Poldark star visits Plymouth as beautiful National Trust estate brought to life

A Poldark star visited Plymouth to help bring the history of a much-loved estate to life. A new immersive project will see the story of Saltram told through the perspective of a late 18th-century carpenter who worked there.

It has been selected as one of three National Trust places to participate in the HistoryScapes pilot, in partnership with the University of Exeter. Visitors can download a free mobile storytelling app to navigate both the world of the estate’s hired laborers and the grandeur of the Parker family, who lived at the Georgian mansion. for nearly 300 years.

Covering themes including global trade, the rise of the pleasure ground, labour and class, 'Saltram: Portraits of the Past’ users can follow Henry Stockman on a walk around the estate in 1775 as he checks up on his workmen, shares stories and introduces them to the people who lived and worked there. Poldark actor Derek Frood is voicing the character of Henry.

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Derek, who played Captain Bray in the hit series, said: “It's been an absolute pleasure to be able to breathe new life into the character of Henry Stockman. What a unique experience this brings to the listener, hearing a voice from Saltam's past, who guides you through the vast beauty of the estate. The listener is able to explore the landscape in a way that isn't possible on their own.

"How exciting to learn new things about the landscape in its historical context that you wouldn't otherwise have known."

The HistoryScapes pilot is the latest in a series of projects delivered by Saltram as part of the National Trust’s aim to connect more people with history, heritage and nature. In July 2023, it was granted £240,000 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for development phase works - leading to the testing of activity projects including HistoryScapes.

Cultural heritage curator for the National Trust at Saltram, Emma Philip, said: "Bringing the summer of 1775 to life through the eyes of a working person like Henry has been a pleasure – taking research and presenting it in the first person like this gives a whole new way of sharing Saltram’s rich heritage. We hope our visitors enjoy seeing a place they know and love from this new perspective."

HistoryScapes trail director, David Rosenthal from the University of Exeter, said: “This has been a tremendous collaboration with the Saltram team. Henry Stockman was a man who left few traces in the archives, and now we’ve put a spotlight on the important role he had in creating the Saltram that people enjoy today. It's a kind of a digital monument to a part of Saltram's heritage that is easily overlooked.

"What we hope is that the combination of Stockman's stories, expert commentary and images - many from Saltram's own collection - will connect visitors to the landscape and history in a fresh, immediate way."

HistoryScapes can be downloaded from app stores.

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