Promoting awareness of the archaeology and history of north Devon
Promoting awareness of the archaeology and history of north Devon
Oral History on Exmoor - Rob Wilson-North (Newsletter No 14 2007/08)
We are in imminent danger of losing knowledge of traditional farming methods in North Devon and Exmoor, most especially of the way farm buildings were used. The recollections of older people who have worked the land are a dwindling source of this valuable information.
Rob Wilson- North, Exmoor National Park Archaeologist writes:
In recent years there have been several 'goes' at addressing Exmoor's recent past through memories. Birdie Johnson worked on a wide ranging oral history project which culminated in her book 'Reflections' illustrated with Mark Rattenbury's wonderful photographs of the interviewees. More recently the Exmoor Flood Memories Project collected around 20 interviews from people who remembered the Lynmouth Flood Disaster and its impact across Exmoor, but who had not been asked to speak about it before.
All these oral history recordings are now housed within Somerset County Council's Exmoor Oral History Archive. My aspiration is that we should gradually add to this wonderful resource when we come across people whose insights vividly illuminate aspects of Exmoor's past.
The latest focus of our attention comes from the recent Victoria County
History initiative (England's Past for Everyone) which has worked with
local volunteers (including from NDAS) to record farm buildings across
southern Exmoor. As the work has progressed, the volunteers have found
themselves from time to time enthralled by the detailed memories of some
owners who recalled how the buildings were used. For the project, the
building record could almost be described as 'incomplete' without a formal
recording of these memories. It is as valuable as the photographs, drawings,
plans and reconstructions that the project has so far produced.
During 2008, with additional funding from England's Past for Everyone,
we hope to collect memories from farming families and farm workers about
the buildings of the farmsteads. Such a project could be enormous and
span farming life on Exmoor, but for now we would like to focus as much
as possible on people's memories of the farm buildings themselves. If
you know of anyone who you think we should speak to, please let us know.
Contact me or my colleague Jessica Turner at Exmoor House, Dulverton, telephone 01398 323665 or by email: rwilson-north@exmoornationalpark.gov.uk