Ashwick House Music Room Exmoor

The Ashwick Music Room was built around 1930 by the wealthy eccentric bachelor Frank Green, who had moved to Exmoor from the industrialised north of England on the advice of his doctor. Frank Green is best known for having bequeathed his house - The Treasurer's House in York -to the National Trust with all its contents.

The music room at Ashwick provided entertainment for his niece and the staff at the house. The music room is a delightful little timber-clad building complete with stage, green room and crash bar exit. It is hoped that the building may find a new use through The Moorland Mousie Trust as the Exmoor Pony centre stands just across the private drive.

The Music Room or 'theatre' at Ashwick is a remarkable, rustic building provided by Frank Green as a theatre or recreation hall for his staff and relatives in the 1920s.

Frank Green was an eccentric bachelor and wealthy industrialist who bequeathed the Treasurer's House in York to the National Trust. He moved to Exmoor in 1930 and died in I984 at the age of 93, 'an Edwardian who had long outlived his time'.

The wooden music room is built on stone columns and is roofed with Roman style tiles. Within, formerly decorating the wings of the theatre are paintings of theatre boxes; in one sits King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, and in the other Mr Asquith (Prime Minister), Mr Bonar Law (Chancellor) and Mr Chamberlain.

DIRECTIONS: In Dulverton take the B3223 towards Lynton and Exford. Follow this road for approximately 4 miles. Once on the moor, turn left after the second cattle grid, at the signpost to Ashwick House Hotel. Take the first right off the lane and Ashwick Music Room will be found on the left hand side with The Exmoor Pony Centre on your right (NGR: SS 889302).

Contributed by: John Mountfield