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Our Heritage

Arvon’s three writing houses each have a story to tell.

From a 16th-century manor in rural Devon to the former home of playwright John Osborne in Shropshire, and our Yorkshire house where Ted Hughes lived and wrote, these historic buildings have inspired generations of writers.

As custodians of these remarkable places, we’re committed to caring for their heritage while ensuring they remain welcoming spaces for creativity today and for years to come.

Our heritage programme begins at Lumb Bank, where, thanks to funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, we’re uncovering the many layers of its history, conserving its historic buildings and landscape, and working with local communities to explore the stories that have shaped this extraordinary place.

Conservation Management Plan

Protecting the historic buildings and landscape while improving accessibility and environmental sustainability.

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Explore our Heritage Detectives

Community-led research projects exploring hidden stories from Lumb Bank's past.

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Heritage Open Days at Lumb Bank

Discover the rich heritage of Lumb Bank through storytelling, creativity and community connection.

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‘We are delighted to be given the opportunity to explore the multi-layered heritage of Lumb Bank with our local community. Responding to the site in myriad ways, we hope to peel back its storied layers and share them with generations to come.’

— Helen Meller, Co-Director of Lumb Bank

‘Lumb Bank is a unique kind of machine or organism that looks out over ancient valleys and woods, listens to the wind chasing across epic moorland, feels the nervous system of streams and becks, and tracks the parabolas of clouds and stars. Then it translates everything it senses into language.’

— Simon Armitage, Poet Laureate

CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT PLAN

Arvon worked with heritage architects Donald Insall Associates to develop a pioneering Conservation Management Plan.

The plan provides a long-term framework for caring for Lumb Bank’s historic buildings, landscape and unique character, ensuring it can continue to evolve as a thriving creative writing centre while safeguarding the heritage that makes it so special.

Through maps, photographs, historical research and multimedia content, you can explore Lumb Bank’s history, understand what makes it significant, and discover how future conservation and development will be guided.

Whether you’re interested in architecture, heritage, literature or the future of Lumb Bank, the Conservation Management Plan offers a fascinating insight into this remarkable place and the work being done to preserve it for generations to come.

 

This project is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, the Arvon Foundation has been able to develop a forward-looking strategy to care for and sustain Lumb Bank for future generations.