| Blackdown Archives - Bringing the past to the present.

Open Days – This Weekend

4th April 2011 by Michael Cooper Leave a Comment

The Blackdown Archives project is opening its doors this weekend to capture peoples memories and display its collection of more than 2300 local family photographs.

During the second weekend of every month, from April to August, locals and visitors alike will be welcomed by members of the Hemyock History and Archiving Association voluntary keepers of the historic records.

One by one, the fragile photographs have been scanned and added to the collection. Many have been digitally enhanced to capture interesting detail, often missed until now.

Now, these images are being added to the Blackdown Archives website a programme part-funded by the Blackdown Hills AONB Sustainable Development Fund and Making It Local.

Already, the pictures have locals recalling people, places and memories of yesteryear. By opening the doors to the public, the team hope to capture many more of these fascinating stories and add them to the website, for the Blackdown Hills community to share.

Pictures and documents that anyone would like added to the archive are most welcome all will be scanned and the originals returned while you wait.

Enhanced photo quality print will be available to order and make ideal framed pictures.

The Open Days run from 12:00 – 3:00 at the Blackdown Healthy Living Centre, Sat 9 & Sun 10 April, Sat 14 & Sun 15 May, Sat 11 & Sun 12 June, Sat 9 & Sun 10 July and Sat 13 & Sun 14 August.

Filed Under: News & Events

Uffculme Bowls Club 1960’s

1st April 2011 by Michael Cooper Leave a Comment

Uffculme Bowls Club members c. 1960

On 29 September 1911, forty people attended a meeting in the Old Sunday School, Uff

Filed Under: 1900-1999, 1960s, Bowls, Sport & Leisure, Uffculme, Villages

World War 1 Veterans Return Home

1st April 2011 by Michael Cooper Leave a Comment

Picture of 20 World War I venerans returning home to Upottery, Devon.

20 World War I venerans back safe to Upottery, Devon.

With all these veterans now sadly gone, it would be fitting to keep those who did return, known to us. If you have any information about these chaps or any others, please get in touch

Filed Under: 1900-1999, 1910s, Decades, Upottery, Upottery, Villages

Upottery Fire Crew

1st April 2011 by Michael Cooper Leave a Comment

Upottery Fire Crew. Date unknown.

It would be really good to get some names to these heroic faces. The equipment (or lack of it) in ‘those days’ must have made dealing with fires quite frightening! Add to the mix, the many thatched cottages, candles and oil lamps…

Filed Under: Business & Trades, Fire Crews, Upottery

Upottery Primary School

1st April 2011 by Michael Cooper 4 Comments

About 125 years ago, Lord Sidmouth built Upottery School, providing free education for the village children. The distinctive building, with its single high-vaulted schoolroom and the adjacent Victorian schoolhouse, is very much a feature of the village landscape still.

Early Picture of Upottery School

It was built in the centre of the village for the local community and is surrounded by beautiful countryside, in the heart of the Blackdown Hills. The listed original Victorian building has been improved and extended to meet the needs of a modern curriculum, but the school retains much of its close family atmosphere.

Class of 1928

The football boots in 1933 look more like a challenge than an advantage and more than one of the boys in the picture looks like they are fully armed with a catapult in their back pocket! In 2011, they would be well in to their 80’s – time to own up lads!

Picture of the 1933 Upottery School Football Team

The 1933 Upottery School Football Squad

We’d like to know more about this school and would love to know who these pupils are. Can you help us?

Filed Under: 1900-1999, 1920s, 1930s, Decades, Football, Schools, Sport & Leisure, Upottery, Upottery, Villages

Upottery Mothers’ Union 1928

1st April 2011 by Michael Cooper Leave a Comment

Upottery Mothers' Union Members 1928

In 2010, 82 years after this picture was taken, the Upottery Mothers’ Union was still going strong.

Perhaps you can tell us more about the members, old and new.

Filed Under: 1900-1999, 1920s, Decades, Upottery

Upottery & Yarcombe Ploughing Match

1st April 2011 by Michael Cooper Leave a Comment

: Local ploughing skills beng put to the test while the ‘experts’ look on.

Local farming skills being put to the test in 1958. Some of these young lads are likely to be in the area, still.

Do you know anything about this match or the people involved? Please tell us what you know.

Filed Under: 1900-1999, 1950s, Business & Trades, Farms, Upottery, Villages, Yarcombe

Uffculme School Photos 1912

31st March 2011 by Michael Cooper Leave a Comment

These two photos were taken at Uffculme School in 1912. The bottom left of the chalk boards being held, have the numbers 1 and 2 – the class numbers? The bottom right, it appears to be ‘BYO’ or ‘B70’.

Class 1, Uffculme School, 1912

The teacher on the left, in the following picture is Mrs Whittle. The teacher on the right is Miss Quant – later to become Mrs Leatt. Mr Leatt was the landlord of the Commercial Inn.