News
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...
Be part of the team
It's our volunteers that make the Devon Rural Archive so special. As a volunteer you get frequent access to a wealth of fascinating historical material and to the expertise of our knowledgeable curator. You get to be part of a lovely team of people, with lively...
Sawdye & Harris Collection
Earlier this month the Directors of Sawdye and Harris, Chartered Surveyors, Auctioneers, and Estate Agents, contacted the Archive about taking on their historical records. This long-established business had, over the years, amalgamated a large collection of material...
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Guests will explore the history of the site through its surviving archaeology and rare architectural features before seeing the results of the restoration, including the recently completed panelled drawing room.
Tickets are available from
devonruralarchive.com/product/shilstone-house-tour-04-04-2023/
by calling 01548 830832 or email office@dra.uk.net
Please note that Knightstone Manor is not open to the public.
#otterystmary
#donnmap
#explore
#dartmoor #haytor #pinchafordfarm
#farminguk #NFU
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Until 1204 the whole of Devon was a royal forest: an area reserved by the king for hunting. William the Conqueror introduced the concept of forest law in England in the 11th century. Our copy of Benjamin Donn's map of 1765 shows the area marked as being the Forest of Dartmoor.
Eggesford Forest, near Wembworthy in North Devon is home to the very first trees planted by the newly created Forestry Commission in 1919.
Wistman's Wood is one of three remote high-altitude oakwoods on Dartmoor, and, as an outstanding example of native upland oak woodland, was selected as a Site of Special Scientific Interest in 1964.It forms part of the Wistman's Wood National Nature Reserve, was one of the primary reasons for selection of the Dartmoor Special Area of Conservation, and is one of the UKs few temperate rain forests.
Wistman's Wood is one of Britain's largest and richest areas of native woodland, the tree species grow here naturally, rather than having being introduced by people. It is an ancient woodland. Trees have covered this land since they first took root after the last Ice Age, about 10,000 years ago.
#WistmansWood #dartmoornationalpark #eggesfordforest #forestrycommission #forestryengland #temperaterainforest
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In her talk, Dr. Long, a garden historian, presented illustrated evidence of the beautiful homes and gardens of industrialists having been constructed so that the industrial activities (e.g. ironworks and potteries) were co-located and juxtaposed with those beautiful homes and gardens. Many of the examples given were, as might be expected, from cities in the North of England (e.g. Derby and Leeds), but she also presented two in Devon, including this one in Ivybridge.
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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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