A PETITION has been launched to try and prevent the much-loved Drake’s Drum from leaving Buckland Abbey.

It has been proposed to move Drake’s Drum from its current home at Buckland Abbey to The Box, Plymouth’s redeveloped museum opening in 2020.

Mary Traynor, a local resident, heard the news of Drake’s Drum’s potential new home while visiting the National Trust property a few months ago.

She soon took it upon herself to organise a petition to stop its removal and called for the National Trust to ‘reject the removal’ saying that the abbey was the ‘rightful home’ of the drum, a replica of the original, which is stored in a climate controlled store in central England.

Mary said: ‘A petition requesting the National Trust, as guardians of the abbey to reconsider has already attracted considerable, significant and positive local interest.

‘The petition has taken off and we want more people from the West Devon area to sign it as it’s for the benefit of the area.

‘Drake’s Drum belongs at Buckland Abbey — it was given to the abbey in the 20th century on the understanding that it would remain there in perpetuity not to be removed. This petition refers only to Drake’s Drum and not any other artefacts relating to Drake at Buckland Abbey.

‘While Buckland Abbey has a layered history, the Sir Francis connection and specifically the historic association of the drum, with its many legends and continuity of its presence, makes the abbey its rightful home.’

A response from Plymouth City Council in reply to Mrs Traynor’s letter of concern said that the museum and art gallery was having a ‘complete transformation’ and was being turned into a major museum and cultural destination for the South West.

It stated that it was creating eight new collections in order for visitors to understand Plymouth’s history and its impact around the globe. One of those galleries was proposed as ‘100 Journeys’ and looked at the range and types of journeys that left the Plymouth port, including that of Drake’s circumnavigation of the world. It added that Drake’s Drum would be a ‘star’ object.

Businesses where people can visit and sign the petition are: Tavistock Museum; Coffee and Cream Patisserie, Tavistock; Palmers Ltd, Tavistock; Karens, Tavistock; Dartmoor Bakery, Yelverton; The Game Larder, Yelverton; Jane’s Cakes in Butchers Hall, Tavistock and the Drake Manor Inn at Buckland Monachorum.

A National Trust spokesperson said: ‘The National Trust has a good and long-lasting partnership with Plymouth City Museum (PCM) who kindly loaned the trust items for display in the abbey, including the drum.

‘Through that partnership we were able to help share the story of Francis Drake, a significant figure to have lived at Buckland and Plymouth. Dialogue is ongoing about what items go where as Plymouth City Museum develop their new facility.’

• The replica drum is pictured above.