Family History Researcher North Devon

17/08/2026

This rather battered, but intriguing piece of cloth is a red petticoat, which can be found in Ilfracombe Museum and its ingenious history in fooling French sailors in 1797 is detailed below. The museum is full of interesting objects and information relating to Ilfracombe and the surrounding area and is well worth a visit!

The petticoat also gives its name to The Ilfracombe Red Petticoats - a clog dancing group based in Ilfracombe. They are a Morris dancing group, performing North West style clog dances. I had the pleasure of seeing them perform at Heddon Valley on a very hot, sunny July afternoon. It was lovely to see another tradition being kept alive.

16/08/2026

Lovely feedback after carrying out research into a customer's grandfather and his service during WW1:

Thank you so much for your hard work and research.

It's great to have this detail about my grandfather's war experience so it sounds like he wasn't necessarily gassed but just got ill, understandably in the awful conditions. I will read through the war diary too which will be a great picture of what life was like for him and his colleagues.

I tell the rest of my WI!

21/07/2026

A few pictures from an interesting behind-the-scenes tour of South Molton's beautiful Guildhall, Mayor's Parlour and Courtroom during recent celebrations for the completion of works to the Pannier Market roof. Such a lovely space, which is not often seen, the Guildhall was built between 1739 and 1743 and has been a Grade I listed building since 1951. Many of the materials used in the building and particularly the interiors, were bought following the demolition of Stowe House, a former 17th-century mansion in Kilkhampton, Cornwall in 1739. Recycling is nothing new! Hopefully, with the right funding these lovely rooms will be able to be used and seen by more people in the future.

05/06/2026

A lovely vintage poster advertising Lynton and Lynmouth found on a recent visit to Dunster station on the West Somerset Railway.

05/06/2026

On a trip around Dartmoor last year I came across this interesting memorial in Drewsteignton Church to Richard Chichester, a previous rector of that parish who was born at Hall in Bishop's Tawton and also his son, Captain Robert Chichester.

13/05/2026

Positive feedback after giving the Devonshire Dialect talk this week 😀:

'Thank you Lisa for your very interesting talk last night. Our ladies really enjoyed it. We look forward to booking you again when the ladies have decided which talk they want'.

05/05/2026

I will be giving this talk to Roborough Women's Circle on Monday 11th May.
If you would like to book this or any of my other talks for your history or social group (either in person or online), please do get in touch:
[email protected]

28/04/2026

15/04/2026

I will be giving this talk to Gin and Jam Women’s Group (Tiverton) on Wednesday 22nd April.

If you would like to book this or any of my other talks for your history or social group (either in person or online), please do get in touch:

[email protected]

15/04/2026

This is a Barnstaple Penny minted at the time of King Canute (about 1000 years ago!). I didn't realise this existed until a very interesting visit to The Museum of Barnstaple & North Devon.