Branscombe Project © 2009-2019

The Branscombe Project began more than twenty years ago. A group of people, some of whom had lived all their lives in Branscombe, others relative newcomers, decided they wanted to find out more about their village and the wider landscape.

The time-span is anywhere from prehistoric times to the present, and the idea is to explore changing landscapes, changing lives, historical materials, and living memories.

We have taped over a hundred interviews, dug in the archives and in the ground, and walked the landscape. People have lent us photographs, documents, postcards and objects.

We put on biennial exhibitions, winter talks, documentary dramas and ‘disappeared houses’ walks. We have covered topics as diverse as Branscombe Ghosts, Maps, Farming, Cliff Plats, Orchards, Shops & Trades, the Churchyard, Lace Making, Smuggling, Outside Loos, Road History, School History, Hedgerow Dating, Archaeological Excavation & Field-walking, House & Family Histories, Gardens, the Blackshirts, and the wreck of the Napoli.

Our events and activities are open to all - there is no subscription and no membership list.

We want to make as much of our work available on this website as possible. It will take time. We hope you’ll enjoy what’s here and find it useful.

To contact us please join up our email address in the usual way:
contacts at branscombe project dot org dot uk

East Devon AONB: In the Footsteps of Peter Orlando Hutchinson

Links:

St Winifred’s Church Branscombe
East Devon AONB
Sidmouth Herald
Genuki
Devon History Society

If you know of anyone who left Branscombe to live in another country in the past, please contact us by email and we will add your stories to our website.

Read what we know so far here ...

We have been contacted by someone who acquired a photo album of images between 1929 and 1939. She said most have no labels, but a few are of Branscombe. It seems some are of Beer as well. If you recognise any of the places, or even people, please comment on Flickr.

Many thanks to Sarah.

Click here for the link to her Flickr account of the photo album.

Bill will be talking about the history of archaeological aerial photography from nineteenth century balloon flights to modern laser technology.
Using evidence from the air of earthworks, crop marks and parch marks, he will discuss how it’s changed our understanding of prehistoric and Roman settlement. He’ll use examples from East Devon where possible, and show some of the startling images that surfaced during the long dry summer of 2018.

The above book is now available to buy from the two pubs in the village - The Masons Arms and The Fountain Head. You can also order it from us via the website (p&p extra).
The book will also be available at our events in the village hall.
The price for the book is £6.00

John Torrance’s latest talk transcript:

(John stood in for Rose Ferraby who was ill on March 26th and unable to give her talk on Roman Aldborough)

We are now on facebook...search...... memories of Branscombe