Category: People and Places

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Pinhoe’s history shared from Australia

Our warmest thanks to Susan Heywood Downard for sharing her family photos from Australia. We look forward to meeting Susan when she travels to Pinhoe during the summer

“My great grandfather, Augustus Ford worked for Miss Took at Petersfield in the late 1800’s. He was a very keen photographer and took a number of photographs around Pinhoe, including of the village and the house. I found Miss Took in the census of 1881. She left my great grandfather a pension in her will sufficient to enable him to buy a house in Exeter”

Harrington Cottage

Grant Harrison was able to locate the will in the local press >

Susan also shared a rare photo of Redhayes House (since destroyed by fire) which Marian Orton Cowling identifed: “Major Hext was brought up at Redhayes, his father owning the house. The Waldron’s had it built in Dutch Brick in the late 19th century.”

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Saved by a Quiver!

Thanks to a feature in the Autumn edition of Pinhoe Press, we were delighted that Linda lent us an original school badge and tie from Pinhoe Middle School.

The badge shows an old monk riding a donkey, carrying a quiver of arrows. It was based on the folklore tale of local courage from when Pinhoe lay besieged by the Danes, in 1001AD. Facing certain defeat, desperate local defences were nearly out of arrows. Gathering withies on his trusty steed, the brave priest delivered fresh resources of arrow-making reeds, ensuring victory for Pinhoe’s protectors!

Many thanks to Linda and all the other offers we received. We are using all these artefacts to create our archive for Pinhoe.

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Chris Wiseman: RAF Exeter

Following a fascinating update from Chris Wiseman, the connections between the community of Pinhoe and RAF Exeter are deepening. Interest from local people continues to surprise, with new information to keep Chris’s research inspiring us all. Whether it’s a visit with a 94 year old ex-RAF Lancaster crew member, or the tantalising thought of a book on Honiton Clyst, Chris is on an amazing journey to honour the courage and resilience of the pilots and crew who protected the city of Exeter during the war.

We were delighted that Chris was able to give us a special preview of his updated presentation at our last meeting. We’re thinking of putting together some form of book – would anyone be interested? Let us know! mail@portfoliofive.co.uk or contact us in the PINHOE VILLAGE book, in Alicia’s.