Programme of Speakers and Events for 2023/24

 

18th April   Reverend Bray’s Bardic Boulders  Simon Dell                          
Lying in the valley of the Cowsic River below Beardown Farm, within the private land of the farm and off the beaten track of any public footpath is a Dartmoor curiosity like no other. Boulders of granite carved by the hand of man at the behest of the Rev’d Edward Bray.

 

16th May    Group visit to Castle Hill Gardens, Filleigh.            

The gardens and grounds extend over 50 acres.(Dogs allowed) set against the 17th Century Palladian house. (not open to the public).  From Spring the woodland garden is carpeted with primroses and daffodils under ancient specimen trees, hundreds of different camellias, rhododendrons and azaleas.  
 

17th June   Meldon Walk Led by Paul Rendell                                                                        
Paul will lead us on a  11/2  hours walk looking at the industrial history of North Dartmoor. The walk will include a look at a glass factory, a limestone quarry, a copper mine amongst other interesting things. All the route will be below Meldon Reservoir on good paths. (20 max). 

 

 18th July    Tulips, Topiary, Tradescanth and Thyme by Janet Few                                    

  This talk is delivered by Mistress Agnes on one of her rare visits from the seventeenth century. She will describe gardening and the importance of gardens their time, ranging from the country house gardens of Inigo Jones to the labourers’ cottage gardens. Find out how vital gardens were to the household economy of our ancestors and how various plants could be used. 

 

15th August   Visit to The Old Mill Jacobstowe hosted by Kevin and Linda Talmage at 3pm                                

Linda and Kevin Talmage have kindly agreed to show us the preserved mill workings, at the Old Mill.  Weather permitting we will also be able to enjoy a cream tea in the garden.

 

19th September   Devon Dialect – A Dying Language        Margaret Weeks                
 Margaret will read pieces she has written herself, as well as pieces by other dialect writers. She will also talk about words and their    meanings and for how long they have been used by Devonians

17th October   Leigh Winsbury - Hatherleigh’s Vicar Uncovered                                    

Leigh was a biker in East London in his teens. Then he met up with three Christian Biker Evangelists. The rest as they say is history!​

 

21st  November Devon’s Railway Heritage     Robert Hesketh.                          

Railways have profoundly altered Devon, leaving a rich and varied heritage. This talk explores that heritage; including our two mainlines and four branch lines, as well as our excellent preserved railways, two cliff railways and the cycleways/walkways established on former track. Illustrated with over 130 images. 

 

19th Dec  Our Christmas Meal at The Railway, North Tawton                                                                                 

 

16th January    Memories from the Past     David Weeks                                 

Recollections of events leading up to the Carnival and the organisation of the evening. 
(Exbourne Carnivals were an annual event for many years.)

 

20th Feb    Hatherleigh in 1840 and A Hatherleigh Murder by Hatherleigh History Group

A gifted album of paintings and sketches of Hatherleigh and the surrounding villages forms the first part of this talk, followed by a recounting of the murder of Lady Artist - Ida May Breton in 1905 .

19th Mar    The AGM - details to be confirmed