CHULMLEIGH & DISTRICT LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY
A group of local people with a shared interest in the area’s wealth of ancient houses founded the Society in 1975. Monthly winter talks, on a wide range of topics broadly related to local history, entertain and educate. Monthly summer visits are arranged to historic houses and sites around the county.
In 2009 the Society enjoyed a variety of summer outings. We spent a day in North Devon visiting the Maritime Museum at Appledore, and Littleham village where Liz Shakespeare’s book “Fever” began. Another outing was to South Devon where we enjoyed a guided tour of the recent major restoration project at Torre Abbey, followed by a visit to Newton Abbey Museum. We also saw a medieval long house and tin mining sites on Dartmoor, and nearer to home we spent a day in Crediton visiting Holy Cross Church and an informative guided walk round the old East Town.
Members are welcomed from Chulmleigh, Morchard Bishop and other surrounding villages. Their current interests range among landscape and industrial archaeology, traditional building construction, parish, family, house, church, transport and maritime history to Dartmoor, Exmoor and maps.
Monthly winter talks (normally illustrated) are held on the third Thursday of each month at Chulmleigh Community College, starting at 7.30pm.
Recently these have featured: Ancient and Holy Wells in the West Country, the Life of W R Lethaby (architect and teacher), Church Plate from Chulmleigh Churches and the Green Lanes of Devon.
Further talks in 2010 will be on The Devonshire Association on 18th February, the Social & Business History of the Fox Family on 18th March, and the Courtenay Family of Powderham Castle on 15th April.
Annual membership is currently £5 single and £7 joint (two people sharing an address), with £2 payable at each lecture attended. Visitors are welcome to attend at £4 per person. We do hope you will come and join us.
Enquiries to:
Chairwoman Mrs Barbara Mann on 01769-520284
Hon Sec Mrs Sue Ellwood on 01363-877355