SIR Francis Drake himself would no doubt be pleased that the meat from cattle that graze in the meadows of his boyhood home is once again available in the town?s farmers? market. David and Annabel Hutchins, from ShillaMill Farm in the Tavy Valley, have a herd of Devon Red Ruby Devons cattle and have just taken a regular stall at the Farmers? Market in Tavistock. Mr Hutchins says that the Drake connections with his farm are very strong. He suggests it could well have been Shilla Mill where Drake was born, as according to the Duke of Bedford archives, Shilla Mill was originally part of Crowndale Farm which was leased by Francis? uncle from the estate. Mr Hutchins said: ?As Francis would have been a minor member of his family at the time it, would be more likely he would have lived there rather than at Crowndale itself. ?Cattle very like Red Ruby Devons were certainly in the Tavy Valley at time of Sir Francis and were kept at Crowndale into the 1970s, so I feel that we have brought them home to their ancestral meadows.? David and Annabel bought the derelict Shilla Mill in 1993 from Devon County Council but only started farming there four years ago. They considered different breeds of cattle before deciding that Red Rubies offered the best tasting meat. They have been lucky to be offered a recently vacated stall at Tavistock Farmers? Market after a wait of three years, and started selling their produce last month at the bi-monthly market. Although only a small producer, demand is growing with customers not just locally but also in South Devon and London. The meat is hung for 28 days to maximise taste and texture. Customer John Halsey, who runs a boutique hotel in Yelverton, is delighted with his Red Ruby meat. ?What appeals to me apart from its really succulent taste is that I know the meat comes from the cattle which graze in the meadows where Francis Drake himself was born. You can?t get more local than that.?
