News
We need you!
Volunteers Wanted for the Devon Archive at Shilstone Are you a reliable individual with a passion for local history, architecture, and rural landscapes? Do you enjoy interacting with a diverse range of people and providing excellent customer service? If so, we would...
Life on a Devon Farm
The social anthropologist and photographer, Dr Jacqueline Sarsby, has recently donated her photographic collection to the DRA. In the coming months these striking monochrome pictures will be added to our Image Bank and also put on display in the Archive. During the...
Translating the Past
Norden's Survey of Crown Lands - An Update. The Archive is a partner organisation in the Friends of Devon’s Archives (FODA) project concerning the early 17th century survey of crown lands by John Norden. In 1612 James I appointed John Norden as surveyor of the...
A Photographic Gem
Earlier this month we were very excited to receive a collection of 78 photographs of historic Exeter from the Exeter Historic Buildings Trust. The images had all been captured by the firm of Bradford based photographer Walter Scott in the first half of the 20th...
Bygone days in Ugborough
Earlier this week we received this charming set of images showing Ugborough in days gone by. They were scanned into our Image Bank by our wonderful team and the originals were returned to the owner. We hope you enjoy them as much as we have. Stay in the loop! ...
Sunday Opening
We are delighted to announce that, from the 20th November until the 18th December inclusive, the Archive will be open on Sundays. So, if you have ever wanted to visit but have not been able to pop-in during our normal opening hours, now is your chance! Our Research...
Come dine with us
From Sunday 20th November 2022 you will be able to enjoy a delicious, freshly cooked Sunday lunch at Shilstone. Served in a beautifully restored former hay barn, the set menu of either one or two courses will be prepared by the in-house team of highly skilled chefs....
Bellarmine Jar Witch-Bottle
Charms against witchcraft - Witch Bottles. With Halloween just around the corner we thought we would share one of the spookier archaeological finds from our excavations at Shilstone House. Witch bottles from the seventeenth and eighteenth century have been found all...
A Chagford mystery?
This wonderful picture was recently shared with us in the hope that we may be able to identify the location and artist. In the corner is written 'Wick Brook, Chagford' but there is no signature or date. Could it be Weeke Brook at Chagford? Or is this a different...
A particularly special donation
This incredible collection of sale particulars has just been donated to the Archive by the family of Charles Head, a Kingsbridge based firm of auctioneers and surveyors that was established in 1902. Over the years the Head family have collected a large number of these...
.
This is the saying, according to 'Dartmoor with a Difference' by Lois Deacon, when two people plan to meet on the Moor.
.
Have you heard of it? Do you know any other similar Devon sayings?
.
Join us for a fascinating illustrated talk by Mark Norman on the Folklore of Devon on Thursday 5th October at 7pm. Tickets are available via our website: devonruralarchive.com/the-folklore-of-devon-05-10-2023
I saw the village-pond burning with fire.
I saw the thatched cottage bowing to the squire.
I saw a parson twelve feet high.
I saw a balloon made of lead.
I saw a coffin drop down dead
I saw two pigeons run a race.
I saw two donkeys making lace.
I saw a maiden with a face like a cat.
I saw a kitten wear a straw hat.
I saw a man who saw these too,
Who said it's strange but they're all true.
.
Can you figure it out?
.
Image of Clovelly from our Image Bank.
.
This post card from our image bank reads, 'It is the place that has been washed away. I daresay you have heard tale of it. I have never been.'
.
You can read more about how the village came to be claimed by the sea here:
maritimearchaeologytrust.org/3407-2/
Stay in the loop!
Join the DRA Friends to receive the latest news from the archive as well as details of our events and exhibitions by email. Please add office@dra.uk.net to your list of contacts to prevent our messages being banished to your Spam folder.
Where we are
Devon Rural Archive, Shilstone, Modbury, Devon, PL21 0TW
Call us: 01548 830832
Email us: office@dra.uk.net
Links