GENERAL DATA PROTECTION REGULATION 2018 statement - This website does not set cookies. No personal data is collected.

 

...........The next talk at the Manor House will be on Tuesday 3rd December 2024 at 2-30pm. This is our festive event for members and features a talk and refreshements..............

E mail contact: enquiries@dawlishhistory.org.uk


December 2024 Chronicle has been E mailed to members. The September version is now available online.


NEW NOVEMBER 2024



Book three in the Railway series by David Allanach - Dawlish and the Railway: 2014 breach and what followed.

The 56 page booklet, published in 2024, tells the story of the 2014 breach in the railway line at Dawlish and the remedial action. The breach cut off the rest of Devon and Cornwall from the rail network for two months whilst making national headlines.
The relationship between the town and the railway is discussed along with the changes to rail services since 2014. There is also a review of the pros and cons of Brunel's legacy.




"Their Finest Hour", is a Second World War digital archive project based at the University of Oxford is a unique collection of never-before-seen stories and artefacts from the Second World War.

The website can be found at "theirfinesthour.org"



Welcome to the Dawlish Local History Group website. We are a well-established group of Dawlish residents who share an interest in all aspects of local history. This site is one of the best places for information on the history of Dawlish please explore it.

We offer opportunities to discover and reflect on what life was like for residents and visitors to the local area in times past. This can be interesting and intriguing, and knowledge of the history of a place can provide a better understanding of the way it is now.

 

Membership - how to join.
New members are always welcome. You can come along to one of our meetings to get to know us and what we can offer. There is a charge of 3 per meeting for non members but the annual membership is only 10.

You can join at a meeting or alternatively fill in a membership form and send it to the Treasurer.

You can download the "membershipform.pdf" form by clicking here.

The form and a cheque should be sent to the Treasurer whose address is on the form. If you prefer to pay by Bank Transfer please contact the Treasurer for details.

Talks and Presentations
We meet normally meet on the first Tuesday of the month at Manor House at 2.30pm, although alternative dates and times may be necessary and are shown in the preogramme.
The subjects of the talks are wide ranging from the very local to Devon-wide and beyond. Recent examples include Old Shops of Exeter , Christmas in Devon , Dawlish Pier - why there isn t one , and The Jurassic Coast . We also plan to hold occasional evening meetings.

Visits
Mostly during summer months group visits are arranged to places of historical interest. Among the places we have been in the last few years are Torre Abbey, Topsham, Exeter Cathedral Library, Haccombe Church, and the Kelly Mine. In October 2022, a small number of the group visited the Exeter RAMM and were given a very interesting insight into the importance of the "Dawlish Hoard" which is on display in the Museum.

 

Events
In addition to regular meetings and occasional visits the Dawlish Local History Group displays local historic images and information at events such as the Dawlish Carnival, History Open Days and other one off events for the local community. Members will also lead a guided heritage walk during the Dawlish Walking Festival. Two self guided walks around Dawlish, which include the historical detail for many of the buildings in the town, can be found under MAPS.

 

Facebook
This is the link Dawlish History Facebook Group.

Research and Publications
The group undertakes research on the history of Dawlish and district, both as a result of enquiries received, and on subjects which interest individual members. To help with this research we maintain an archive of historical information collected by members over the past 20+ years, and we have close contacts with Dawlish Museum.

As a result of this research the Group has published over 30 booklets on a wide range of Dawlish subjects, and more are planned. They cover houses, notable residents, industry, shops, education, tourism, Dawlish Warren, the railway, and even Dawlish s famous black swans.

Can you help us answer a question? Please have a look and let us know if you have any information. Unanswered Queries ?

Details of the graves at the Church of St Gregory the Great in Dawlish have been made available and include the name, date, inscription and plot number, as well as a map of the graveyard.Click here to view.

Click on the link to view a list of available publications. or this link to view subject titles in the Archive