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The Frith archive was founded by Francis Frith, the pioneer Victorian photographer, in 1860 and today contains over 365,000 photographs of some 7,000 towns and villages throughout Britain. Taken between 1860 and 1970 these form a topographical record of Britain without equal and is recognised as probably the only photographic collection of national importance in private hands in Britain today. The importance of the Frith archive is as a topographical and social record. It provides an amazingly detailed visual record of over 7,000 towns and villages, as well as illustrating the enormous social and structural changes which have taken place in Britain since 1860. Whilst some of the photographs are undoubtedly artistically outstanding, the real value of the archive lies in its scale. There is no other archive which can illustrate this period of British history so extensively or to such a high quality. In association with Francis Firth we can now offer you the chance buy a photograph that reminds YOU of YOUR roots. Buy a photograph of YOUR home town; where YOU were born, went to school or college, were married, owned your first home, went on holiday etc. - photographs of the places that bring back specific memories for YOU. Whilst Frith photographs depict specific towns and villages, many thousands also feature subjects that can be categorised by Theme - such as cars; buses; boats & ships; trains; markets; occupations; fashions; fishing etc. These also generate their own personal associations for people with a special interest in the subject matter. Original negatives for 98% of the views still exist. The quality of the pre 1940 negatives is outstanding and so good they can, with few exceptions, be enlarged to 40' by 25' murals! For this reason it is also possible to enlarge and extract small details from most subjects. Use the following direct links to buy North Devon town and village antique photographs and maps - Abbotsham - Alwington - Appledore -Barnstaple - Bideford - Buck's Mills - Clovelly - Croyde - Georgeham - Hartland - Holsworthy - Ilfracombe - Instow - Littleham - Lundy Island - Lynmouth - Lynton - Northam - Mortehoe - Parkham - Saunton - South Molton - Torrington - Watermouth - Weare Gifford - Westward Ho! - Woolacombe - Woolsery
John W.Tayor 1827 - 1906 One of the earliest references to the bells in Buckland Brewer was report by Church Goods Comissioners in 1553 who reported "Bucklande Bruer iiiibelles yn towre theire."
A new set of four bells was installed in Buckland Brewer in 1825, making apeal of six bells by William and John Taylor who had a bell foundry in Buckland Brewer. Over the course of ten years they are said to have cast 115 bells for parishes in Devon. A newspaper article in 1899 reported:
"The peal of six bells in the parish church are to be re-cast by Messrs Taylor of Loughborough. For some years the bells have not been ringable, but there was no idea of recasting them until Mr. John Taylor of Loughborough, who was born in the village, offered to do the work and to give a subscription of £50, because he wished his native place to have a peal of bells equal to any in England. The bells have been taken down this week. They are to be recast and hung on iron H frames, resting on steel girders. The present tenor weights about 12 cwt, and has the following inscription "Deo et ecclesia, W and J Taylor, Oxford, founders, T Lashbrook and S. Norman, churchwardens, 1825." This work cost £280 with a remission of the £50 as promised by John Taylor.
In the old days ringers were paid to ring on public occasions and there is an intriguing record of the ringers being paid 2 shillings to ring on the occasion of the King of Prussia's birthday. In the past decade, because of remedial work being essential on the tower, the bells have been silent for periods of time. However to the delight of the village this work has now been carried out and the bells ring regularly again.
Edward Capern walked between Bideford and Buckland Brewer seven days a week and having delivered his mail to the post mistress he had a while to wait before his return journey. During this time he sat at a cottage table and wrote down the lines he had composed in though on his walk. He resented have to work on the Sabbath although he enjoyed the sound of Buckland's bells and recorded his feeling in:
"The Rural Postman's Sabbath
The mellowed sounds of Sabbath bellsFall gently on my ear,
And as they break in murmuring swells,
My heart is tuned to prayer
In Sunday garb, all neatly clad,
With joy upon each face
The dame and sire, and lass and lad,
Approach the holy place.
'Tis true in yonder sacred fane
I cannot praise my King;
Yet in the meadow and the lane
I will be worshipping."
Who lived at Orleigh Court?
Speke - who discovered the source of the Nile lived at Orleigh Court.
Anthony Dennys C1685-1641
Per Risdon, Wellan Dake at one time owned Orleigh and Gellanus Dacus held it in Henry II's reign. According to John Watkins, who wrote "A History of Bideford' there is evidence to support the fact that Wellan and Gellanus are the same person and that this family changed their name to Le Daneis or Dennis (Dennys). Risdon assigns the ennis family with 18 generations and Anthony Dennys followed many generations of his ancestors at Orleigh.
Anthony was 20 years old when his father, William, died in 1605. He married twice. His first wife was Eleizabeth Wyse who father was Thomas Wyse of Sydenham. Elizabeth and Anthony had three children, a son (aged 9 years in 1620) and two daughters; all predeceased him.
Anthony's second wife, Gertrude, was the daughter of Sir Bernard Grenville and sister of the famous Sir Bevil Grenville. This marriage produced 8 children although at the time of Anthony's death on 19th June 1641 as he had no heir of age. Gertrude, the youngest daughter, eventually married Nicholas Glynne of Cornwall and they lived at Orleigh although in 1661 all three sisters conveyed Orleigh to a board who held the land for charitable purposes and they sold it to John Davie a merchant from Bideford.
As an alderman and Mayor of Bideford, Anthony gave £10 and 4 alms houses for the use of the poor.
In Buckalnd Brewer Church there is a monument on the East wall, on which there are two kneeling figures. A man in hose and half armour and a lady in a black gown and hod. At their fee are children kneeling and also three infants laying down to indicate they died in infancy. The inscription says:
"To the pious memory of Anthony Dennys late of Orleigh, esqr,who first married Elizabeth, ye daughter of Thomas Wyse of Sydenham by who he had 1 sonne and 2 daughters deceased. He secondly espoused Gertrud daughter of Sir Bernard Grenville of Stow knight, by whome having plenteous issue left surviving only three daughters. He deceased June 19 Ao Di 1641 Aetat suae 56."
"Here sleeps his corps whose worth and fame shall be
A living sermon to posterity
Whose name shall outlive time;
Shall stile him loyall, loving, prudent, sage
Learning's Moecenas, wisdome's quintiscence
He sleeps, he is not dead, he liveth forever
Pale death has got is due, but he dyes never."
BLASTS FROM THE PAST... (Press release from Haunted Devon founder Byron Jackson 1/2/08)
Paranormal Investigators are hoping the noisy re-enactment of a major Civil War battle nearly 400 years ago will raise ghosts of the past in North Devon this month. Haunted Devon will investigate key sites in Torrington, famous for a bloody skirmish which led to the deaths of hundreds of men and the end of Royalist resistance in the Westcountry. On the 16th February 1646 the Parliamentarian Army, led by General Fairfax. took Torrington from Royalist control. In addition to the deaths from the initial attack, many Parliamentarian and Royalist soldiers were killed when a stray spark ignited 80 barrels of gunpowder stored in the local church. The Haunted Devon team, led by Byron Jackson, has investigated sites across the South West including Chambercome Manor, the Black Friars Distillery in Plymouth, Dartmouth Castle and Lewtrenchard Manor. Byron says "We are delighted that the people of Torrington have allowed us to investigate various locations within the town on the anniversary of the battle. There have been some strange happenings in previous years and we hope that the anniversary may serve as a catalyst for paranormal activity." The Haunted Devon team will be joined by members of The Sealed Knot re-enactment group and local Civil War historians from the Torrington 1646 museum. Both will work to provide historical verification of any paranormal findings throughout the evening.
CROMWELL RETURNS TO DEVON... The group will be working from the Cavalier Inn, Black Horse and other locations within Torrington on the evening. They bring with them, the aptly named TV medium, Gavin Cromwell who is an honorary member of the Haunted Devon team and well known local medium Eileen King. Gavin, who is currently working on his new TV series "Spirit Seekers" has been a guest medium on "Most Haunted" and has worked with a large number of soap, pop and TV celebrities. Haunted Devon is one of the largest and best equipped paranormal groups in the UK. The team specialise in the use of electronics, surveillance techniques and ambient temperature monitoring together with more traditional mediumship methods, dowsing, divination and scrying. "We have a good balance of membership beliefs and this has ensured that our findings are more acceptable to members of the public" says Byron. "We simply aim to provide the evidence in both technical and written form that supports the life after death theory." If you wish to find out the results of this investigation or wish to find out more about membership please visit: www.haunted-devon.co.uk
16th February 1646 Civil War Commemoration 2008 - Start: 2:00pm - End: 8:30pm
The Cavaliers will be leading the torchlight procession from Great Torrington School we are also organising the FREE fireworks Display from 1646. This will be viewed from South Street Carpark. Full itinerary and timings as follows
1. 14:00 Musket competition @ 1646
2. 19:00 Musket Volley and torchlight procession leaves GTS, Hatchmoor road.
3. 19:20 Musket Volley, wreath laying and proclamation in the square.
4. 19:45 Free Hot drinks in 1646 Cafe. Musketry and Fireworks viewed from South Street Car park.
5. 20:30 Retire in good order to the ale house.
Haunted Devon investigations are expected to take place from 2200 hrs at several locations in the town.
FLYING START TO THE NEW YEAR - BIDEFORD 2006
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