Tea and Talk in Barnstaple

On Tuesday 22^nd May, between 2 and 5 pm, the second in this year’s series of ‘Tea and Talk’ afternoons, comprising a talk of local interest and a Devon Cream Tea, will take place at the North Devon Record Office in Barnstaple.

 North Devon Record Office
Barnstaple Library
Tuly Street
Barnstaple
EX31 1EL

Emil Sokolov, of Exeter University, and one of the Devon Remembers Heritage Project’s leading researchers, will be talking on:

The Many Faces of the Great War: Local Patriotism and Recruitment in Ilfracombe, 1914-1918

Historians have studied the effects of the First World War on Devon in terms of nationalism, housing, food shortages, social unrest, religion, pacifism, and volunteerism and conscription.  On the issue of voluntary service, however, Devon has often been portrayed in a rather unpatriotic light.  There are many sides to this debate, but there is one story about a small seaside town, which has remained untold so far. It is an exceptional story, which has presented us with almost five hundred pictures of a patriotic and united Devon. The history of Ilfracombe’s photos of soldiers from the war is essentially a tale of how two prominent local men – a councillor and a headmaster - brought together and inspired their compatriots to go beyond the picturesque views of North Devon and participate in one of the deadliest conflicts in human history.

The men whose pictures were exhibited in the local school, grocery stores, town hall and elsewhere gave the war a collection of recognisable human faces. In Ilfracombe, the national narrative about the Great War was understood through the hardship and suffering of some five hundred local men, whose photos constantly reminded the rest of the community what this war really meant to them.

Ilfracombe’s exhibition of soldiers’ photos was simultaneously a tribute to the self-sacrifice of native community members, but also an organised response to the national demands of recruitment in times of great conflict.  The story of Ilfracombe is an excellent contribution to the British historiography of the First World War and the ways in which local communities met the demands of the war effort.

If you would like to attend, please contact Gary Knaggs at the North Devon Record Office on 01271 318795 or northdevon@swheritage.org.uk.

Murder, Magic and Witchcraft

All are welcome on Thursday, 2nd November in the Armory Moot Room on the Streatham Campus at Exeter University, when Dr Peter Elmer will present the 2017 Joyce Youings Memorial Lecture titled Murder: Magic & Witchcraft: the Politics of the Supernatural in Restoration Exeter 

Drinks and reception are in the foyer at 6:00pm. The lecture starts at 6:30pm

Poster for the 2017 Joyce Youings Memorial Lecture

Dr Elmer is a senior research fellow in  the history department at Exeter University

Dr Peter Elmer

 He has a "broad interest in the cultural and intellectual history of early modern Europe, with a particular interest in the impact of religious and political change upon medicine and its practitioners in Britain in the same period."

The Bond Connection

Last night's talk by Sally Ayres was about Rear Admiral Francis Godolphin Bond, who lived for a time in Starcross. The rare artefacts he brought back from Tahiti are on display in the Royal Albert Memorial Museum in Exeter. 

Tahitian funery costume worn by nobleman

Bond travelled to Tahiti, as Second Lieutenant, with his uncle, who was Captain William Bligh; of Mutiny on the Bounty fame. Bond was the son of William Bligh's half-sister, Catherine.  

Bligh and his nephew were to go on to forge a close relationship. They jointly owned what is now The Ship in Exeter 
Here's their signatures on a legal indenture. Document from Hordern House, Australia:  manuscripts

Sally's interest in Bond comes from her research into RAMM's Pacific Collection

Much of the collections in RAMM was donated by the Devon and Exeter Institution
"
THE DEVON & EXETER INSTITUTION was founded in 1813 by some two hundred gentlemen of the county and city, [which included Francis Godolphin Bond.]

‘for promoting the general diffusion of Science, Literature and Art, and for illustrating the Natural and Civil History of the county of Devon and the city of Exeter’.

A lease, later to be followed by a freehold, was obtained from the Dean and Chapter of Exeter Cathedral of the former town house of the Courtenay family and one-time home of the Parliamentary general, Sir William Waller. Retaining part of the Tudor house at the rear, which still stands, and the gatehouse range fronting the Close, the founding fathers demolished the old hall and kitchen and in their place and on the former courtyard built two lofty libraries lit by domed lanterns, each library with its own gallery, glazed cupboards and extensive shelving. The building, unchanged except for the installation of electric light and gas-fired central heating has a Grade II* rating in the statutory list of historic buildings in the city.

"

It is of local interest to note that the site of the Devon and Exeter Institution was originally owned by the Courtenay family, of nearby Powderham Castle.

Also, the chairman of this institution today, lives in Starcross.

 BTW their library needs a new roof. It houses over 40,000 volumes: early scientific books, nineteenth century journals and bound volumes of newspapers. HERE is the online catalogue.

 Although the Tahitian artefacts attributed to Bond in RAMM are spectacular, the interest of his voyage was to procure plants; many of which are in our gardens today. The Victorian system of cataloging the exhibits was not rigorous, so there may be more items from the RAMM archives which were brought back by Bond.

Sally showed us the routes of Bligh's expeditions to collect breadfruit and other plants. The excellent seamanship of Captain Bligh is beyond doubt.

Breadfruit had been hailed as the plant to save the world from starvation, but what was intended was to use the remarkable, if unpalatable, Breadfruit, to feed the slaves in the plantations. 

Breadfruit. from wikipedia

Many of the records concerning Bond and Bligh's journeys across the Pacific are held in Australia:

"

while Bligh's second breadfruit voyage to Tahiti was being arranged, a great deal of other British shipping moving into the Pacific was also being contemplated. Bligh's latest ship, HM Providence (a new West Indiaman) was launched on 25 April. Bligh had received his comission for her by 16 April. Francis Godolphin Bond was appointed First Lt to Providence (420 tons launched at Blackwall, purchased from Mr Perry, ship to have marines from Chatam, a complement of 134 men.)

"

Merchant Networks .com - Australia

A page of a website in Texas is devoted to Bond

One of Rear Admiral Godolphin Bond's sons was Rev. Edward Copleston Bond M.A. of Exeter College, Oxford. From 1865, the Reverend Edward Coplestone Bond lived in the vicarage,
"
net yearly value £184, with residence and about 5 ¾ acres of glebe, in the gift of the Deans and Chapters of Exeter and Salisbury alternately,

"

 forbears.co.uk

The only known image of Bond is a silhouette. He was badly injured when serving on board ship at the age of 13, so probably would not want to record his disfigured face.

Bond died on October 26 1880. He was buried in the cemetery of Exeter's Holy Trinity Church, with  his wife Sophia, who died on 2 February 1870 and their daughter Margaret who died on 3 February 1831.
This graveyard was removed by the City Council in l987-88 and the remains were reinterred in Exeter Higher Cemetery. All that remains of the Bond family tomb is a simple gravestone.
Holy Trinity  Church was deconsecrated in 1969, and stood empty and derelict for 20 years.The Royal Navy rescued this lovely Victorian building, which is now The White Ensign Club

Bond descendants:

• Frederick Bligh Bond  - grandson

• Composer of Onward Christian Soldiers

• Alison Pryce

Sally is interested to hear from anyone who might know any more about the Bond connection to Starcross.

Please comment below or email Starcross History