2019
| 17/01/2019 | Exeter Fire Station & the history of fires in Exeter | / visit |
| 12/02/2019 | Travel Before the Railways | / talk by Alan Rosevear |
| 22/03/2019 | St Nicholas's Priory | / visit |
| 10/04/2019 | Forty Years Of Local History | / talk by Peter Thomas |
| 08/05/2019 | History of the Quay | / walk |
| 16/05/2019 | History of the Quay | / walk |
| 12/06/2019 | Green Lanes | / talk by Valerie Belsey |
| 10/07/2019 | From Museum to University College | / walk |
| 18/07/2019 | From Museum to University College | / walk |
| 14/08/2019 | Stained Glass | / talk by Andrew Johnson |
| 18/09/2019 | Exeter's Plaques | / walk |
| 17/10/2019 | Individuals and the Mob 1500-1900 | / talk by Todd Gray |
| 10/11/2019 | Tour of the Bishop's Palace Gardens and the Lady Chapel in Exeter Cathedral | / walk |
| 07/12/2019 | History through Song | / talk by Jim Causley |
Christmas Special with Christmas surprises
A new slant on history, seen through the contemporaneous thoughts and voices of ordinary people and the folk songs they wrote
on Saturday, 7 December 2019
at Jurys Inn, Exeter
Songs from Jim Causley, an English folk singer (who previously sang for us in June). Jim specializes in the traditional songs and music of the West Country. Born in Exeter, he is a relative of the Cornish poet Charles Causley.
Not quite of us ...
Individuals & the Mob 1500-1900
with Dr Todd Gray on Thursday, 17 October 2019
at Jurys Inn, Western Way, Exeter
An examination of the lives of many individuals who were singled out in Exeter and treated as “different” – not one of us. Some were celebrated and others derided, banished or executed. Crowds, mobs, local and national governments, churches and vested interests all singled out individuals considered problematic, inconvenient, belligerent, awkward - or illustrious.
Chance, circumstance and choice played a part in bringing these individuals to public fame or notoriety. Heroes and villains are included as well as many who were neither one nor the other.
A talk which is both funny and sad. Those who have heard Todd speak before will attest to the delight he brings to any lecture.
Exeter Plaques
A guided tour in and around the High Street
on Wednesdays, 11 and 18 September, 2019
On two consecutive Wednesdays we met for a guided walk around some little known landmarks. The walk started and finished in the city centre. We stopped at each plaque for some information about the subject, so it was not all just walking.
The craft and history of stained glass in Exeter
Talk by expert, Andrew Johnson
on Wednesday, 14 August, 2019
in Jurys Inn, Western Way, Exeter
Andrew has worked on cathedrals, minsters, parish churches, country houses and private houses with English Heritage, National Trust, Devon Historic Churches Trust and the Council for the care of Churches.
His principle is minimum intervention, conserving and caring for glass and restoring only where the glass is completely lost due to vandal and/or storm damage. Andrew is committed to the principle that glass should be cared for and passed on for next generations to enjoy.
From Museum to University College: A Guided Walk
on 10 and 18 July 2019
This walk was designed to celebrate two of the original founders celebrated by Exeter University – Sir Stafford Northcote and Miss Jessie Montgomery.
This visit to the University College of the South West, precursor of Exeter University, commenced at the Garden Entrance of RAMM (the Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery) where we will learn how education was integral to the vision of the founders. From there we moved on to visit and learn about those nearby buildings erected at the beginning of the 20th Century to provide Schools of Art and Science, the Royal Albert Memorial College, teacher training for women (men had St Lukes) and a student hostel for women.
All this was the realisation of the founders' concept of providing excellent third-tier education for all in the South West. It was not until 1955 that they were granted full university status.
The Green Lanes of Devon
with Valerie Belsey on Wednesday 12 June 2019
at 7pm at Jurys Inn, Western Way, Exeter
Every lane has its history - it is not just there by accident' wrote W.G. Hoskins.
Valerie has been working in and studying green lanes for over 30 years. She is passionate about them and campaigns unstintingly for their survival. She talked to us about her work and was accompanied by Jim Causley who tours and records songs about his ancestor Charles Causley (whose poetry - often about Cornish clay mines - was praised by Ted Hughes). But above all Jim's songs are about Devon, his beloved Dummnonia. Between them this duo gave us tales and tunes written in the key of history.
Exeter Quay
on 8 May 2019
We met our guide on the Quay at 11.00am for a short talk and then a walk along the Quay passing what appeared to be a metal bollard where boats could tie up. In fact, we were told this was originally the barrel of a cannon which had been turned on end, half buried and used for ships to be moored for unloading at the Transit Shed with its weighbridge and nearby Custom House.
The whole morning's visit was interspersed with interesting stories about the history of the places we visited and ended around 12.30pm - when some of us chose to stay on and have lunch on the Quay.
Forty years of local history
with Peter Thomas on Wednesday, 10 April 2019
at 7pm at Jurys Inn, Western Way, Exeter
Talk by Peter Thomas. A highly visual presentation which covered a 40-year period of involvement with local history. The talk covered the wide range of Exeter books Peter has created including controversial aspects in relation to fighting to maintain Exeter's cultural profile!
Peter also presented his concerns that the Isca Historical Photographic Collection, established in 1974, could now be at risk. This would mean that the city would lose an irreplaceable historical resource.
Party to celebrate the 100th anniversary of our newsletter
on 22 March 2019 in St Katherine's Priory
This pop-up party on 22 March 2019 proved to be a wonderful evening – everyone was reluctant to go home. We had a great spread of food and – interestingly – a great spread of non-alcoholic drinks. What conscientious drivers our members are!
Exeter before the railways
on Wednesday, 13 February 2019
at 7pm at Jurys Inn, Western Way, Exeter
Public transport in the days of real horsepower was slower, costlier and possibly less comfortable than travel today. Until we met Alan Rosevear, we hadn't realised how difficult life could be if you wanted to visit a friend or relative even though they lived as near as Sidmouth or Exmouth. And as for travelling beyond Devon ...
Our speaker, Alan, described how travellers reached Exeter when the roads were turnpiked, the coaches were pulled by a team of four and tickets cost more than the wages of a working man. Using maps, contemporary diaries and archival material he illustrated the journeys made along Devon's roads in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Guided tour of St Nicholas Priory
on Thursday, 17 January 2019
We met for a quick cuppa in an extraordinary room with the most fantastic roof structure. This was on the top floor of the West Wing which is only open to the public by special request. Our guide then took us downstairs explaining that the Priory had originally been a four sided building with a central garden but huge changes had been made over the centuries and two sides (the north and east) of the priory had gone so only an L-shaped building was left. Then a passageway was made beside the centre of the L and Mint Lane was created. In due course the building over that passageway was removed but it is hoped that one day it will be put back.
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