It has often been assumed that Derek owned Minack (Dorminack) but this was not the case. Derek and Jeannie Tangye had the tenancy of Minack through the Tregothnan Estate for the whole period they lived there. He had first secured the tenancy in 1958 for 20 years, some several years after they first moved there. The cottage and land around it is part of the Tregothan Estate, under Lord Falmouth, that owns Dorminack, whilst Oliver Land, adjacent to Dorminack, is a separate plot of land which was purchased by Derek and Jeannie Tangye and forms 'The Derek and Jeannie Tangye Minack Chronicles Nature Trust.' (Oliver land)
There were four applications - one from two of the Trustees as a joint application, two from separate individuals, (one of which was an Associate Trustee) and the fourth from another Trustee, the successful applicant, Jane Bird (nee Wyllie) and her partner, Peter Clough, who were to run an horticultural business at Minack.
The tenancy was advertised as a tender which would run for a set number of years. The holding includes Dorminack cottage, outbuildings and land; in total 21.325 acres. The land includes areas of ‘croft’, copse and cliff lands. Both the cottage and stables were listed, 15 December 1988, for their special architectural/ historic interest. See the map in The Way to Minack.
Following Derek’s death the tenancy was advertised in 1997. Applicants for the tenancy were expected to submit a very lengthy application detailing not only their expectations of why they should acquire the tenancy but also their agricultural background, and the agricultural machinery and equipment they would employ and submit their business plans and aspirations for the tenancy.
At the time Derek and Jeannie lived there they had three rooms in the cottage with the addition of the 'shed' which had three very small room which were divided from the cottage by a doorway that had been created through the granite wall. This led into a small clothes storage area leading to a narrow bedroom for guests which then led onto the bathroom.
The entrance to the cottage was via 'The Porch'. From here a stable door led into the 'sitting room'.
Facing the stable door was the galley kitchen 'window' surrounded by bookshelves and paintings on the wall. To the right was the main part of the sitting room with the settee that his Aunt Gar had given him, the display cabinet and Jeannie's easy chair. To the left of that was the small doorway to the tiny bedroom with two windows, one overlooking the garden, cliff path and beyond to Carn Barges whilst the second overlooked the lane, The Stables and Confusion Room and beyond to Oliver land.
Facing the kitchen there was a half height door and within was all the cupboards you could ever want so that there was a place for everything and everything had its place! A full size cooker, fridge/freezer, dishwasher and sink.
To the left of the stable door was a large airy room in which Derek's writing desk together with various furniture items, his record player and more paintings adorn the walls. Another bookcase behind him housed the first editions of The Minack Chronicles, which were bound in leather. Two small windows overlooked the garden and across to Oliver land.