The
talk by Jim Rider: the new date is Thursday 21st April at 7:30 pm.
We
quickly discussed our current research, Food & Farming in WW1, Brenda’s
school project, both with the Devon History Society. David has more on the
dispute between the Rev. Head and the Bishop! George is looking at
Nonconformists in the area. Geoff, through his volunteer work in the Devon
Heritage Centre is working on maps from our local land agents, Whitton and
Laing and a new deposit in from the Estate Agents Force, who were also
Undertakers.
Maps
were mentioned and Stanfords were mentioned as suppliers:
A
good online source for UK maps is at http://maps.nls.uk/
For
the new season of history events in Devon I suggest you keep an eye on the
link:
Thank
you to Jenny and George for arranging the visit of Will Churcher to the
meeting. It
was the best evening we have had in a long time! Fuelled by Landlord Mike’s ale!
Will
was accompanied by his friend Chris, who joined in our conversations with a
mind of an engineer.
So
interesting and just amazing to hold the musket shot and bodkins found by Will
with his metal detector.
The
finds relate to the time of the Prayer Book Rebellion, 1549. Will is working on a Civil War project for a hands on history collection to be put
together for the Royal Albert Museum in Exeter.
Will
urged everyone to be honest and responsible in their metal detecting and take
finds to the museum for verification.
I
was so enthralled by the artefacts, my notes taken on the night may be lacking!
Sadly,
nothing has ever been found in the fields where the Battle at Fenny Bridges
took place, apart from an arrow head in a tree.
Clyst
St Mary saw one of the important battles in the
Rebellion. After the battle at Woodbury Common on 4 August 1549, the
rebels under the control of Humphrey Arundell had re-grouped with the main
contingent of 6,000 at Clyst St Mary, but on 5 August were attacked by a
central force led by Sir William Francis, under the control of John Russell,
1st Earl of Bedford. After a ferocious battle Russell's troops gained the
advantage leaving a thousand Cornish and Devonians dead and many more taken
prisoner, 900 of whom were massacred later that day at Clyst Heath. Many of the
soldiers and villagers were drowned in the river. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clyst_St_Mary#Battle_of_Clyst_St_Mary
In
the marshes at Clyst St. Mary finds include musket balls, and a Baldrick which
is a sword belt. The Bridge there is
meant to be the oldest in Devon. A Gunner held the bridge with a canon by John
Hammond. The area may have been flooded, so they would have crossed at Bishops Clyst.
Tudor
Bodkins arrow heads probably Devon made and could pierce armour, they wore helmets, and possibly
chain mail.
George modelling a “Lobster Pot Helmet”
Windmill
Hill, Greendale, no musket balls found, but a
very early screw thread bolt was found . We chatted about the history of
nuts and bolts
Will
showed us a Culverin ball shot, size of a golf ball, from this sort of weapon,
David pointed out this could well be that depicted in the wound carved into the
cadaver in the church. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culverin
German
and Italian mercenaries fought in the rebellion:
Feeding
an army in 1549 must have been difficult, but the land owner would have feared
for his safety had he not provided supplies.
Siege
of Exeter was also part of this cruel era.
Will
showed us two amulets relating to the time, one marked Prides Rump Purge
We
talked about other sieges, one being of Newark in 1645.
Will
was asked whose side he would be on, the Rebels was Will’s reply!!!
Many
thanks Will and Chris.
Next
meeting in the Nog Inn 8:00 pm on Thursday 3rd March.
