100 Years Ago

Local Intelligence: In playing Harberton on Saturday last, the newly formed Totnes United AFC, with a team containing six reserves, did well in only losing by two goals to nil. C. Stoyle scored for the home team.

The Totnes Branch of the Middle Classes Union has decided to nominate Rev. John Oates and Mr. E.W Hayman, Chairman of the Branch, as candidates at the forthcoming Town Council election.

So far, the temperature in October has been abnormally high, in fact Midsummer weather conditions have prevailed in South Devon. In his garden at 85 High Street Mr H. Heath is gathering a fine crop of green peas from seed planted in the last week of July

50 Years Ago

A Joiner Reappears: An interesting discovery was made in the St Mary’s after two men had been taking out the pews from Butterford aisle. A day or two later, Mr A. Boon was working in the church when he noticed some writing on a piece of timber which had been removed. He read "William Dower, aged 21, Carpenter-joiner, from Plymouth. August 26th 1871."

So just 100 years and three days after William Dower had placed that timber in a pew in Butterford aisle, that same pew was taken out.

One can sometimes get an indication from telephone directories whether the names of people of long ago still persist in a locality.

At present there are no Dowers on the telephone at Plymouth, but quite a number in Cornwall. The only Dower in the Exeter telephone directory is Mr M Dower, of Rattery, who, of course, is vice-president of the Totnes and District Society (NB: Although it is not stated, I believe this to be St Mary’s at North Huish. KP).

25 Years Ago

More than a dozen villages and parishes in the South Hams have united for a unique exhibition of parish maps at Dartington Hall.

’Knowing Your Place.’ which continues at Dartington Arts Gallery until Saturday, is a once-only chance to view all the maps in one place.

South Hams Council’s environmental service has supported the parish map idea for the last five years and has helped many local groups with maps, local guides and other practical projects.

The project, backed by the Common Ground organisation, has also encouraged a wide range of spin-off projects. Some parishes - such as Rattery and Staverton - have published books and village-trail guides.

Blackawton school children even made their own map in tiles and it now decorates the village bus shelter.

Some 15 major exhibits are on show.

The huge Staverton map, which took more than three years to complete, is a richly coloured quilted collage compromising scores of hand-painted squares.

It was designed by artist Sue Misselbrook, aided by Sue Perks and involved more than 120 people, including all 64 pupils at Landscove Primary School. The infant class has also produced a giant frieze curtain depicting a steam loco and carriage on the Dart Valley line.

The Ashprington parish map, commissioned by the WI is the work of John Shergold, of Ashprington Art Group, with a text my Mrs N. Harris.

As a separate project, local photographer Ski Harrison photographed every house and its occupants. The two-album project provides a complete record of life in the parish in the 90s. The pictures include the oldest resident, Ashprington-born Mrs Dorothy Came, who unveiled the map as part of the parish-council’s centenary events last year.

Aveton Gifford was responsible for the first community-based map in the South Hams. Village history was researched by the parish map group, with numerous local contributions, and it prompted a series of special events. The map was drawn and painted by local artis Mike Glanville.

Cornworthy is represented by an original parish book which details every aspect of local history since the Anglo-Saxon era. Each chapter was researched and written by a local person and compiled by the parish map group.

Harberton’s map - still to be completed - is an embroidered wall-hanging. It was researched, designed and stitched by members of Harberton WI under the guidance of Sue Groom.

The Littlehempston parish map was researched by a group pf local people. It was drawn by local artist Sheila Braithwaite, with calligraphy by Charlotte Carfrae.

The Rattery parish map, which was started by the local WI combines the artwork of Mary Green and Jenny Hocken with the calligraphy and design of Lisa Scattergood, while the South Milton map was made by the local WI in 1988 as needlework collage.