Galmpton & Churston District Local History Group

Never predict the unpredictable! I must admit, having heard only recently, that the Dart Music Festival was taking place over the weekend, I was decidedly apprehensive as it being suitable for a History Group walk. There was no need to… Read moreAn Account of the History Group Dartmouth Walk – 7th May 2022

To commemorate the first 25 years of our existence, we are delighted to launch the sale of a 2023 calendar consisting of local scenes over the years. At a cost of £5, the calendar will be on sale at our… Read moreCelebrating 25 years with our local scenes calendar for 2023

Dear Members, I wanted to thank everyone who attended our first meeting of 2022, for helping to make it such asuccessful evening. Ian Howes’ talk ‘Lighting the Rock’ on the 14th January was both memorable and fascinating. In addition, the… Read moreNewsletter – January 2022

Written confirmation of statement made at Friday 17th September meeting, held at the Galmpton Village Institute Dear Member, Your Committee has come to the conclusion that following our considerable dormant period and now, renewal, we need to simplify and make… Read moreManagement changes following our renewal

Dear Members, Following our two successful strolls and cream teas during the summer, we are now preparing for our first open meeting and talk on Friday 17th September. This will be our first chance to meet socially as a group… Read moreNewsletter – September 2021

Dear Members, A reminder for you: following our successful stroll around Galmpton on the 5th June followed by a cream tea at The Manor Inn, we move to Churston. Saturday 17th July – Churston Stroll: The Lord of the Manor’s… Read moreNewsletter – July 2021

Dear Members, Your Committee have very recently held our first face-to-face meeting for over a year, a very enjoyable and constructive event for all concerned. It was a unanimous, heart-felt decision that our History Group should renew and continue but… Read moreNewsletter – May 2021

Dear Members, Well, we are not going to have to wait 100 years before being woken from our Covid slumbers, but in some ways it seems that way! Seriously though, for those of you who might have been afflicted personally… Read moreNewsletter – March 2021

Dear History Group Member, It doesn’t seem so long ago that I last got in touch and here we still are, in our state of semi-isolation. Well, patience is a virtue and I for one have a nervous anticipation for… Read moreHistory Group Christmas Card 2020

As you may be aware we had to cancel our AGM, scheduled for 13th March in the Village Hall. As per our Looking ahead to our plans for the rest of 2020 post, we do have a full programme of… Read moreAn update on our outdoor events from May

Reluctantly, the History Group committee decided this year’s AGM should be cancelled on public health grounds, especially considering the numbers we pack into our relatively confined Village Institute. However, we are determined that our plans for the year ahead will… Read moreLooking ahead to our plans for the rest of 2020

A notice to all that the AGM and illustrated talk due to take place this Friday, 13th March has been postponed until further notice. More information to follow in due course. Thank you for your understanding.

This talk has come about having been privy to the diaries of a Victorian gentleman and Squire, Arthur Mudge, brother in law to Richard Mallock (1843-1900, pictured left), Squire of Cockington from 1873 to 1900. Following a family bereavement at… Read moreIllustrated talk: Cockington – A Victorian Vignette by John Risdon

For centuries the Galmpton community has been associated with the Dart estuary, the sea, and boats. The Dolphin Boatyard, situated at the head of Galmpton Creek, has played a major part in this wonderful story of boats and the men… Read moreIllustrated talk: The Dolphin Boatyard – past, present & future

Author: Dennis Sheen Dianne and husband Martin are long term Galmpton residents.  Following the observation of the Blue Plaque attached to Vale House (formerly Vale Farm) opposite Galmpton Institute, and discovery of the Robert Graves Museum at Gaia Mallorca, they… Read moreReport on 15th November “Robert Graves of Vale House” talk by Dianne Richards

Todd Gray is Exeter’s most prominent historian, and the “go to” person when there are events of a historical nature in the region. Over 50 members attended the talk. On October 28th 2016, a huge fire broke out which resulted… Read moreReport on 18th October Cathedral Fire talk

On the 10th September 2019, the History Society paid a visit to the new Torbay Archives Service. The service enables users to view original documents and microfilms from the Devon Heritage Centre, at Torre Abbey. A member of staff will… Read moreOur visit to the Torbay Archives Service

A report on the guided tour of St Marychurch – Saturday 7th September 2019. Written by Tony Warner. A group of 13 members were met at the Cliff Railway Café by our guides Ian Cowley and John Lee from the… Read moreGuided Tour of St Marychurch

The planned visit to Devon Heritage Centre later this month, on 17th July has unfortunately been cancelled. However, the centre are trialling ‘Torbay Archive Service’. Documents can be ordered for viewing by selecting online from the South West Heritage Trust… Read more*New* Torbay Archive Service and visit

As we come to commemorate the 75th anniversary of D Day (6th June 1942), it is an appropriate time to highlight the part that our little part of England played – not just during 1944 – but throughout the Second… Read moreIllustrated talk: Our Home Front 1939-46 – 31st May

Whatever your thoughts about Castle Drogo, this informative and lively talk by Paula Clarke was enjoyed by a hall full of members. Those in attendance also had the benefit of witnessing our Annual General Meeting, chaired by John Risdon. Paula… Read moreReport on 15th March Castle Drogo talk

This year’s Committee Christmas Dinner took place on Monday 21st January at The Weary Ploughman. A good time had by all.

Since our creation as a Local History Group in 1996, Jean Tregaskes has been a stalwart member of the Committee providing immense intellectual stature and dedication, highly treasured by us all. She has sadly decided to retire from the Committee…. Read moreRetiring Committee member becomes Honorary Life Member

The Penn Recca Slate Mine talk took place at Galmpton Village Institute on 18th January 2019. Nicholas, former vicar of Littlehempston and surrounding parishes and today chairman of Babbacombe and St Marychurch local History group was introduced by John Risdon,… Read moreReport on talk “The Penn Recca Slate Mine” by Revd Nicholas Pearkes

The illustrated talk taking place on Friday 22nd February will now take the topic of the River Bovey. ‘River Bovey – from Source to Teign’ by John Risdon. Although miniscule in terms of other rivers of the British Isles, the… Read moreChange of topic for illustrated talk on 22nd February

Paula Clarke will be presenting her talk on Castle Drogo on Friday 15th March 2019. Paula is Castle Drogo’s Community Engagement Officer and has been closely involved with the major work being carried out there and communicating this and other… Read moreUpcoming talk on Castle Drogo – 15th March 2019

A write-up of Colin’s illustrated talk entitled ‘Marvellous Devon Marble’, which took place on Monday 26th November 2018. Colin is well known in the area for his range of well researched and presented talks, always with a level of personal… Read moreColin Vosper’s ‘Marvellous Devon Marble’ talk