Walter Ralph Bankes (father of Henry John ‘Ralph’ Bankes who gifted Kingston Lacy to the National Trust) introduced North Devons (also known as Red Ruby Devons) to Kingston Lacy in the nineteenth century. Since then, they have remained a cherished part of the estate and an important feature of the landscape. The cattle are still used to graze the parkland and are key agents of estate management.
There’s more to these cattle than meets the eye. The rich ruby red of their coats inspired the use of ‘Bankes red’ paint. You will see this colour on buildings everywhere across the Bankes estate; it’s an important reminder of its scale, but also of the herd’s significance.