A WEST Devon pressure group has reacted angrily to news that a prominent building in Princetown is to be demolished, to make way for a major new arts and crafts centre. The Dartmoor Society says it is dismayed that Dartmoor National Park Authority?s planning committee last week approved the demolition of Morwenna House. Tom Greeves, chairman of the society, said: ?The public expect Dartmoor National Park Authority to be leaders in the field of heritage conservation. ?Unfortunately, this decision is typical of many over the years, whereby Dartmoor has lost significant buildings of the 19th and 20th centuries ? if this had been a medieval building, it would have been kept without question.? Dr Greeves said Morwenna House, built by prominent local businessesman Albert Bolt in 1905, was half as old as Princetown itself and had ?very important? historical associations with the village. He said 20th century buildings needed to be treated with as much respect and rigour as those of earlier generations, if their place was to be appreciated in the development of Dartmoor. ?We are saddened by this decision and the missed opportunity to imaginatively incorporate Morwenna House in the exciting new development in the centre of Princetown,? said Dr Greeves. A spokesman for the DNPA said consideration had been given to whether it would be possible to include Morwenna House into the proposals to redevelop Duchy Square in Princetown. The spokesman said: ?The architect for the proposal did draw up some suggestions into ways it could be incorporated, but it was clear that the scheme would be compromised, as well as the building itself. ?As a result, it was felt it was not going to be possible to achieve that end to the overall benefit of Princetown.? The committee therefore agreed the application to demolish Morwenna House and build a new arts and crafts centre in its place, said the spokesman.
