FOLLOWING UNPRECEDENTED DEMAND, THE Council has now received over 1,500 APPLICATIONS FOR MANOR PASSES, ITS FULL ALLOCATION.
WE ARE SORRY BUT NO FURTHER APPLICATIONS CAN BE ACCEPTED.

 

Note on the number of Manor Passes available:

In 1984, the then landowners (Devon County Council) and Northam Town Council signed an agreement that required the landowner to provide the Town Council (now superseded by the Northam Burrows Charity) with up to 1,500 Manor Passes. These were in compensation for the loss of grazing attributable to:

1.        The maintenance and use of the existing roads
2.        The maintenance and use of the existing car park areas
3.       The maintenance renewal of the existing toll-keepers huts, toilets, cattle grids, signs and posts on Northam Burrows
4.       The building maintenance renewal and use of the visitor’s centre.

 

The number of passes issued has therefore not been in relation to the number of permanent residents of the Ancient Manor.

 

 

This is an update for you on the issue of Northam Town Council and its role in relation to Northam Burrows. Northam Burrows Charity has now been officially recognised by the Charity Commission.

Torridge District Council is the owner of Northam Burrows. Northam Town Council, as Corporate Trustee, is responsible for the regulation of the grazing rights. Prior to the District Council ownership, the Burrows was owned by Devon County Council.

The Corporate Trustee has appointed a management committee which reports back regularly to the Corporate Trustee. During the County Council’s ownership, the Town Council (Corporate Trustee) was awarded 1,500 season passes each year to allow permanent residents of the Ancient Manor of Northam to pass through the toll gate operated by the owner. This was in recompense for loss of grazing following the use of part of the land at the Skern as a landfill (tip) site and the roads.

The Corporate Trustee’s role includes being custodians of the grazing. Money raised from the sale of Manor Passes and grazing rights is used to maintain and improve the Burrows in respect of the Corporate Trustee’s responsibilities to the Burrows and graziers. Money not required for these purposes could be granted to good causes within the parish.

Northam Burrows Charity.