Exbourne Local History Group   Programme 2025/2026

 

15th April   Dr Todd Gray Barnstaple’s Golden Age

Barnstaple’s first Golden Age took place in the late 1500s and early 1600s. Cloth, pottery and overseas trade rebuilt the town which was embellished by extraordinary plasterwork, monuments and carved wood. In Barnstaple we can see religious fervour spilling out and culminating in its support for parliament during the Civil War.

 

 20th May   Group visit to Bridgerule Mill

Alan and Rosie Beat have lived at the Mill since 1987. Gradually over time they have been able to restore the then derelict mill back to full working order. Our visit will include a guided tour of the mill as well as opportunities to enjoy their 16 acre small holding, including wild flower meadow walk, the lake, mill pond, leat and river.  The garden itself  are going through a transition period due to the loss on a number of trees to ash dieback.                

      

11th June   Group Visit to Marwood Hill Gardens.   Please note the date variation

Covering 20 acres with 3 lakes, is a peaceful private garden created in the late 50s. The gardens feature impressive collections of trees shrubs and perennials. These include rhododendrons, magnolias’ hostas, japanese irises and astilbes amongst many others, providing colour and interest from Spring to Autumn.  There are also tranquil woodland walks.

 

15th July   Isabella Whitworth – “Samuel Poole and the Dyers of Exe Island.”

Samuel Poole was a wool dyer living in Tudor Street, Exeter, in the later 18th century. His notebook offers a colourful insight into daily life on Exe Island and the importance of a network of leats which powered the many textile related businesses.

 

 16th September  “Life and Traditions of Dartmoor Commoners” - Tracy May

Tracy is the Vice Chair of the Dartmoor Commoners Council. Her talk will explain about Commoners ,their lives and work. The Council  was established to represent the commoners, make regulations about most matters which concern the management and the welfare of the stock grazing there.

 

 21st  October   Ann Widdecombe

   Ann’s will be a lighthearted account of her extremely interesting career some history of Parliament and the Civil Service (not from a  Party political point of view, of course) and stories from her varied retirement, including her time on Strictly Come Dancing.                  Ann will be bringing copies of her books for you to buy and she will be happy to sign them too.

 

 18th November Philip Davies.    – “My life as a vet over 40 years.”

 

  16th December   Our Christmas Meal at The Railway, North Tawton

                                                                                 

 20th January   Paul Scott - “Waytown – family connections to a house, its owners and history.”             

  This is the story of a country house ‘gentleman’s residence’ in North Devon. The talk will be partly about the lives of Paul’s immediate              family and their links to the house. It is also a look at the wider family history, background and the society they were part of, for several    generations.

 

   17th February  Michael Winter – “Land Between the Moors: Past, Present and Future.”

  The land between Dartmoor, Exmoor and Bodmin Moor is distinctive both in its geology and soils as in its land use, low population                density, low wages and remoteness. Michael’s talk will consider the illusive identity of the area the challenges it continues to face and         speculate on its future.                                           

 

17th March     The AGM   Details to be confirmed