Devon Rural Archive

2010-01-27T06:22:00.000-08:00

Christmas Fayre Cancelled

2009-12-10T07:05:00.000-08:00

We've reluctantly had to cancel the Christmas Fayre for this Saturday (12th December) mainly due to the number of reports we're trying to finish before the Christmas break. Also some of the demonstrators were worried about our recent very bad weather so we've made the decision to cancel and we hope to put something similar on in the Spring. Many apologies.

2009-12-03T07:18:00.000-08:00

So, at last Amy has persuaded me to put fingers to the keyboard and tell you our latest exploits....my first chance to blog!

Last week, Win Scutt kept around 30 of us well entertained on the subject of Devon Place Names in our lovely lecture room here at Shilstone. The water and wind of the dark nights didn't deter our stalwart supporters, but we also welcomed new folk from Blackawton, Plymouth and.......

Win gave us a few 'warm-up' place names to get the ball rolling (leigh and burh, ton and salt ....)and then played excerts of ancient languages to get our ears tuned into the origins of current words. the hour flew by and there were enough keen students local history to keep Win busy with questions.

From the point of view of those of us who work in the Archive, it was wonderful to have people enjoying the Archive room, the current display of Dartmoor Century photographs and a chat over a welcoming hot drink to make it feel that our work is of value.

A talk with Win Scutt

2009-11-16T05:07:00.000-08:00

Open Evening a Grand Success!

2009-11-16T03:20:00.000-08:00

On Thursday 29th October,we welcomed more than 100 invited guests to the Devon Rural Archive. There was a fine atmosphere and it was really exciting for us to see the DRA so busy.

Guests included representatives from South Hams AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty), The Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG), The Dartmoor Society and The University of Plymouth. Also members of a number of local history and archaeological societies who enjoyed browsing our resources and making contact with their neighbouring societies and like minded researchers of history, archaeology and genealogy.

Our Autumn programme continues with a talk by local archaeologist and broadcaster Mr Win Scutt. Please email amy@dra.uk.net for tickets.

A hive of activity...

2009-10-27T12:40:00.000-07:00

The archive is a hive of activity at the moment with normal work proceeding amidst the preparation for the Open Evening on Thursday night. In collaboration with the Dartmoor Archive, Diana has created a photographic exhibition for the event with images of Dartmoor past and present. Amy and Abi have also put together a series of displays and slideshow presentations about the work of the DRA. We look forward to welcoming you to the archive for the Open Evening.

Meanwhile, Abi took some time out for a site visit this week to Ebford Barton just east of Exeter. She spent three hours on site piecing together historical map evidence with visible landscape features. The day was extremely interesting and Abi hopes to return to some nearby properties in the coming weeks to form a comprehensive historical survey for the area.

If you have a property you feel we might be interested in please let us know and we would be happy to consider a preliminary survey.

2009-10-06T01:59:00.001-07:00

The beginning of October, and Autumn has well and truly set in. Having recovered from the organising of the SPAB conference we are now busy ensuring that everything is in order for our Open Evening on Thursday 29th October (please contact the DRA if you have not received your invitation yet!).

We've just been donated a number of interesting items from members of the Kingsbridge History Society, in addition to a full set of the Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society (1977-2008) from another devoted admirer of the DRA!

Abi, Robert and Sarah all have site visits over the next month, and new visits are continually being set up. Amy and Diana have their work cut out with the Open Day organisation in addition to our other forthcoming events (watch this space for news of these) - we can't wait for The Chritmas Fayre!

Lastly, more press coverage!! Last week we appeared in both the Western Morning News

and the Kingsbridge and Salcombe Gazette

......and we've already had contact from people as a result, a great way to raise our profile!

Open Evening

2009-10-02T06:32:00.000-07:00

We're really excited to be hosting our very first Open Evening on Thursday 29th October. A chance to see what we've been up to over the last 3 years, browse through our catalogue and library, read our reports and to meet our archaeologists and the rest of the team. We've also tempted Jamie from the Dartmoor Archive to come along with one of his fascinating photographic displays and hopefully the Modbury History Society with their heritage panels. Please email amy@dra.uk.net for tickets. Refreshments available too. See you there!

What a Week!

2009-10-01T05:30:00.000-07:00

It was all systems go last week as we hosted our first major event in the archive as the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) joined us for a day of lectures. The keynote speaker was Charles Brooking who gave a talk entitled ‘Period Architectural Details’, this was followed by a short talk on the decorative plasterwork at Shilstone by Sean Wheatley. After a light lunch and chance for discussion the attendees were then treated to a tour of Shilstone itself, guided by one of our consultant archaeologists, Robert Waterhouse. The day was a tremendous success and everyone enjoyed the event, we hope it will be the first of many!

SPAB members beginning their tour of Shilstone in the courtyard of the Devon Rural Archive.

Our consultant archaeologists have also been busy visiting historic properties and writing reports on their development. Sarah explored Hazelwood, a C19 estate near Lodiswell and found it to be ‘a wonderful example of Victorian landscape and estate design’. Meanwhile, Abi investigated the ruined mansion of Fowlescombe, again near Loddiswell and was delighted to reveal its development from the C16. The Fowlescombe report appears on their website, http://www.fowlescombe.co.uk/, alternatively why not pop into the archive and read this report and the many others written by our team. We are open to the public on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:30am to 3pm or by appointment.

Hot off the press... We have just received the second journal of the The Devon Gardens Trust `which includes an article by Abi entitled ‘Devon Rural Archive: a New Research Resource’. Check it out.

Our Blog

2009-09-01T02:05:00.001-07:00

Good morning and welcome to our brand new blog!