Genealogy Chat

The local paper prints a Peep in the Past page each week, that contains a local event from 100, 50 & 25yrs ago plus 1 or 2 old photos. If anyone has ancestors in Totnes, and would like to get a feel for the area when they lived there I will send them the pages.

Thanks for the offer. My ancestors lived just across the river in Bridgetown (Berry Pomeroy) from around 1730 until 1850, although a couple of my g-g-grandfather's brothers were still there into the 1870's. Unfortunately, this is still too early for the '100 Years Ago' feature. :-( Let me know if they ever start doing '200 Years Ago' or even '150 Years Ago' and I'll send you my particulars (actually any references to the name Perrott). Tim

There's a Totnes Image Bank, Old Mill, Coronation Road, Totnes that collects old photos, though your ancestors are right on the cusp of photography, don't know if they have paintings as well. There is also a 'Study Centre' at Totnes Elizabethan Museum, 70, Fore Street, Totnes, which apparently is where all the newspaper reports come from, they might go further back. I sit at work in Totnes looking across the river at Bridgetown. Though you can't tell where one ends and the other starts these days (except for the river).

Mavis - Thanks again for the leads. Unfortunately, as I live in Canada, I can't visit in person. I have seen the Image Bank's Web site (http://www.totnesimagebank.org.uk/) which is quite good, but sadly has almost nothing before 1900. I understand that the Museum does do Family History research, which I might look into. I think they charge £5 per hour (3 hour minimum) which is certainly reasonable - just today I was quoted at rate of £42 per hour for research at the National Archives in Kew. Are your ancestors from this area? If so, who knows - we could be cousins. Prior to moving to Berry Pomeroy, my lot were in Cornworthy (also quite close) at least as far back as the 1500's. Cheers - Tim

No I only live in the area, some of my late husband's side is from Cornwall, but I haven't spent a lot of time tracking them down. If you want any images of the area today, or graves etc let me know, when I'm out & about I could have a camera with me.