History Group activities 2022
Past Meetings
November meeting
A bit of a calendar re-jig for our meeting this month. We've had to postpone Adrian Tyrell's talk on metal detecting to next spring. So Peter Budd and myself will be doing a double act, presenting some of Peter's excellent audio-visual pieces and a short talk I've been working on which tries to solve some puzzles about how people did sums in the 16th century. Sounds strange? Sort of strange, but with some aspects which are strangely familiar...
Octobers meeting
On 27th October, Kevin O’Connell took us to the far side of the world with a presentation on Samurai Japan. As Monty Python once said, “And now for something completely different..”
Septembers meeting
In September, Martin Watts gave us a splendid talk on the history of mills in Mid Devon. Martin has spent a lifetime studying and working on mills – and it shows. If you want to know the pros and cons of overshot, undershot or breast-shot waterwheels, Martin is your man. If you want to know the history of a specific mill in this part of the world, that’s where to ask. And it’s a world which inspired some wonderful homespun philosophy – I particularly enjoyed hearing about the miller who “Never tried to grind with water that had already past”.
August Meeting
At our August meeting Keith Barker’s talk on The Bosses of Exeter Cathedral gave us an opportunity to look at some of the Cathedral’s spectacular decoration, most of it dating from the 13th and 14th centuries. Keith showed us literally hundreds of slides, accompanied by a narration drawing on his detailed knowledge of the cathedral, helping us to understand some of the imagery and symbolism in these impressive artworks.
At our July meeting, Mark Norman talked to us about three overlapping topics: the Folklore Library and Archive, Local History in Crediton Library and the Reminiscence Project.
Mark has been a key player in developing the Folklore Library, an ambitious project which collects and curates a range of mementos – both documents and artifacts. Mark explained that “folklore” can embrace many different aspects, noting also that this collection includes items from overseas as well as from the UK. Many of our members were impressed – and surprised – to learn that the Folklore Library’s collection is now based in our very own branch library, here in Crediton.
Our branch library also has a local history section, with lots of material sorted by parish, plus a selection of published material of local interest. Mark brought in some old photographs and other artifacts to illustrate the range of topics covered.
Lastly, the Reminiscence Project – which aims to collect snippets of oral history for posterity. Every one of us holds a unique set of experiences and memories; which might include the only surviving record of a specific event, or perhaps a song, a playground rhyme or a story which could easily be lost. Get along to Crediton Library and speak to Mark if you’d like to know more – maybe contributing a reminiscence of your own to add to this fascinating collection.
Our first proper in-person meeting in over two years came up on Thursday 30th June.
The Poet John Clare and his View of Early 19th Century England
It was good to be back to “normal” in person meetings at the Boniface Centre for this talk – and to have a big turnout for an excellent presentation by Roger Rowe, a Clare scholar who has published several volumes about this important 19th century poet.
Roger gave us many insights into Clare’s life and how this influenced his work. A man from very humble origins, with little or no formal education, Clare was an acute observer of the world around him. His poems include many powerful condemnations of the damage being done to the rural England of his times, along with trenchant observations about the way in which the rich and powerful looked after their own interests to the detriment of others. So many of his insights have relevance to things happening in our own times.
If you want to buy any of Roger’s books but didn’t have the money with you on the day, please visit his website http://arboureditions1.blogspot.com/
Visit to Crediton Museum 1950s Exhibition, April
In England, until 1752, each New Year was deemed to start on 25th March (Lady Day). There were no leap years. Over the centuries, the dates had got out of kilter with the sun, the moon and the seasons. It was decided to cut eleven days out of the calendar. Wednesday 2nd September 1752 was followed immediately by Thursday 14th September 1752. The authorities took the opportunity to change the commencement of each year to 1st January, starting in 1753.
There were lots of complications, not least for collecting tax. You might now guess why the tax year still ends 5th April.
This isn’t why we started the new calendar for the u3a History Group in April – I just thought you might like an historical parallel. But we kicked off our latest series of meetings and events on 19th April with a visit to the Crediton Museum Summer Exhibition, focusing on the 1950s. Cheryl, who co-organised the Exhibition, gave us an introductory talk and invited members to look around, ask questions and offer comments. Everyone seemed to enjoy the visit – there was plenty of chat, lots of reminiscences and some interesting questions.
The Exhibition will run on until October. Opening hours are
Weds – Fri 10.00 to 16.00
Saturday 10.00 to 13.00
Breton woodworkers in Early Tudor Devon, John Allan, FSA.
February presentation from the CAHZoom network was on Friday 11th Feb, starting at 4pm. John Allan (president of the Devonshire Association 2019-2020) showed that Devon and Cornwall had a large immigrant population at the end of the Middle Ages, among whom were skilled Breton craftsmen including woodcarvers.
He argued that there is a considerable body of late medieval wood carving, including some of the most beautiful works that surviving in Devon and Cornwall churches, which can be attributed to these woodworkers, and that they also undertook work in some of our town and country houses.
The presentation was delivered via Zoom and was followed by a chance to ask questions to the speaker. .
In January, Tony Gale’s presentation, “Copplestone; the Stone and the Story” looked at a familiar ancient monument – which thousands of people drive past every day – exploring what is known about the origins of the stone, the patterns and images carved on it, and the stories which have grown up around it. We heard how some of the carvings are replicated on other ancient monuments with Saxon or Viking origins and explored some of the possible interpretations of the panels featuring people – and a horse (or is it a donkey?). Tony explored the origins of the Bishop Putta story, first associated with the Copplestone in the 19th century, and how this has become garbled and embellished in some accounts. Looking back over the thousand-year history of the stone, Tony reminded us of the importance of maintaining a distinction between conjecture and provable fact. The Copplestone is a fascinating and important ancient monument, but an examination of its history inevitably leaves us with more questions than answers.
History Group “Taster” Session, 21st September
What better way to give a “taste” of the History Group than to walk around Crediton, talking about its complex and fascinating history?
Although most of the buildings in the town – or at least their frontages – are relatively modern, there are several locations where we can see echoes of earlier times. We started in the town square – a market square from the early 19th century, bustling with activity, but before that an open space with an open sewer running through it. We strolled along Belle Parade, where the “belles” of Crediton were said to have paraded to attract the admiring glances of French officers on parole here during the Napoleonic Wars. We looked at Libbet’s Well, an ancient well of great importance in the days when the town had very few public sources of drinking water.
We talked about the long history of the church, starting with the Saxon cathedral which stood here in the 10th century. Dean Street - formerly the home of religious dignitaries and the site of some of the richest mansions in Crediton in the 16th century – also holds Cockles Lane, which gained notoriety as a favourite place for dubious assignations. Until the 19th century, when Union Road was built, the East and West Towns were connected by the steep climb (and descent) of Bowden Hill, with the boundary between the two being close to the top. Just within the West Town lie Spurways Almshouses, dating from 1557, and slightly further west was the Unitarian Chapel – “the largest single-span cob building in England” until nearby demolition work caused its demise in the 1970s.
We finished our walk in the High St, talking about the remarkable map from 1743 which tells us much about the town at that time and adds enormously to our understanding of the Great Fire of Crediton that year.
We hope that the dozen or so “tasters” who accompanied John Heal and myself on the walk will have gone away with a better understanding of Crediton’s history – and with an appetite for learning more.
Group organiser Tony Gale 01363 776108