Devonshire Association comes to Budleigh
Among its many activities
the Association regularly organises all-day excursions to the county’s towns to
give members an insight into the history and particular features of a
community. This was the first organised visit by DA members to Budleigh
Salterton. St Peter’s Church and the long-established Croquet Club as well as
the Museum were included on the itinerary.
The visitors were shown various areas of the Museum by volunteers Iris Ansell, Sue Morgan and Margaret Williams. Museum Secretary Michael Downes told them something of the life and career of Henry Carter FRS, the Victorian physician, geologist and marine sponge expert who himself was a member of the Devonshire Association, though only briefly.
The impressive display in the Costume Room is always of interest for visitors. The DA members were met here by Iris Ansell, right.
The visitors were shown various areas of the Museum by volunteers Iris Ansell, Sue Morgan and Margaret Williams. Museum Secretary Michael Downes told them something of the life and career of Henry Carter FRS, the Victorian physician, geologist and marine sponge expert who himself was a member of the Devonshire Association, though only briefly.
The impressive display in the Costume Room is always of interest for visitors. The DA members were met here by Iris Ansell, right.
Not often seen by visitors are the Museum's costume storage facilities in the Linhay. Thousands of items in every kind of material are kept here in controlled conditions.
Above: Lacemaker Sue Morgan shows off one of the many rare items of lace kept in the Linhay
The visitors had the opportunity of seeing back-stage at the Museum, and even handling some of the items while wearing protective gloves. Iris Ansell explained how items donated to Fairlynch are assessed for their importance and their condition
The East Devon section with
150 members is the second biggest branch of the Devonshire Association, which is
a non-profit-making body, founded in 1862 and dedicated to the study and
appreciation of all matters relating to Devon .
It is the only society concerned with every aspect of the county and is the
only one of its kind in Britain
In 1861, a Cornishman, the
geologist and local archaeologist William Pengelly (1812-94), proposed the establishment of a local
organization modelled on the British Association for the Advancement of Science
but concentrating on Devon and covering all
areas of scholarly enquiry. The first meeting was held in Exeter
The organization consists of
an annually elected President and an Executive Committee. There are eight
regional Branches – Axe Valley , Bideford, East Devon, Exeter ,
Okehampton, Plymouth , South
Devon and Tavistock. Within the DA there are eight specialist
Sections – Botany, Buildings, Entomology, Geology, History, Literature &
Art, Industrial Archaeology and Music. Each Branch and Section has its own
committee and organises its own annual programme of events. Branch programmes
are more broadly-based than their specialist counterparts.
Over one hundred activities
are run each year in all parts of the county – talks, exhibitions, excursions,
walks, field trips, symposia, concerts and courses. Major annual events include
the Annual Conference, held in a different Devon
town, and the President’s Symposium.
The most significant record
of the Association’s activities is contained in its annual Reports and
Transactions series, which has provided an outlet for a wide range of research
on Devon since 1863. It is the greatest single
source of information about the county.
For more information about the DA click on http://www.devonassoc.org.uk/
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