New to the Archive

Early 20th century farm sale details.

Nearly 1000 items have been added to our collection since summer began, and we are extremely grateful to all those who have donated this material. The newest additions include local history publications, newspaper cuttings, historic documents, images and digital files,

Most recently we acquired a small collection of sale details, dating from the first half of the 20th century, for farms and estates within the South Hams and farther afield. Some of the particulars are just a page or two in length and contain a basic description of the property or land that is for sale, whilst others are large brochures bursting with information and photographs. Regardless of their size, they are an invaluable resource for anyone studying the history of Devon’s buildings and landscapes.

Many of these brochures will be useful for our ongoing research into rural life in Devon during the 1920s, and in particular the changes that took place on local farms in the decade after the first World War. This is part of a county wide research initiative, hosted by Devon History Society in partnership with the South West Heritage Trust and the Devon Family History Society. The project aims to explore the distinctiveness of Devon in the 1920s through a collaboration of individual researchers and organisations, and to share the findings widely.

To find out more about the project, or to get involved, please visit the Devon History Society website. Alternatively, if you would like to volunteer at the DRA and take part in our research for this project, please do get in touch.

*Extracts from a few of the recently acquired sale particulars are shown below.*