A Meeting of The Widecombe & District Local History Group was held at The Church House, Widecombe on Wednesday 5th April 2006 at 7.30 p.m.

Please click here for Jane Marchant's talk entitled, "The Merrivale Archaeological Landscape".

Apologies:- Jim & Ruby Churchward, Betty Andrews, Sylvia Needham, Freda Wilkinson, Margaret Phipps, Phyllis Pascoe, Dawn Nosworthy, Arch & Audrey Mortimore, Bessie French, Roger & Rosamond Whale and Joyce Heath.

Mr Rodney Cruze was in the chair and 53 people attended including several new members who we hope enjoyed the meeting and will become regular supporters.

The Minutes of the March meeting were read and signed as correct.

Arising:-

Widecombe Fair

The working party meetings are continuing on a regular monthly basis and the collection of data is going well.

Received from Colin Pearse, Devon & Exeter Gazette newspaper cutting Friday December 23rd 1921 of local Widecombe wedding as reported by Beatrice Chase.

Ponsworthy

The working party meetings are proving very fruitful and a draught copy is being prepared and the choice of suitable photographs and illustrations is being developed.

It is our hope to get this ready for publication at Widecombe Fair 2006.

Leusdon Chapel (Uppacott)

Margaret Phipps hopes to bring Mr John Tucker to our May meeting with copies of his leaflet on the history of the Chapel.

Display Cabinets

Anthony Beard & Peter Rennells have placed the display cabinets in Widecombe Church and developed an exhibition of papers and artefacts relating to the parish in them and on two display boards made available by The Parochial Church Council for our use. So far the comments have been most encouraging and positive.

Annual Parish Council Meeting

This was held on Wednesday March 22nd and our secretary was invited to be the guest speaker. He outlined several points of history about the parish and gave an account of the History Group’s activities. Several other organisations within the parish also made reports this proves to be a very useful annual community event which needs more support and a greater attendance.

Widecombe School - 75th Anniversary 27th April 2007

It was in 1931 that the present School Building was completed. On 27th April 1932 the pupils, that had up to that time been attending the school in The Church House, re-located to the present site. It is intended to celebrate the 75th Anniversary with a variety of events in 2007, including using the Church House for a days schooling, with pupils and teachers dressing in clothes of the period and re-enacting the events. We, The History Group, have offered to have a table at our Heritage Marquee at Widecombe Fair this year to try to collect information from past pupils of life at the school in bygone years. Mary Pascoe is currently going through all the old school records and Wendy Beard is typing up the information gathered.

Important dates

The following dates of events within the group were publicised.
(a) The showing of the old film "Up Along - Down Along" featuring Jan Stewer (A.J.Coles) will be held in The Church House on Thursday 20th April at 7.00 p.m. Admission £2 including tea/coffee & biscuits. There will also be showing of a silent film about Widecombe Fair and possibly after the break a film about Eden Phillpotts "The Man who said Yea! to life" and his "Farmer’s Wife Film" based on his book Widecombe Fair.
(b) Outing to Whimple and Killerton House on Saturday 13th May.
(c) Guided walk around The Merrivale Archaeological site with Jane Marchant on Saturday 22nd April at 1.00 p.m.
(d) A walk along part of one of the ancient tramways of Dartmoor with Richard Wells, Saturday 20th May - details at the May meeting.
(e) Special Outing to South Wales Wednesday 11th October.
(f) Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 3rd May when Natalie Gibbs will give a talk - "An insight into the activities and aims of The Dartmooor Trust & Archives".
(g) Amongst other interesting dates mentioned were:-
Wed 12th April - coffee morning at Leusdon Hall for hall funds 10a.m.
Wed 19th April - DTRG guided walk around The Brimpts Tin Mine from 11a.m.
Mon 24th April - The Tithe Maps Project, Music Room, Castle Street, Exeter 2-4p.m. £2 members of Friends of Devon’s Archives.
Tue 2nd May - visit Lydford Castle (Princetown Group) with Dr Tom Greeves, 7 p.m. at Lydford car park.
Wed 10th May - coffee morning - in aid of Rowcroft Hospice at Leusdon Hall.
Fri 12th May - Torbay postcard club, St Pauls Hall, Preston, Pgn 7.30p.m.
Sat 20th May - Postcard Fair Exeter

E-mails

Enquiry regarding Stephen Woods book on Widecombe -suggested contact Halsgrove Press, Tiverton.

Enquiry regarding woodcarving of U.T.Cobley - suggested view Widecombe Village Sign.

Enquiry regarding Phillip Nosworthy, born May 1711 had son Thomas 1744 buried Widecombe Feb 1840. - suggested research at Devon Tree House, Exeter.

Enquiry regards, Tom Cobley’s Farm, Butsford Barton. - no information.

Back to Top