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Exminster photos (1 available)

Old photo of Exminster

Exminster maps (2 available)

Old map of Exminster

Exminster books (8 available)

Exminster memories

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Devon memories

Cann Family History

My Great Great Grandfather was born William Honey Cann.   Born: March 12, 1845 in Topsham, England son of John Cann and Jane (Hill) Cann.  (William Married - Ann Pidgeon, from England also!).  Looking for more information on Cemeteries in this area.  John Cann was the son of Samuel Cann & Charity (Arscott) Cann.  Looking for information on location of where they lived in Topsham, or worked.
A memory of Topsham contributed by Brenda Wise

The Wakely Family

I was born in Lower Shillingford (Shillingford Abbot) in 1939. My grandparents lived in Rectory Cottage, Higher Shillingford (Shillingford St George). My grandfather was gardener at the vicarage. He was also the sexton at the church, gravedigger, bellringer and caretaker at the church.
At Christmas time we would walk from Lower Shillingford to Higher Shillingford to attend the midnight service at the church on Christmas Eve. My grandmother would not attend the service as she was stone deaf. She looked after my little brother instead while we were at the service. It was always bitterly cold and I remember starlit nights and chattering teeth. The church was warm and bright and full of holly and ivy that my grandfather had collected ...read more here
A memory of Shillingford St George contributed by Rosemary Morris

Love is....

Lympstone, the Village Square 1904

Love is ... Lympstone in 1960, a village girl called Vera, me, a young marine who did not want to be a marine, a real family called Stone, the smell of the Exe, a kiss under a tree during a summer thunder storm, glow worms in the lanes as I walked back from leaving her home, a last kiss goodbye, a silver ciggie case given to me as a present, going back in 2008 and seeing Vera, again a last kiss goodbye as it should have been then, and always love, never forgotten.
The odd couple in the Swan Inn who were both male but not gay and who had a great welcome for me.
A memory of Lympstone contributed by ron carleton

A picnic at Exmouth Cricket Club

Exmouth, the Cricket and Sports Ground 1906


Last week we had a really lovely day out with our granddaughter Anna Norfolk. It was a beautiful sunny July day and far too hot for staying at home so my wife and I went in search of a beach and a cooling sea breeze. We drove to Exmouth and when we arrived at the seafront we noticed that the Exmouth cricket grounds were open - a friendly gatekeeper invited us to drive in and park on their outfield for the day.

There was lovely clean short grass to spread our picnic. They even had a small cafe and loos available! We were very happy to pay our £3.50 for the day instead of paying the same for ...read more here
A memory of Exmouth contributed by John Howard Norfolk

Extracts From Exminster & Devon books

Exmouth, the Esplanade 1898

This view was taken from the building at the very end of Morton Crescent. To the immediate left is the Imperial Hotel, seen in its original architectural design, changed now after the fire in the 1970s.
An extract from from"Exmouth Photographic Memories".

Exmouth, the Esplanade c1955

By the middle of the 20th century we see something resembling the modern scene. There is the more familiar red telephone box on the traffic island, a modern post box, and Belisha beacons to aid pedestrians wishing to cross the road. In the centre of the photograph is the white tower of the Pavilion Theatre. Much of the street furniture was removed by the start of the 21st century, leaving a more traffic-dominated Esplanade.
An extract from from"Exmouth Photographic Memories".

Exmouth, from the Pier 1906

The construction of a substantial sea wall, seen here in section to the right, led to Exmouth’s prosperity as a seaside resort. Before the wall was built, much of the sea front was marshland and sand dunes, and subjected to constant flooding. The first section of the wall was completed in 1842, paid for by the local landowner John Rolle. It was 1,900 feet long and constructed from Devon limestone. The designer was John Smeaton, a veteran engineer and the designer of London Bridge.
An extract from from"Exmouth Photographic Memories".

Exmouth, from the Beacon 1922

This fine view looks across the clock tower and Morton Crescent to the estuary of the River Exe, with Starcross and the Haldon Hills in the distance.
An extract from from"Exmouth Photographic Memories".

Exmouth, the Esplanade c1955

The wall was designed to deflect the waves that so often come up the English Channel from the south-west on stormy days. This scene has changed little in fifty years, though now a shelter from the wind stands on the position of the nearest bench in the photograph. It was donated by local resident William Frederick Stokes in 1964.
An extract from from"Exmouth Photographic Memories".