Author: Dartington Trust

Rudolf von Laban (1879-1958) was born in Bratislava, Hungary and became a great dancer and teacher. His influence on dance is still seen today.

The story of the elder child and only daughter of Leonard and Dorothy Elmhirst, and the Wimbledon competitor and army veteran she married.

Without William Glock, many renowned musicians would not have come to perform and teach at the Dartington Summer School & Festival, and the existence of the School is indebted to him.

For more than 30 years the East Wing of Dartington’s Courtyard was known as The Devon Centre, with Tom Griffiths the Centre’s first and its most influential Warden.

Walter Thomas - or ‘Tommy’ as he was known to Leonard and Dorothy Elmhirst’s children - was the Elmhirst family butler.

Wilfred Hiley (1886-1961) occupied the post of manager of the Dartington Hall woodlands from 1931 to 1961. In 1956 he received a CBE in recognition of his services to forestry.

Willi Soukop is best known at Dartington as the sculptor of the bronze ‘Donkey’ (1935) and the granite ‘Swan Fountain’ (1950) - both much loved by residents and visitors alike.

William Burnlee Curry (1900-1962) was Headmaster of Dartington Hall School from June 1930 until 1957.

William Weir (1865-1950) was the craftsman-architect responsible for the reconstruction of the roof of the Great Hall at Dartington.