Family History Researcher North Devon

05/02/2026

I will be giving this talk to Witheridge Ladies' Group on Tuesday 10th February.

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:

lisa_chanter@hotmail.com

05/02/2026

Always nice to receive positive feedback. 😀This time after giving a talk on the Temperance Movement in North Devon and Exmoor to Devon Family History Society:

'Thank you for giving your really interesting talk this evening. I don't think I had any idea about the temperance movement being such a big deal!'

28/01/2026

I will be giving this talk to Devon Family History Society on Wednesday 4th February, at 7.30 pm via Zoom. If you would like to attend, please contact the Society directly.

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:

lisa_chanter@hotmail.com

15/01/2026

Pleasing feedback from a WI group who recently enjoyed the 'Highwaymen' talk:

'Thank you so much for coming to talk to us. We all enjoyed the talk, very interesting!! We look forward to booking you again!'

11/01/2026

This interesting clock can be found in Bideford's Pannier Market.

According to the information provided below it (pictured), this is an 'Act of Parliament' or 'Tavern' clock, so called because in 1797 an Act of Parliament was passed which put a tax on all clocks and watches. As a result, most taverns had one very large clock for the convenience of patrons. This tax was very unpopular and was repealed in the following year.

These clocks had to be large enough to be seen by all and had to be placed very high up. away from the bustle of the people, as they had no glass fronts. They were also installed in halls and churches.

Act of Parliament clocks had roman hour numerals and were in a Japanned wooden case, either decorated with gilt scroll designs or with a print stuck on the trunk door and lacquered over. The hands were usually brass, sometimes counter-balanced. Unfortunately, the maker's signature is not decipherable. These clocks were weight driven and this particular one now has an anti-clockwise winding mechanism. The shield shape of the face probably dates this clock to have been made before the Act of Parliament between 1745 and 1775. The hands are probably original and the two lower corners of the face would almost certainly have been originally decorated with small gilt motifs.

07/01/2026

I will be giving this talk to Mortehoe WI on Wednesday 14th January.

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

lisa_chanter@hotmail.com

20/12/2025

07/12/2025

This unassuming gravestone sits quietly in Brendon churchyard on Exmoor. As we can see, when Dan Gregory died in March 1933, barely two weeks after his wife Lucy, he was living at Coombe Farm, Brendon.
Whilst reading the first volume of ‘Unforgotten Exmoor’ by David Ramsey, I came across the following interesting recollection of the funeral of ‘Farmer Dan’ (as he was known locally) by his granddaughter:
‘His was one of the last funerals in Brendon where he was buried from his own house and it took eight sets of six men in relays i.e. 48 men to carry the coffin all the way up to the church!’
I could not quite believe this and so decided to investigate further. I found the attached newspaper articles, the first announcing his death and arrangements for the funeral and then the subsequent one giving details of the funeral itself. Sure enough, Dan had been carried the 1.5 miles to the church by friends and neighbours, but it had actually taken nine sets of six men, so 54 in total to get him there!

12/11/2025

I will be giving this talk to Age Concern North Devon on Wednesday 19th November at 2pm at Barnstaple Library. Please come along if you are interested (and aged 60+!).

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

lisa_chanter@hotmail.com

08/11/2025

A beautiful, but poignant altar cloth honouring those from North Molton and Twitchen parishes who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Great War.

Lest we forget......

01/11/2025

NEW TALK AVAILABLE

I now have this new talk available. If you would like to book it, or any of my other talks (please see my FB page for full details) for your social group, history group or event, please get in touch

lisa_chanter@hotmail.com