News
The Lore of the Dart
In a recent episode of ‘Sketches: A story of Art and People’ on Radio 4 (July 18th – On Dartmoor – available on BBC Sounds), the presenter Anna Freeman took a walk on the edges of Dartmoor with writer Tom Cox. During their discussion about the influence of Dartmoor on...
Picture Perfect
Sandwell Manor, Harberton - Revisited. In February 2021 our blog reflected on the research of our Curator, Abigail Gray, into the history of Sandwell Manor in Harberton which she had surveyed as part of Project Donn. This Grade II listed country house is of late...
It’s show time…
What a fantastic day we've had at the 133rd Yealmpton Show! As always we were in the Yealmpton History tent showcasing the work that we do at the Archive and sharing some of our collection with visitors. This year we took a selection of historic maps of the local...
Stories from the Archive: Mother Hubbard
Old Mother Hubbard went to the cupboard... If you ever driven through the village of Yealmpton in the South Hams you will have noticed Old Mother Hubbard’s cottage. Squat along the road with an undulating thatched roof, thick stone walls and tiny cottage windows it...
Bigbury Tithe Map
This copy of the Bigbury Tithe map from 1843 was recently donated to the Archive for safe keeping along with a transcript of the apportionment that was written in 1930. The National Archives explains: "Tithes were originally a tax which required one tenth of all...
Pop-Up Café & Open Gardens
Introducing Polly Ann's There are exciting times ahead for the Archive as work is now underway to create our very own café for visitors to enjoy. In the meantime however, we are delighted to welcome Polly Ann's mobile country kitchen to our courtyard for some pop-up...
Our New Defibrillator
We are delighted to announce that our new Defibrillator has arrived and is ready to be installed and registered. Being in such a remote location we felt it was essential to have a Defibrillator on site to increase the chances of survival should someone suffer a...
Restore Trust
Harry Mount in conversation with Zewditu Gebreyohanes. On Sunday 17th July 2022 we will be welcoming Restore Trust to Shilstone House and the DRA for a special event in which Harry Mount, editor of The Oldie magazine, will be talking to Restore Trust director Zewditu...
A tour of the Archive
For those of you who haven’t had the pleasure of visiting us here at the Devon Rural Archive we thought we would give you a little tour of our beautiful building and its setting, and introduce you to some of the delights that await you when visiting. The Devon Rural...
Sales Documents Reunited
The missing piece... Back in 2018 the Archive received a copy of the 1917 sale particulars for the Chaddlewood Estate in Plympton St Mary. The catalogue entry records that there were two plans folded inside the back cover but that Lots 4, 5 and 6 were on a third...
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This is the inscription of the 18th Century Paddon's of Modbury Long Case Clock, which sits at the top of the staircase at the Archive.
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It is an eight day clock cased in oak and has a brass arch dial and curved date apeture. The brass pendulum inside is exactly 39 inches long and makes a half swing in just one second.
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The Fenwick Charitable Trust purchased the clock in 2016 to keep it in the parish of its maker.
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'River of Dart, oh, River of Dart!
Every year thou claimest a heart.'
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In a recent @bbcradio4 episode of 'Sketches: Stories of Art and People' (July 18th -Dartmoor - Available on BBC Sounds), presenter Anna Freeman discusses this saying about the Dart with the writer Tom Cox and its sinister meaning.
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In our latest blog post and with the help of the Archive we delve deeper into the origins of the saying and how true it is for the river.
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Read here: devonruralarchive.com/news/
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Here you can see the detail of the carving up close and personal. It is available to view, along with many more artefacts at the Archive on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 11-3pm, no appointment necessary.
Our evening lecture on the Hole family of Parke at Bovey Tracey is being given by Dr Frances Billinge.
'River of Dart, oh, River of Dart!
Every year thou claimest a heart.'
In a recent @BBCRadio4 episode of 'Sketches: Stories of Art and People', writer @cox_tom discusses the sinister meaning of this rhyme
We delve deeper in our latest blog https://devonruralarchive.com/news/
Looking for something interesting and unique to do in the South Hams this week? Why not join us for a tour of Shilstone House this week with our resident archaeologist, Abi Gray. Discover the secrets behind the house and its gardens of beautiful property.
https://devonruralarchive.com/shilstone-house-tour-09-08-2022/
August
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Glorious August breaks to blazing tune
Mature, full-bosomed more than was green June
She wears Nature's richest raiment be-gowned
In flowers and fruits, majestically crowned.
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Poem by Hubert N. Snowdon from his book 'Keep Faith with the Soil'
#farming #devon #august
It's not too late to purchase tickets for our evening lecture tomorrow on the Hole Family of Parke, Bovey Tracey. Tickets are only £5 each and refreshments are provided. Come along and bring a friend for an interesting evening out: https://devonruralarchive.com/the-hole-family-of-parke-bovey-tracey-04-08-2022/
Join our resident archaeologist, Abi Gray, on a journey through time with a tour of the beautiful @shilstonehouse . Join Abi at 2pm on Tuesday 9th August when the house and grounds will be open for a guided tour. For tickets visit:
https://devonruralarchive.com/shilstone-house-tour-09-08.../
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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
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