My partner, David Norrish, who has died aged 64 after a quad bike accident, farmed on the southern slopes of Dartmoor in the parish of Dean, Buckfastleigh. He was a man of exceptional rural skills, including animal husbandry, and knowledge of traditional and increasingly rare building techniques using stone, lime and oak. In 2006, after restoring the roof of his family’s 16th-century manor house, he was awarded the Edward Morshead prize for his contribution to the heritage of Dartmoor.
David was born in Widecombe-in-the-Moor, to Reginald and Marjorie. His father was a tenant farmer who brought up his sons in the tradition of hands-on hard work, raising sheep and cattle among the tors and slopes. In 1958 came the opportunity to buy a farm and the family moved to Addislade, Dean Prior. Addislade is mentioned in the Domesday Book and began life, it is thought, as a smallholding in the 12th century.
After leaving school at 15, David went into partnership with his father. They bred sheep and a herd of renowned south Devon cows, and ran a small herd of wild Dartmoor ponies on the moor above the farm. When his father died in 1995, David, who had by now diversified into building, realised that the house, which holds a Grade II* listing, was in danger.
English Heritage gave one of their last building grants to Addislade for the restoration of what is known as a “scantle” roof. They allowed David to do the work, and over two years he replaced rotten oak beams and restored the roof in the traditional peg-and-lime style – using sand extracted under ancient rights from the moor and slates from Cornwall. The term scantle refers to a vernacular slating style of the south-west of England and is the subject of academic research. The project was monitored by webcam and its progress was viewed all over the world. David was commended by the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings for his work.
David was a rare man of great talent who valued simplicity. Like many farmers, he could set his hand to anything. He steeped hedgerows, built stone walls and laid cobbles. He had a wide range of skills that might sadly be lost, not least the long tradition of stopping along the lanes and having a good “yap” with those walking by. He loved hard work, as well as laughter and rugby.
He is survived by his children, William, Gemma and Robert, from his marriage to Lorraine, which ended in divorce, by Marjorie, his brother, Ken, and me and my children, Daniel, Rose and Patrick.
