Feniton History Group 40th Meeting

The meeting was held to organise our event in the Church on 29th Jun 2013 2:00 to 4:30 entitled:

"Pursue your Past with a Devon Cream tea".

This was followed by our usual natter about things related to the past.

Brenda mentioned just how much was lost to the redevelopment of Exeter after the War, old houses on the car park at the end of Magdalene Road, Bedford Circus and even the 1960s  Princesshay, one of the earliest pedestrian shopping centres in the country. Today many of the buildings would have been listed and preserved.

Brenda has put a very interesting article in the May issue of the Parish Magazine regarding the planning for the building of council houses in Feniton in 1927, somewhat similar to the current planning with low lying land and possible flooding!! 

My husband Colin, and I had met with owners of Westlades, a large house built in 1929 after four farmers invested in public houses in the Chatham Docks area of London, this invest turned out very profitable, so Mr Bishop built Westlades and Mr "Porky " Frank Pyle  bought Jubilee House. This was built in 1897 at the time Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. With Colin, Brenda and Alan's memories the following occupants of the house were, Mr Pyle, Mr Symonds he there in the 1901 census, and his widow in 1911. Miss Robinson, to whom Alan's father was groom and then gardener c. 1920, then Mr and Mrs Ould, he being a retired policeman. Mrs Ould re started the village flower show. 

East Devon Farmhouses 39th Meeting

Instead of our normal monthly meeting we met in the Church for a Slideshow and Talk with Mr. Tom Coleman.

Thank everyone for all their help on the night, with the raffle prizes, dealing with the door  and in the kitchen,

making last night such a fascinating evening.

Also thank you to David for making the church ready.

I must also pass on our many thanks to Bill for his donation of the speaker's fee.

Total raised £100.22.

Tom took us on  a pictorial journey from dwelling in caves through to the Victorian age. Describing building techniques and how the open hearth in the middle of the Hall moved to the side of the room under a chimney.

The livestock living in the lower side of the cross passage while the family lived in the higher side, then the cattle moved out into farm buildings and the empty room became the dairy and store, floors were put in with staircases to reach the upper rooms.

Huge chimney stacks were added to show status, along with porches and out shuts at the back for general storage. Wings were added for the servants and other family members.

I know I will look with a keener eye at old houses in our villages and when out and about. Thank you Tom.

Feniton History Group 38th meeting

We enjoyed a lively chat, planning the summer events and our next meeting.

We  discussed David's research into St Anne's Chapel. The location seems to be unknown at Fenny Bridges and its use as a Poor House.  Also the history of the bridges there.

We have decided that rather than put our research on to the internet we will set to and publish a book.

The village war memorials research will be put on the web by "Devon Heritage" an useful website for Devon History, http://www.devonheritage.org/index.htm

Brenda and I mentioned the well that has opened up on the Allotments, something to investigate further, was there a cottage there at one time?

I had taken on the task of the Venn research, a difficult family to place, the donation from the enquirer was much appreciated and passed to the Church.

Brenda shared her memories of being a film extra when Feniton Court was used as a location alone with the village hall. They had to stage a war time child's birthday party, complete with blancmange.

Something we have not sorted out is our visits to Honiton Museum, Margaret has suggested Tue, Thu or Fri mornings.

We also talked about Fairmile, its name and the possibility of it being a site of a medieval trading fair. The commemorative clock on the Old Post Office and a house called "Cromwell" this was converted from the redevelopment of the Fairmile Inn, so therefore a modern name?

Feniton History Group 37th Meeting

It was good to see everyone, after missing last month, but, being laid up with flu did enable me to cheer myself up by using the internet and finding some interesting snippets!! I hope I did not bore you all with it!!

I have  a list of early names relating to the village for taxation:

                FYNTON Lay Subsidy of 1332

                John atte Wode  12d

                Richard de Coklyscomb 12d

                Henry de Caulesworthi  18d

                William Wallyng  8d

                John le Cok   9d

                John atte Brok`   12d

                Geoffrey Malherbe  3s

                John Metyeve  12d

                Alice de Silly  12d

                John de Bercomb  12d

                Jordan de Coklescomb  10d

                Henry atte Brok`   2s

                John Lambard 12d .

Thank you Elizabeth Howard for this. Thrilled to read of Henry de Caulesworthi. It also gives a date to mark for Geoffrey Malherbe.

Graeme Smith shared with me his thoughts on the find of trading weights and coins at Fairmile, causing much thought as to the name and also the re alignment of the road and drive to Escot House. Alan had good knowledge of the roads. This would be worth researching further, with Ottery Heritage.

Geoff mentioned the Time Team program regarding the de Ferrers family of Oakham in Rutland, the coat of arms there also contain horse shoes, they have six, while the Feniton family had three!!

David raised a very interesting point as to the carvings on the pew ends, one seems to have the shield upside down, and we pondered as to the reason for this. The alter table is also made up from pew ends taken, perhaps from the Melanesian Chapel.

David told us that the pierced hole in the shield is called a bouche , this being where the Knight's lance or spear would fit. The heraldic description is " party per pale" .

Please bring along all your questions and findings to the next meeting on Thurs. 14th March in the Nog at 8pm,  we will need to  plan the proposed Family History coffee morning or even the day, plans for the April Meeting in the church with Tom Coleman, book a visit to Whimple Heritage and Fursdon House.

Below are the photos  of the pew ends in the church, spot the differences!!! 

Feniton History Group 36th Meeting

Sadly I could not attend and Brenda kindly took over the reins: Here is her report, edited in part by me.

 We missed you last night! (Had a problem keeping the chat on history subjects!) 

We hope to book a talk by Tom Coleman for the March meeting. 

Field walking would be popular. Leave it to Graham and you to find a field and appropriate time of year.

A visit to Fursdon could be any time in the summer, not much planning needed. Same for Whimple Heritage centre.

Re-museum - could not be discussed without Geoff but George is keen to continue.

I have been collating a Excel file to show a "Time Line" for events that would have effected village, I have shared a copy with Brenda:  Re your amazing time-line - (others had not seen it yet) I was puzzled by when Houses of Hanover and Windsor ended and began. My book of Kings and Queens does not have Saxe-Coburg Gotha as a 'house',(Edward VII Hanover & then George V Windsor) but on web sites I found it as you have put it. We had some discussion about this.

From my research the name changed from Saxe-Coburg Gotha in 1917

We also talked about how the Romans did surveying land,  Feniton in snowy winters, and in war-time. Did Eisenhower really spend a night in his train in a siding at Sidmouth   Junction?

We had a package/letter addressed to our Group delivered to the Nog Inn, concerning the Venn family, and asking for help.

We arranged the next meeting in the Nog for Feb 14th.

Thank you Brenda for taking the meeting.

Feniton History Group 35th Meeting

The Group met in the Nog on the 8th Nov.  for a " Bring and Share Evening ".

David brought his huge files of the history of Feniton Church which is more extensive that ever! He has sourced so much detail, quite amazing, and so beautifully presented.

Jenny played us about 20mins of her picture show of the Battle of Fenny Bridges, with commentary, music and sound effects, ably assisted by George. Their heads were bent over computers for some time!

Alan read some of his funny little sayings and a poem I have found - he reads poems better that I can.

All I had to offer was a brief bit on the life of Charlotte Gouldsworthy. Charlotte was landlady at The Railway Hotel.  Brenda  

News flash.

The West Country Studies Library has now moved to the Devon Record Office on Sowton, by the Park and Ride. The Service Point for Parish Records held in the WCSL is now in the Devon Family History Society, Tree House, Unit 1, 7-9 King Street, Exeter, EX1 1BQ .  http://www.devonfhs.org.uk/

Talk by Todd Gray 12 Oct 2012 East Budleigh Church

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-19905127

Todd gave a very interesting talk, based on the research for his new book "Devon's Ancient Bench Ends"

Sadly as the years have passed the meaning and purpose of the carvings have been lost, but some depict a trade like cloth, wool and a cook with the little spit dog.

Church records  in Devon can give an insight into the carvings and they are thought to be the best in the UK.

Traditional seating plans are unique to each parish, it is a myth that no there were not seats in the churches as research shows the upgrading taking place across the county over the years.

East Budleigh pews can be dated back to early the 1530s, then in about 1600  box pews came into use, they even had curtains, so that the congregation could only bee seen by the vicar from his high pulpit! Then they    evolved back to being equal open pews.

Harry Hems carver (http://www.exetermemories.co.uk/em/_people/hems.php)  also the Pinn Sisters were prominent carvers in the 1800s.

Village art traditions  influenced the carvers themes. In East Budleigh the Red Indian pew, or leaf head is unique. The carvings are found to be  unique to areas of the County, with some influences from Somerset and Cornwall. Also you can see Demons and folklore figures in the carvings.

Following the talk I am sure many will be looking at the Devon Pews with a renewed interest.