Following Robert
Waterhouse’s fascinating presentation on the history of our local
farming community, and the ways in which we might research it, our
Farming Heritage Project is now launched!
Robert’s presentation provided a wealth of guidance about some of the
information we should attempt to discover, and the possible sources
that might provide it.
Copies of the ‘visuals’ that Robert used during his presentation are
available on CD as a PowerPoint file, are available to any member of
BASH who asks for them. Contact Ian Phillips on 01803 770 693.
Our project approach will be for individual members of BASH to choose
a particular local farm – past or present - they would like to
investigate and research. In this first phase of the project there is
no particular ‘brief’ as to what historic information we are trying to
discover. A possible approach would be to start researching the 20th
century, and then work backwards in time. But it’s very much up to
different individuals and teams to develop their own particular style
and focus of research.
We will then have a BASH meeting early next year to review what we
have achieved, and discuss the way forward.
BASH members who have already agreed to participate in the project,
and the farms they are going to research, are:
Manor Farm, Strete
Kate Gill and David Stranack
Strete Barton
Val Phillips and Stuart Litster
Cox’s Farm, Strete
Richard Soans and David Chapman
Fuge
Jean Parnell and Brenda Wall
Clyston, Blackawton
Anne and Bob Harvey
Millcombe, Blackawton
Michael Toms
Langstone Farm, Blackawton Gareth
James
But there are no restrictions on the number of participants, nor on
the number of farms to be studied, so we hope further members of BASH
will volunteer to get involved.
We expect the project to run for about 18 months. Our activities will
be filmed throughout, and the project will conclude with a public
exhibition, a presentation at The Flavel and the production of a book.
We hope that Robert Waterhouse will act as our historical and
archaeological consultant throughout the project, and will be
available to provide us with advice, counselling and training as the
project progresses.
We propose to work closely with South Devon AONB (Area of Outstanding
Natural Beauty) on implementing this project, and also to seek
financial support from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
For more information – and to sign on as a volunteer researcher! –
contact BASH Chairman, Anne Harvey on 712662, or David Stranack on
770748.
David Stranack
October 2009 |
|
