Feniton History Group held the 103 meeting in the Nog Inn

7^th November 2019

Geoff welcomed all to the meeting.

Bob informed us that he was going to emigrate to Spain and was busy packing. He expects to move during the New Year. We are sad that he is leaving us but wish him the very best for his new life in Spain. We shall miss him!

    

David had been studying his research on the church which he has been gathering over the years and he brought some snippets to share with us.

He began by saying that when we look at the church, we tend to think it has remained the same over the centuries; however, it has changed significantly over the years.

There were some deanery reports, dated 1674, which tell us that the South ile (sic…old spelling) required paving, that the roof over part of it was defective and leaked while the windows needed glazing. The seats in the main body of the church were stated as requiring boarding while the belfry had lost all of its boarding.

According to another report dated 1737, the pulpit and other parts of the building were described as being decrepit. A later description of 1757 written by the dean following his visitation of a number of parishes around Plymtree stated that none of the adjacent parishes, including Feniton, were ‘presentable’. By 1759, the roof of the north side of Feniton church and the porch, in addition to a number of other parts of the building, were in need of repair.

David told us that about one hundred years later, in 1874, that not only was  the tower reported as being cracked and in need of restoration, but the  steps were unsafe, the floor of the bell chamber almost gone, and the three bells, of which more were added later, required re-hanging.

Jackie asked when was the church originally built and David said it dated back to about the 12^th century. He showed us on a drawing where some of the original parts remain and where there were later additions, mainly in the 18^th century. We wondered if there was any evidence that Cromwell’s troops had damaged the church, but David thought not. If Cromwell had come to Feniton his troops would most certainly have destroyed the transi tomb.

George told us about an old map he had been examining which showed that the course of the River Otter was further west than where it is today. He asked if it was possible to view the original plans of the railway. Alan queried when the weir was first built across the river to divert some of the water into the Vine. Geoff suggested that maybe the weir was built when the mill was constructed or perhaps the railway moved it.

David then asked does anyone know anything about a person called Fulford, Geoff suggested to look in the records office

Peter mentioned that when he was standing by the lych gate on Sunday he was trying to work out by which route Uncle Tom Cobley, as described by Dr Todd Grey in his talk recently, had made his way to the church. Note we don’t think that Uncle Tom Cobley came to the village, just the song!!

Alan then told us about a family puzzle.

While researching the name of Powell in West Dorset in an area that stretches inland from Charmouth, he had visited some of the Powells in that area. He said that the unusual name of Bento was used throughout three generations of the Powell family. It was a common name in Europe and he wondered if one of the ancestors of the West Dorset Powells may have been shipwrecked along the coast there and that the family had kept the name and passed it down the generations.

As always, we thoroughly enjoyed out meeting.

Our next meeting is on the first Thursday in December at 8 p.m. Everyone is welcome to join us.

Feniton History Group held the 102 meeting in The Nog Inn

The meeting was started by Christine who welcomed everyone.
The meeting started with David telling u s that he has been looking at the Pring’s tomb near the
church door . H e noticed that the ends did not appea r to fit in with the overall de sign of the tomb.
 H e thought they gave the appearance of having been stuck on rather haphazardly while t he slab on the top looked like it may have been an alta r stone i n the past which had possibly been r emoved from the church when they had to be replaced by a wooden one c. 1550 The inscription on the tomb,
Prepare for Death , was possibly chosen because the village was experiencing an outbreak of plague
or smallpox at about this t ime. Since the meeting, Jenny has since read the parish registers in the
museum which reveal that the Pring family had lost four children and their mother in 1551 and
another four children who lived in Thorne in 1591. 1591.) This gave rise to a discussion about the plague hospital which was situated in Owl Lane at a safe distance from the village. It was not known when this was built. People from the village and surrounding neighbourhood would be taken there when in fected with the plague or smallpox in order to reduce the spread of the disease.

David also told us about the dole cupboard where bread was available for the poor out side the
church door. This gave rise to the word ‘dole’ today.

Christine talked about the lake a t Escot and the flooding that occurred when it swept through
property and fields as it headed for Sidmouth. No one, however, had been able to find a written
record on it and the story has only been passed on by word of mouth. Meanwhile, it was m entioned
that Escot House, prior to the fire faced the other way towards Clapperentale, but others disagreed
and pointed out that contemporary records show that it was facing the same direction that it does
today.

Brenda reported that she had been researching the land lord of the Greyhound Inn who lived there
during the Second World War Years. The family were called ‘Parsons’. In 1939 there was a mention
of a Lillian Parsons and in 1945 there was a reference to a Mr Parsons.

Brenda also told us that she has published a beautifully presented book let which starts with the
mystery of a bigamous marriage which took place in Feniton church before the couple moved to
Sidmouth. See Brenda if you would like a copy of this fascinating story.

Alan said he had been thinking of the battle of Fenny Bridges and the previous discuss ions of the
river c hanging its course. He thought that the rive r and main road bridge had possibly been two
hundred yards to the West. If you look at the present road it is raised up over the surroundi ng
ground which suggests that the river had made a sign ificant change of course with the bed probably
being where the cars are sold today. We queried whether the mill had therefore also been in a
differe nt position to where it is located now. Jenny mentioned that nearly all the archaeological
discoveries , particularly the peasants’ weapons, were found close to Bloomfield House, and not on
what is normally considered the main battlefield site. This suggests that the main battle was fought
closer to Bloomfield. (Did Bloomfield change its name from Bloodfield, perhaps?perhaps?) Just as had happened further downstream at Cadhay, the old river bed would have become filled in. It was also mentioned tha  flat bottomed boats use to sail past Fenny Bridges from Budleigh Salerton.

Peter informed us that it was Poetry day and he entertained us by read ing two of the poems he had
written.

RoseMarie said she had been to Sancreed church and seen the painting of Munnings the Horse
painter,

Lionel, our new member, said he had only recently moved and we were pleased to welcome him.
He said that his particular interests were the history of Honiton, where he now lives, and Penzance,
his former home.

George said that Christine had sent an email out about a very important find on Dartmoor and he
told us about a BBC programme about the discovery which he had seen. He offered to lend the
guide book and the recording of the film to whoever was interested.

We also discussed the meeting in the church with Dr Todd Grey when he told us the story behind
Uncle Tom Cobley and its relevance to Feniton which had its own, and much earlier version. No
one, however, could identify the names in Feniton’s version with local names at the time from the
old records. We concluded that the names were imported from elsewhere or purely fictional.
Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the event and we were pleased it had raised so much for the church.

Christine thanked everyone who had worked to make the event so successful.

Date of next meeting is the first Thursday in November, the 7th November at 8 p.m.

Report on the lovely evening with Todd Gray, Jim Causley and the Tale Valley Choir with Keith Stevens and Alan Rosevear

Thank You Peter for this.

Feniton Hostory Group held the 102 meeting in The Nog Inn

Uncle Tom Cobley & All

With Dr Todd Gray MBE

in association with the Feniton History Group

An evening of word and song, revealing the long and curious history of Devon’s anthem. Unknown variants of the ballad will be reintroduced including one from Feniton in 1867.  The evening is part of a four-week Devon-wide tour recreating Sabine Baring-Gould’s Costume Concert Lecture Tour which introduced `Widdicombe Fair’ to the world in 1888.

We are delighted to say that Jim Causley will be making a guest appearance and The Tale Valley Choir

7.30pm, 12 September 2019

St Andrew Church, Feniton EX14 3BY

Tickets £5 at the door

Feniton History Group help their 101st meeting in the Nog Inn

Feniton History Group held the 100th meeting in the Nog Inn

The Group are very sad to hear that Val is in hospital and we all send her our best wishes.

Geoff came along armed with cakes to mark our 100^th meeting and also, we used the cakes to mark Alan’s Birthday, he was surprised we knew it was his birthday, his face was a picture!!

We talked through the arrangements for Todd Gray’s Book Launch, date is confirmed for Thursday 12^th September at 7:30 pm. This will be put in place at the July meeting. We are not meeting in August.

We were pleased to welcome Margaret  with some Feniton related photos and paper cuttings relating to the bellringers  in 1979, 11 year old George Tibbet, Tom Virgin, 73 and the Tower Captain Les Stevens, who received a Long Service  award for Les who had worked at Feniton Court for 41 years in 1988 at Devon County Show. The other show Mrs P B E Ackland (sic) presenting the Championship trophy in the Shorthorn Class at Crewe Show in 1973.

A local historian and metal detectorist, Nigel was made welcome to the group. Good to have you on board Nigel.

A letter has been received from Graeme sending us a wonderful article dating to around the date of the Fenny Bridges Battle 1549. It is a Scabbard Chape, this was the piece of metal at the point of the scabbard to protect it. The Group thank Graeme for passing this to the Group Archive.

We are always amazed how the evenings in The Nog evolve  with random snippets coming together. This evening exceeded that. It is the 75^th Commemoration of the D Day Landings, may of us have been watch the BBC programs that mark the day. I hope my notes do this justice. The personal recollections of the Group members are just humbling and heart wrenching. 

Alan recalled the American Troop trains passing through, The Heathfield Camp in Honiton, now the trading estate, billeted the US Army, much to the delight of the ladies!!! Nylons, sweets,  tined meat,  fruit and chewing gum being some of the perks!!!

The US Navy were at Dunkeswell doing submarine patrols over the south west approaches,

the planes they used were liberator bombers. Alan recalls one of  the planes failed to take off and crashed near Sheldon, loaded with fuel and depth charges. Alan and his brother Keith wet off on their bikes to see this, Brenda still has the bits from the crash that Alan ad Keith brought back.  You can still see the site as the hedge has no trees growing  there.

Cycling home from Kings School by Cadhay, Alan spotted a glider in the corn field  with an US  officer by the gate, Alan engaged him in conversation to ask why, he was told the glider needs to go back to Upottery know as Smeatharpe. An  aircraft  came and caught up the hook cable and lifted off  towing the glider back to Smetharpe. This would have bee the

5^th Jun 1944. A lot of air craft towing gliders from Upottery off to the Normandy landing beaches.

RoseMarie remembers her Mum telling she would get Nits if she played on the bombed sites in Plymouth.  George  remembered taking sugar to the sweetshop for the shopkeeper to make his sweets.  Brenda’s family were living in the South East and the wonderful Christmas food parcel sent by her Grandparents in North Devon brought back memories of the farm with the smell. Margaret’s mother was hard at work scalding cream to make clotted cream for the hotels and Dellers.

 http://www.exetermemories.co.uk/em/_buildings/dellers-photos.php

Other members of the group passed on such devasting personal family tragedies; I thank them for relating their experiences that changed their lives for ever.

The meeting closed with Peter reading his poem about a Dead Russia Soldier. Thank you Peter. Peter shared his war experience and brought along his medals.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them.

Feniton History Group held the 99th Meeting in the Nog Inn

Thank you all for a wide ranging and lively discussion.

We spoke about the harsh attitude to dissenters during the war, men many of whom have seen the most terrible sights and, today, would be said to have traumatic distress syndrome.

Peter lost his wife 2 years ago after 70 years  together. He wants to help the communities which have helped him over the years. He had hoped to make a big gesture like doing a skydive,  or rowing the English Channel, but ill health prevents him. Sharon Cleal  will do the skydive on his behalf for Hospice Care. Look out for the sponsor forms!!   Peter is still doing a Marathon, that is to write 26  poems, 1 poem for each mile in a Marathon!! Peter is an amazing man to talk to, thank you for coming to our meetings and sharing you life and thoughts with us.

Brenda related that the sad death of Mrs. Rita Down of Sherwood Farm coincidences with the death of Mr Cruwys who died 100 years ago to the day, he farmed Sherwood too.

Brenda tells us that she and Val Jones are needing to recruit help with publishing the Feniton Parish magazine each month. So please make contact with Brenda if you can help. Her details are on the Magazine.

Alan told us he had read an Article in  the book “Devon” by Robin Stains a very keen local historian, it was a recollection of the prayer book rebellion memorial stone placed near the Bloody Meadow. The stone is off Cornish Granite. The stone commemorates the Battle of Fenny Bridges in 1549. There is current debate about the location of the Battlefield, some thoughts are linking the name of the old Fenny Bridges Pub to the battle the name being Bloomfield House.

RoseMarie remembered the event when the stone was placed, sadly many of the Cornish folk attending that day, did not know the words to  the Cornish Anthem “Trelawny”

George  took a walk  by the River Otter to work out how it had changed its course  over the years.

We remarked on the  BBC House History series based on a house  in Newcastle, it was very well presented by David Olusoga. Fascinating.

Geoff is helping catalogue James Ravilious’ wonderful photographs, which will put on the Internet.

 We commiserated with Hugh on the woes of Plymouth Argyle football team!

Peter rounded the evening off with a wonderful  coincidence, he met a fellow nurse, with a similar background to his own and in comparing notes they realised they came from the same town and same area, Peter being aged 93 and the nurse 39!!! They also went to the same school.

Thank you all for a wonderful evening.

Next meeting on 6^th June in the Nog Inn, we thank Mike and RoseMarie for their kind hospitality. This will be our 100^th meeting.

Feniton History Group held the 98th meeting in the Nog Inn

This note fron Geoff  may be of interest to you.

The Devon Record Centre (SW Heritage) the public catalogue is now updated with new items on a daily basis as against about every 3-4 months as before. And I am currently working on the subscription lists for the Exmouth and Exeter railway from 1845. 

They list everyone who subscribed to the cost of the railway [eventually becoming shares] giving their FULL name, OCCUPATION, FULL address, and how much they subscribed, and their signature. There are around 800-900 names all dating from late 1845 to early 1846 mostly from Exeter, Topsham and Exmouth. For anyone who has relatives living in Exeter, or who is studying the traders in the town its a wonderful resource. Nearly all traders in Exeter signed up so you could plot them on a street map.

We need a new Co Odinator please come forward to keep the Group going!

I formally give you all notice that I will be stepping back from

co-ordinating the History Group. My last meeting will be the

July one.

The pressure of family and farm life is not allowing me the

time or energy to continue in the role.

The group needs someone with enthusiasm to get the book

idea in place and put on a History Weekend for the village.

Best wishes,

Chris.

Mr Peter Barnes' email and photos.

We have had a wonderful email from Mr. Peter Barnes who was evacuated to Feniton in the war, he stayed with Mr & Mrs Hapgood at Thorne. I copy it here along with the photos, they are lovely, thank you Peter.

Dear Christine 

Although I am not a member of the Feniton History Group I have been reading the meeting reports with much interest  

In your 44th meeting on Thurs 14th Nov 2013 in Feniton Church comment was made of  "The Acland film Showing" and included there was mention of a Mr Habgood (spelt as I understand with b and not p) being the Head Gardner of the Acland Estate. 

My mother and I went down from West London to stay with Mr Robert Habgood and his wife Catherine who were living at Thorn Cottage on the 4^th September 1939 the day after war was declared being our evacuation. 

I was enrolled to attend the Primary Church School located just round the corner due to start the Autumn term within the next few days. There were only two classes being the main one for the young and the other for the very young. As I remember the main classroom was divided into separate rows of desks each row representing different ages and receiving different lessons no doubt causing many problems for the teacher whose name I now cannot remember. 

I also joined the Church Choir and I remember the Choir practice used to be up at the Vicarage on Friday nights which at the time was a very dark walk with the high hedges and the glow worms hardly helped.

  

I have attached a photo of Mr and Mrs Habgood at the rear of their garden taken early spring 1940 which may possibly be of interest and two others taken when passing through the Village in 1960. The gate behind Mr Habgood led down to the quite large Kitchen Garden belonging to Feniton Court. 

I do trust your History Group remains a great organisation for all the local historic information and a total success for many years to come. 

Yours sincerely, 

                     

Peter L.Barnes

Feniton History Group held the 97th meeting in the Nog Inn

Very pleased to report that the replacement Boundary Stone is here, and it will be placed in due course. I am looking into setting up a QR code to explain the stone.

Following on from last month regarding the Art & Craft event in May. Brenda has been checking newspapers for mentions of local crafts entered in the flowers shows etc. but sadly nothing came to hand.  We had craftsman in the village, stonemasons, blacksmiths, carpenters, Mrs. Hart a woodcarver and may be lace makers. The task goes on.

David has been looking at documents in the Devon Heritage Centre and has found mention of a sexton who put a body in a reserved plot. It was a member of the same family, so the rightful plot owner raised no objection.

Other information was that the Rev Hart memorial in church caused an issue which had to be resolved by the Chancellor. It concerned part of the monument text being in Latin

and was included within the English text. The crest on the monument indicated the this particular Hart family had origins were in Ireland.

There was a proposal to line the whole of the North wall with oak panelling, as it was only the box pew in the Northwest corner was lined.

The 2 inch lettering on the lych gate cost 12/- per dozen letters.

A drawing of the churchyard showed a drain crossing the churchyard. A letter from Redferns to the Rev hart said that no such drain exists.

A man has been out looking round the church for graffiti, he is hoping to write a book on the subject.

Geoff is still busy at Southwest Heritage, he recommends talks on Victorian trains by a Mr. Trump given at the RAMM in Exeter.

There are rumours about a Smugglers’ Path from Feniton to the coast, perhaps Branscombe. Google has not thrown up much, apart from the essay:

https://www2.cs.arizona.edu/patterns/weaving/webdocs/lb_2010_17.pdf

Also lace was often smuggled I understand.

Bob has found an Italian Medal, always enjoy hear about the medals.

Jenny has asked for help with her family history, Geoff is working on the military side and I am looking for Smithfield Farm, near West Hill, in Tipton St. John, Metcombe area, can I ask if this is known to anyone.

I will fix up an afternoon at the farm next month, we can look at family history and sort out our display boards for the Craft Weekend. Thank you all for a fascination evening.

Next meeting in the Nog Inn on Thursday 4^th April 2019.

Feniton History Group held their 96th Meeting in the Nog Inn

The Friends of St Andrew’s Church have asked the Group to take part in the Arts & Craft days in the Church on the weekend of 18^th / 19^th May. It was agreed to accept the invitation, ideas began flowing to mount displays on the carvings in the church, blacksmiths and to look at old adverts for local craftsmen and women.

Geoff has been volunteering and the Devon Record Office for Seven years. He is working on thirty eight boxes from a deceased estate in Crediton, but looking forward to going back to the Railway files.

Sam is working on a dig at Bow, this is a Henge, classed as an ancient monument, Nothing visible  on the surface. It consists of a stone bank and ditch, it may have been  a wooden post  or stone circle.  In Scotland a “ modern circle” classed as ancient has been found https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-46946652

George has been walking along part of the Otter at Fenny Bridges. It is known that the River has moved and been reshaped by nature and man.  Nigel Scarf lived in Rosary Cottage and noticed a mound in the garden, could this be where bodies from the Battle of Fenny Bridges were buried?  David tells us there is to be a metal detecting session in the area soon. 

Brenda recalls going to the Ottery tar barrels just after she met Keith, they became caught up in the crowds and fell into a house window. Brenda tells us she has been working on her family tree, one man was a  blacksmith , he was called up during the war and sent to be in the Royal Naval Air Force based at Shoreham, sadly while away his wife died and he came home to care for their children

Peter is writing his family history.  He would like to do a tandem parachute jump or row the Atlantic, but his Doctor said no very firmly. So he decided to do a marathon of poetry in 26 days, with the proceeds going to the church, King Street Day Care  and the Exeter Leukaemia Fund. He writes from the heart and  feels the emotions.

Jenny and the battle banner will be in the church for Craft event in May. She told us about a book, entitled   The Field Guide to the English Clergy, it is very funny, Jenny read an extract about Bishop Cecil of Exeter, he was known to be somewhat eccentric. On one occasion a guest having tea with him at his home was surprised when he fed pieces of crumpets to two rats that came out of holes in the floor, and threw powdered copper sulphate on the fire to turn the flames green, remarking that he liked the colour. Once, goes another story, while robing in the vestry before a service, he held a handkerchief between his teeth, but forgot to return it to his pocket and proceeded to the altar with it still hanging from his mouth. He had been heard to complain that the Bible was "an awkward book", and while travelling around his diocese he would often ring up his wife to ask where he was, stealing bicycles to get home, they painted his bike red, but he kept taking postman’s bikes instead. 

Alan has been looking at railway history in South Somerset. Many of the towns would have been better served if the railway routes were better planned. 

 The town of Crewkerne is served by the station at Miserton, some distance away. The Salisbury to Yeovil railway had no investment but came to be a profitable to Sherborne. The Castle at Sherborne was a problem until the owner died, then his son let the railway through.

Taunton to Yeovil then to Exeter suffered from business conflict, this was the cause of the bad routes Okehampton had two stations owned by different companies.

Yeovil also has badly planned stations with Yeovil Junction and Penn Mill being somewhat outside the main town. Then of course many branch lines were lost to the cuts imposed by Beeching.

Thank you all for a fascinating evening.

We meet in The Nog Inn on Thursday 7^th March at 8 pm