Promoting awareness of the archaeology and history
of north Devon
ACTIVITIES
WEST YEO
Archaeology Projects (external)
North Devon Archaeological Society can pride itself on being a longstanding local society engaging the archaeological interests of local people. The Society was founded by Charles Whybrow in 1959, the first meeting being held at South Molton in the summer of that year. Jonathan Lomas, who as a teenager attended the second meeting of the newly formed society and who is now a life member has written the following memoir.
CHARLES WHYBROW M.A., L.L.B., F.S.A.
The North Devon Archaeological Society owes its present success to the founder and first chairman, Charles Whybrow who died in Somerset, July 1978.
For myself there was a great privilege in knowing him. Both he and his wife were regular attenders at meetings. After his death the membership was well represented at his memorial service at St Peter’s Church, Bratton Fleming where he had lived since the early 1950s. He was 76.
Author of ‘An Antiquary’s Exmoor’ and a contributor to the Transactions of the Devonshire Association, he was Vice-President of the Exmoor Society.
Charles Whtbrow was educated at Berkhamstead School, Hertfordshire and Christ’s College, Cambridge. He was called to the Bar (a non-practicing barister) and during a Colonial Civil service career wit bthe Education Department in Tanganyika was headmaster of the school at Malangali. Later he became Provincial Education officer of Lake Province, Lake Victoria. During World War II he was an officer in the King’s Aficna Rifles.
On his retirement to North Devon he was Governor of West Buckland School, a member of Bratton Fleming Parish Council, Chairman of St Peter’s Parochial Church Council and both a reader and a benefactor of the church, donating a ‘Good News’ bible for the lectern.
His contributions to the Exmoor Review were numerous. He also wrote an unpublished history of Bratton Fleming. He always attended NDAS field meetings, arriving in his familiar maroon Wolseley 1500 where his wife would remain seated throughout the proceedings, usually reading the newspaper. His entertaining manner and dry wit were one of his memorable and endearing qualities that I recall, but woe betide anyone who dared to chatter during any of his talks. He conducted us on tours of Cadbury Castkle in Somerset, Chapman Barrows above Parracombe and the earthworks above Hillsford Bridge on the East Lyn River. Roughtor near Camelford was a favourite with him as well as the Cheesewring on Bodmin Moor. On one occasion we even ventured across the railway viaduct at Filleigh on a Sunday when no trains were scheduled, as none ever ran on this day by Act of Parliament.
The passing of Charles Whybrow was a great loss to the North Devon Archaeological Society at a time when it was building its strength in membership and becoming a well respected and recognised society within the South West.
Jonathan Lomas (Hon. Member)
The Society intends to mark this ‘Golden Jubilee’ year in two ways. On the one hand, we are planning to produce a small publication collecting together a number of essays on and around the archaeology and history of this quite distinct part of Devon; and on the other hand, we are considering, together with North Devon AONB (whose 50th anniversary also falls in 2009) a day of talks and exhibitions to be held probably in the autumn. This is in the early planning stage, so please await developments.
Terry Green
Chairman