary, stables, outhouses, cartsheds and a blacksmith?s shop.

English Heritage historic buildings architect, Rebecca Child, said she was delighted to see the farm restored to its former glory.

?I?m over the moon, and the wonderful thing is it?s still being used for modern day farming, and the tenants seem to be really pleased with it,? she said.

?So many farm houses are being converted for other uses, so for us to help them maintain this for farming use is great.?

One of the farm?s most innovative design features is its ?cathedral of dung?, which was used to over-winter livestock. The animals were kept on the first floor of the building while their dung was shovelled down chutes onto the ground floor, for use as fertiliser.