Explore
the Coast & "Country" Side of North Devon
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Reproduced
courtesy of Francis Frith. 
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| Good Listeners Required. North Devon Museum has been awarded funding from Renaissance South West the funding stream of the MLA (Museums, Libraries and Archives Organisation) to help volunteers capture North Devon's oral history. Although the museum collects objects associated with the history and culture of North Devon, it's also part of their work to collect the stories of local people. Julian Vayne of the Museum said: "Recording peoples stories is very important and gives us a personal account of how things have changed and let's us listen in to challenges, hopes, fears and dreams of people in our community. We're also interested in the therapeutic benefit of telling stories. For older people, especially those in hospitals and nursing homes it can really help them stay mentally active and engaged with their community. All we need now are some wonderful volunteers who'd like to be trained in gathering oral history and reminiscences work! "Anyone interested in getting involved in the project should contact Julian at the museum on 01271 346747 or via email to julian.vayne@northdevon.gov.uk | |
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| HELP
WANTED WITH NORTH MOLTON HISTORY PROJECT Adrian Stone, of the North Molton History Society, would like to hear from anyone with information on the old corn mill located at the bottom of North Molton village on the river Mole. "The Old Mill" is now a house but the wheel is still on the side. It was converted to a house in 1975. Andrew is particularly interested in any old photographs; who lived there when it was a working mill and any interesting historical details about the building. If you can help or know someone who can please email Adrian stone234@btinternet.com |
Devonshire
County Motto: ' Bide your time'
Devonshire's beauty has long been veiled,
from the roving eye it's mostly hidden,
its narrow, bent lanes guard it, unassailed,
like a blushing virgin's allure, forbidden.
The beholders eye's held in a spell,
not by what's seen, but what's obscure,
a County which, as a beauty belle,
reveals very little in one overture.
Now and then there's just a glance,
like a lady's skirt caught in a breeze
it's then you catch some glorious view,
which entrances your heart and mind anew,
the Moors offer much more, perchance,
a bare midriff revealed there, to tease.
Two channels run where she bathes her feet,
across fine, wide sandy bays, and little creeks,
the bays are where many surfers meet,
and holidaymakers scamper, with joyful shrieks.
Sometimes you'll catch the native twang,
"hers a proper jaab" and, "where be 'em to"?
where I was born, when the doorbell rang,
you'd hear," I'm fine me dear, and how be you"?
The milkman came with horse and gig,
and filled your jugs straight from a churn,
the baker's horse arrived, drawing shelved out rig,
followed by the grocer, and fishmonger, all in turn.
This County's a lady with beauty and charm,
an elegant hostess for holiday bliss,
no bluster nor fuss, just serenity and calm,
she'll woo and embrace you, then leave a warm kiss
© All rights reserved 2 July 2009
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.
The above information was contributed by Cyndy Ellis, Buckland Brewer
Read all about it Buy Master of my art: The Taylor bellfoundries 1784-1987
(book about the history of the Taylor family and bell-founding. Mervyn Gould
of the Mercia Cinema Society told us about this book he was one of the 1st
subscribers.)
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 bells
Fall 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."
Buy the Book Ballads and Songs by Edward Capern
Who lived at Orleigh Court?
Speke - who discovered the source of the Nile lived at Orleigh Court.
Anthony Dennys 1585-1641
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."
The above information was contributed by Cyndy Ellis, Buckland Brewer
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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