Quoditch is private property but visitors are always welcome by prior arrangement.

In September 2002 we were asked if we could make our land available as part of a 10 mile charity ride in aid of the Restoration Appeal for Ashwater Church bells.

There is a well-known song about Ashwater Bells.

It was collected by The Rev Sabine Baring-Gould, the Squire and Parson of nearby Lewtrenchard

" The Bellringers. "

One day in October, neither drunken nor sober,
O'er Broadbury Down I was wending my way,
When I heard of some ringing, some dancing and singing.
I ought to remember that Jubilee day.

(chorus)
T'was in Ashwater Town, the bells they did sound,
They rang for a belt and a hat laced with gold,
But the men of Northlew rang so steady and true,
that there never were better in Devon I hold.

T'was misunderstood, for the men of Broadwood,
gave a blow on the tenor should never have been.
But the men of Northlew rang so faultlessy true,
A difficult matter to beat them I ween.

T'was in Ashwater Town, the bells they did sound,
They rang for a belt and a hat laced with gold,
But the men of Northlew rang so steady and true,
that there never were better in Devon I hold.

They of Broadwood being naughty, then said to our party,
We'll ring you a challenge again in a round.
We'll give you the chance at St Stephen's or Launceston,
The prize to the winners being a note of five pound.

T'was in Ashwater Town, the bells they did sound,
They rang for a belt and a hat laced with gold,
But the men of Northlew rang so steady and true,
that there never were better in Devon I hold.

When the match it came on, at good Callington.
The bells they rang out o'er the valleys below.
Then the old and young peoble, the hale and the feeble.
They came out to hear the sweet bell music flow.

T'was at Callington Town, the bells they did sound,
They rang for a belt and a hat laced with gold,
But the men of Northlew rang so steady and true,
that there never were better in Devon I hold.

Those of Broadwood once more, were obliged to give o'er.
They were beaten completely and done in a round.
For the men of Northlew pulled so steady and true
That no better than they in the West could be found.

T'was in Ashwater Town then at Callington Town,
They rang for a belt and a hat laced with gold,
But the men of Northlew rang so steady and true,
that there never were better in Devon I hold.

This was collected by Baring-Gould from William George Kerswell of Two Bridges, Dartmoor and also from James Down, a blacksmith, of nearby Broadwoodwidger. It is published in his book "Songs of the West"

The late Cyril Tawney once set us the challenge of finding out which Jubilee was being referred to in the song.

We believe that the Jubilee mentioned was the 50th anniversary of the coronation of King George the Third which was celebrated in October 1809. It was the first royal jubilee to be celebrated by countrywide events. Unfortunately we can find no record of the celebrations locally. The local papers only started at a later date.

Members of the Devon Branch of Butterfly Conservation are regular visitors. This picture was taken in June 2004 where the members were able to see a host of Marsh Fritillaries, Wood White, Small Pearl Bordered Fritillaries and Dingy Skippers as well as the more common Brimstones and Speckled Woods.

In May 1999 members of the Tavistock Branch of the Devon Wildlife Trust paid us a visit. This was a follow up to the illustrated talk that we had given to a previous meeting.

In October 2001 Quoditch hosted a photoshoot organised by the national magazine Practical Photographer. Amateur photographers were asked to see what they could do with the local fungi.

You can see a full report on a separate page