A PLAQUE fixed to one of Tavistock's oldest and most historic trees has been called into question by a local historian.

Former principal officer at Dartmoor Prison and historian Ron Joy, 79, has spoken of his 'horror' when he saw the honour oak tree on Whitchurch Road, Tavistock, and the information attached.

Ron was the prison's historian from 1978 to 2010 when he retired.

The plaque on the tree reads: 'Marked boundary of French prisoners on parole in Tavistock from Princetown during the Napoleonic war (1803-14) also where money was deposited in exchange for food during a cholera outbreak in 1832'.

Mr Joy said: 'I was horrified when I first saw the honour oak tree and its false information on the board attached to the tree.

'Over the years I have shown a lot of people it, and felt embarrassed to explain the information on the board is not correct.'

He explained that the Dartmoor War Prisons did not exist 1803 to 1814, and the word Princetown did not exist when French prisoners were at the 'Dartmoor Depot' — as it was called then.

Mr Joy's proposal for a new honour oak plaque would be: 'This Honour Oak tree marked the boundary for French Prisoners of War at Tavistock whilst on parole from the Dartmoor Depot war prisons at Princes Town, during the Napoleonic Wars, 1809 to 1816. Also where money was deposited in exchange for food during a cholera outbreak in 1832.'

Rod Martin, from Tavistock Museum, and secretary to the Museum Trust, said: 'Some of the French army and navy officers captured during the many conflicts of the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries were allowed limited freedom, subject to certain conditions which they undertook to honour.

'Those paroled in Tavistock were required to remain in the town area and the limit of their excursions along the former road to Plymouth were fixed as the last tree in a row of oak trees. This tree became known as the honour oak and pre-1935 marked the boundary between Tavistock and Whitchurch parish.

'From initial enquiries it is evident that the metal plaque has been there for many decades but so far we have been unable to establish exactly when it was erected and by whom.

'Indeed it may not have been the first plaque. I suspect the present one was placed in the mid-1930s.'

Rod said that the phrase 'during the Napoleonic War (1803-1814)' was used rather than any specific dates relating to activities up at Princetown — or Princes Town as it was known at the time — or elsewhere.

He said: 'The key word is "during" and of couse that can mean anytime during the war.

'There was a cholera epidemic in 1832 so I would say that part of the text on the plaque is also correct.

'Ron makes the valid point that French officers could only have been paroled from the Dartmoor Depot at Princetown or Princes Town after their first arrival there in May 1809 and until they left in 1816.

'However, given that the parole system was already well established during earlier conflicts, I think it is reasonable to assume that French officers were paroled to Tavistock much earlier during the Napoleonic War (ie during the period 1803-1809) from prisons based in Plymouth and in hulks on the River Tamar. 

'I am told records of the paroles at Tavistock during this war are missing in the National Archive at Kew, so it is now unlikely we shall ever know the answer.

'If the text on the plaque is re-written, then removal of the words "from Princetown" would, I suggest, more than suffice.'

l Do readers have any opinions on this story? Do you agree with Ron Joy that the plaque on the Honour Oak tree needs to be replaced with different details? Or do you feel that it should be left alone? Email [email protected]">[email protected]