News
Visiting during the pandemic – July Update
Visiting the DRA during the Covid-19 Pandemic - From July 2021 This document explains what our operating procedures mean for those planning to use the Archive for private browsing and independent study during the pandemic. It also outlines what you will need to do...
Blackawton in the 1990s
A selection of photographs taken by Dr Jacqueline Sarsby, a social anthropologist & photographer. During the 1990s the pattern of farming in Devon was changing, and many of the traditional farm skills - such as hand-turning butter and making a mangold 'cave' -...
Shilstone: Yesterday and Today
Pictures of Then and Now. During the early 19th century the Savery family, who had owned Shilstone since 1614, started to make some big changes to the site. They demolished the existing medieval house, built a new courtyard mansion in its place, and improved the farm...
Shilstone ‘highly commended’ by Historic Houses Restoration Award
What do Shilstone House and Blenheim Palace have in common? They have both been highly commended by the Historic Houses Restoration Award for 2020. After a delay of more than six months while judges were unable to assess entries because of Covid-19 restrictions, the...
Devon in the 1920s
Rural life 100 years ago. Some of our volunteers are currently researching rural life in Devon during the 1920s, and are looking particularly at the changes that took place on local farms in the decade after the first world war. To this end we will be using items from...
Project Donn: a recent survey
Sandwell Manor, Harberton. Benjamin Donn’s 1765 survey of Devon, produced at a scale of an inch to a mile, was the first large-scale map of any British county. Alongside towns, villages and farms, Donn marked the location of 656 “gentry seats” and thus provides us...
A Victorian Snapshot of North Devon
Pictures of North Devon donated to the Archive. Today we received a charming set of North Devon images from our friends at Towneley Hall Museum in Burnley. All 60 images were taken in the early 1880s, many by W. C. Murphy, and capture towns and villages along the...
COVID-19 Statement
Visiting the DRA during the Covid-19 Pandemic Our Library is currently open by appointment only. To book your visit please call 01548 830832. To minimise the risks posed to our community by the spread of the virus, we have made some changes to the ways in which we...
The Story of Haldon Belvedere | 05.08.2021 - Devon Rural Archive
devonruralarchive.com
The Story of Haldon Belvedere | 05.08.2021 Jul 2, 2021 | Events A zoom talk by Dr Sue Knox on Thursday 5th August 2021 at 6pm about General Lawrence and his tower. This talk will explore the work of General Stringer Lawrence, who became known as the “Father of the Indian Army”, and the rags-to r...
Arthur Graham of Great Ambrook - 150th anniversary — The Italian Garden - Great Ambrook, Devon
www.theitaliangarden.org
Arthur Graham, born in Tulse Hill, Surrey on 29th July 1871, 150 years ago today, was the owner of Great Ambrook and the creator of the Italian Garden.
Fancy feeling a bit cooler? 🥵 Here’s a blog about the great snow storm at Hoar Oak Cottage in 1878. Brrrrrrr 🥶http://hoaroakcottage.org/2017/01/19/snow-storm-1878/. @DevRuralArchive @devonhistorysoc @devon_ex_inst @DevonLife @devonfhs @BritishAssocLocalH @OnePlaceStudies @1PSDirectory @BeginsHistory
Back to researching Torquay and its environs today and turning up some wonderful images among our local studies collections, including @TorreAbbey in 1828.
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Where we are
Devon Rural Archive, Shilstone, Modbury, Devon, PL21 0TW
Call us: 01548 830832
Email us: office@dra.uk.net
