Heavitree Local History Society
Taking an interest in Heavitree's past

Archive
The archive comprises three sections:

Past Meetings
Date | Subject | Speaker(s) |
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Sep 2023 | AGM + Meeting the promise of ‘Homes for Heroes’ in Heavitree after the First World War | Julia Neville |
Jun 2023 | Victor Street and the Entrepreneurial Spirit of Heavitree [joint meeting with Heavitree Squilometre] | Various |
Mar 2023 | Heavitree and the Railways | Richard Westlake |
Dec 2022 | Researching Heavitree at the Devon Heritage Centre | Brian Carpenter |
Sep 2022 | AGM + A Social History of The RD&E Hospital | Stephen Pettett-Smith |
Jun 2022 | Hidden Histories of Heavitree [joint meeting with Heavitree Squilometre] | Various |
Mar 2022 | The History of St Mark's Church, Exeter | David Oates |
Dec 2021 | [Meeting cancelled due to COVID-19 apprehension] | |
Sep 2021 | AGM + 150 Years of Higher Cemetery | Michael Parrott (Friends of Higher Cemetery) |
Jun 2021 | [Meeting cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions] | |
Mar 2021 | [Meeting cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions] | |
Dec 2020 | [Meeting cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions] | |
Sep 2020 | [Meeting cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions] | |
Jun 2020 | [Meeting cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions] | |
Mar 2020 | Wonford Village and the Great House [joint meeting with Heavitree Squilometre] | JoJo Spinks |
Dec 2019 | Expanding Heavitree: The story of Regent Square & John J F Ellis | Sally Robinson |
Sep 2019 | AGM + The History of the Ludwell Valley | Laurie Fentimen (Ludwell Life) |
Jun 2019 | From Exeter to Heavitree by Tram | Julia Neville |
Mar 2019 | Mont le Grand - Opulent Heavitree [joint meeting with Heavitree Squilometre] | JoJo Spinks |
Dec 2018 | Mobs, crowds and the outcasts in Exeter | Todd Gray |
Sep 2018 | AGM + Heavitree Pleasure Ground | Parklife Heavitree |
Jun 2018 | Alehouses and drinking culture | Mark Hailwood |
Mar 2018 | Heavitree Stone and the Heavitree Quarries [joint meeting with Heavitree Squilometre] | John Allan |
Dec 2017 | Cliff Bastin - Heavitree's football hero, and other Exeter sporting legends | Rob Jennings-May |
Sep 2017 | AGM + short talks of local interest by members | |
Jun 2017 | Tour of Heavitree Parish Church | |
Mar 2017 | The history of Heavitree Brewery | Graham Crocker |
Dec 2016 | Executions in Exeter | Mike Richards |
Sep 2016 | AGM + short talks of local interest by members | |
Jun 2016 | Richard Ford of Heavitree (1796-1858) | Richard Hitchcock |
Mar 2016 | Tour of Exeter Guildhall | |
Dec 2015 | Sixty years in Spicer Road | Richard Holladay |
Sep 2015 | AGM + short talks of local interest by members | |
Jun 2015 | The Roman army in Heavitree | John Smith |
Mar 2015 | Heavitree, Jamaica - An historical connection | Gillian Allen |
Dec 2014 | Medieval rood screens | Martin Horrell |
Sep 2014 | AGM + short talks of local interest by members | |
Jun 2014 | Being a chaplain | Paul Morrell |
Mar 2014 | Whimsical buildings | Lawrence Hunt |
Dec 2013 | Freemasonry past and present | Peter Galt |
Sep 2013 | AGM + The future of the Society | |
Jun 2013 | Views of Exeter 1880-1950 | Alan Dolley |
Mar 2013 | The Templers of Stover House | Geoffrey Harding |
Dec 2012 | One hundred years of advertising | Roger Brien |
Sep 2012 | AGM + River Exe discoveries | Tegwin Harris |
Jun 2012 | My top 50 Devon churches | Todd Gray |
Mar 2012 | Roman finds at St Loyes | John Salvatori |
Dec 2011 | Heaven and Heavitree | Roger Thorne |
Sep 2011 | AGM + An A-Z of Exeter's history | Simon Timms |
Jun 2011 | Snippets from the life of a Devon historian | Susie Hewitt |
Mar 2011 | Breton craftsmen in early Tudor Devon | John Allan |
Dec 2010 | Exeter's industrial history | Ian Diffey |
Sep 2010 | AGM + Exeter's almshouses | Geoffrey Harding |
Jun 2010 | Life in Tudor times | Jill Kemp |
Mar 2010 | Exeter's witches | Frank Gent |
Dec 2009 | Exminster's wartime secrets | Mike Passmore |
Sep 2009 | AGM | |
Jun 2009 | [Meeting cancelled] | |
Mar 2009 | Overview of developments at the RAMM | Tom Cadbury |
Dec 2008 | Street furniture in Heavitree and Devon | Roger Brien |
Sep 2008 | AGM | |
Jun 2008 | Theatre Royal fire of 1887 | Richard Passmore |
Mar 2008 | War medals of Heavitree | Phil Mussel |
Dec 2007 | Exeter and Heavitree personalities | Christine Trigger |
Sep 2007 | AGM | |
Jun 2007 | Findings from Princesshay redevelopment | Graham Langdon |
Mar 2007 | Local history - "Any Questions" | |
Dec 2006 | Civic Society's role in protecting the city's heritage | Hazel Harvey |
Sep 2006 | AGM | |
Jun 2006 | Exeter's archives | Julia Neville |
Mar 2006 | History of Heavitree Pleasure Ground | Caroline Keep |
Dec 2005 | Things you might not know about Exeter | Jo Griffiths |
Sep 2005 | AGM | |
Jun 2005 | ||
Mar 2005 | ||
Dec 2004 | Women's work in rural England, 1450-1700 | Jane Whittle |
Sep 2004 | AGM | |
Jun 2004 | ||
Mar 2004 | Exeter Roman bathhouse excavations | John Salvatore |

Old Newsletters
Edition | Date | Subject(s) Covered |
---|---|---|
Newsletter 90 | Sep 2023 | A Celebration of the Heritage of Victor Street |
Newsletter 89 | Jun 2023 | Heavitree and the Railways; Exploring the Whipton Brook |
Newsletter 88 | Mar 2023 | Researching Heavitree at the Devon Heritage Centre; Digby - City of Exeter Lunatic Asylum, Part 1: 1890 |
Newsletter 87 | Dec 2022 | A Social History of the Royal Devon Exeter Hospital; A Stroll Through Historic Wonford; Researching a Heavitree Silk Merchant |
Newsletter 86 | Sep 2022 | The Queen in Heavitree; Hidden Histories of Heavitree |
Newsletter 85 | Jun 2022 | A Lifetime in Chard Road; St Mark’s Church Exeter 1912-2012; Northbrook Walk |
Newsletter 84 | Mar 2022 | Heavitree Storms; Retailing in Fore Street (2022 update); Music to Heavitree's Ears; Heavitree, Kingsand, Cornwall; Heavitree Cricket Club; Further Memories of Sampson's Lane; Old Views of Heavitree Bridge |
Newsletter 83 | Dec 2021 | 150 Years of Higher Cemetery; When Heavitree Had Its Own Abattoir; Heavitree United Football Club; Fore Street Walk; Heavitree Mineral Water Company |
Newsletter 82 | Nov 2020 | Heavitree and Infectious Diseases; Lockdown Brings Out Historic Items in North Avenue; Resurfacing of Fore Street, Heavitree Reveals History Beneath; Richards Family Burials at Higher Cemetery; Graves with Connections to Early Development of Football in Exeter |
Newsletter 81 | May 2020 | Special Edition: Remembering VE Day in Heavitree 75 years ago |
Newsletter 80 | Mar 2020 | Expanding Heavitree: The Story of Regent Square and John J F Ellis; Retailing in Fore Street (updated for 2020); Long Departed Vicars of Heavitree |
Newsletter 79 | Dec 2019 | The History of Ludwell Valley; Memories of Top Video and Livery Dole News; Polsloe Bridge Walk; A Sports Ground in Higher Cemetery; Outpouring of Grief for Heavitree Cholera Victim |
Newsletter 78 | Sep 2019 | From Exeter To Heavitree By Tram; 'My Heavitree' Coffee Morning; Beating the Bounds Walk 2019 |
Newsletter 77 | Jun 2019 | Walking the Northbrook; Opulent Heavitree and Mont-le-Grand; Heavitree's Folk Music Connections; Heavitree United FC |
Newsletter 76 | Mar 2019 | Forthcoming Walk Northbrook 2019; Mobs, Crowds and Outcasts; Heavitree Post Boxes |
Newsletter 75 | Dec 2018 | Heavitree Bridge Walk; Parklife Heavitree; Polsloe Park Dairy |
Newsletter 74 | Sep 2018 | Beating the Bounds Walk; Alehouses and Drinking Culture; Heavitree Quarries Performances and Trails |
Newsletter 73 | Jun 2018 | Heavitree Stone and Quarries; David Morrish Obituary; Ron Crabb Obituary; Lost Shops of Heavitree |
Newsletter 72 | Mar 2018 | Den Perrin Obituary; Retailing in Fore Street (updated for 2018); Memories of Rosary House School; Heavitree's Sporting Connections; Heavitree Dolls' Hospital |
Newsletter 71 | Dec 2017 | Polsloe Park Walk; John Samson; Heavitrees of the World; Eagle House |
Newsletter 70 | Sep 2017 | Tour of Heavitree Parish Church; Beating the Bounds; The Hoare Family |
Newsletter 69 | Jun 2017 | Heavitree Brewery; Heavitree Road, Kingsand; Annexation Cartoons |
Newsletter 68 | Mar 2017 | Executions in Exeter 1285-1943; Ladysmith School in the 1930s |
Newsletter 67 | Dec 2016 | Christmas in 1930s Heavitree; Member's AGM Talks; Fore Street Walk; Heavitree Link with Rotherham; Further Memories of Life in Chard Road |
Newsletter 66 | Sep 2016 | Richard Ford of Heavitree; South Lawn Terrace - What's in a Name?; Memories of a House in Chard Road |
Newsletter 65 | Jun 2016 | Exeter Tour Guildhall 2016; Retailing in Fore Street 1851-2016; Boot Scrapers of Regents Square; South Lawn Terrace Since Victorian Times |
Newsletter 64 | Mar 2016 | Sixty Years in Spicer Road; Polsloe Park Chapel; The Gordon Lamp |
Newsletter 63 | Dec 2015 | Members Talks; Devonia Pottery; Heavitree Titanic Memorials; Sacred Trees of Heavitree |
Newsletter 62 | Sep 2015 | The Roman Army in Heavitree; Some History Behind the HLHS Boundary Walk; A Scrap of History |
Newsletter 61 | Jun 2015 | Heavitree Jamaica: An Historical Connection; 'Disorderly Houses' in Heavitree; Exeter City Footballers on Heavitree Roll of Honour; The 'Heavitree Squilometre'; Heavitree's Toll-Houses |
Newsletter 60 | Mar 2015 | Medieval rood screens; Blue plaque for Vanbrugh sisters; Toll houses of South Devon |
Newsletter 59 | Dec 2014 | Memories of 1914; Member's talks; Dracula link with Heavitree; From the archives: Fore Street a Roman Road |
Newsletter 58 | Sep 2014 | Memories of 1914; Being a chaplain; From the archives: 1066 and all that |
Newsletter 57 | Jun 2014 | Whimsical buildings; Heavitree in Crosby's Complete Gazetteer; Heavitree connections to Exeter's game with Brazil |
Newsletter 56 | Mar 2014 | Freemasonry past and present; Heavitree horse trough; Rare post box |
Newsletter 55 | Dec 2013 | Minutes of AGM; Heavitree annexation centenary exhibition |
Newsletter 54 | Sep 2013 | Alan Dolley's views of Exeter; Retailing in Fore Street 2012-13; AGM |
Newsletter 53 | Jun 2013 | Beating the Bounds and its history; The Templers of Stover; The future of the Society |
Newsletter 52 | Mar 2013 | One hundred years of advertising; Planning the annexation centenary exhibition |
Newsletter 51 | Dec 2012 | The ecology of the River Exe; The Garland grave in Heavitree |
Newsletter 50 | Sep 2012 | The glory of Devon's churches; James Shapland's grave in Higher Cemetery; AGM |
Newsletter 49 | Jun 2012 | Roman finds on the former site of St Loyes College |
Newsletter 48 | Mar 2012 | Retailing in Fore Street 2011; Heavitree chapels and churches; Grave of poet John Charles Arnell |
Newsletter 47 | Dec 2011 | Life of Devon historian Prof W G Hoskins; A-Z of Exeter's history |
Newsletter 46 | Sep 2011 | AGM |
Newsletter 45 | Jun 2011 | 1948 Olympic torch in Heavitree; Breton craftsmen in Tudor Devon; AWJ Motorcycles; Beating the Bounds 2011 |
Newsletter 44 | Mar 2011 | Annexation 1913; Exeter's Industrial History |
Newsletter 43 | Dec 2010 | Heavitree, Jamaica - Compensation For Slaves; Exeter's Almshouses |
Newsletter 42 | Sep 2010 | Retailing In Fore Street; Tudor Life and Times; AGM |
Newsletter 41 | Jun 2010 | Three Witches Hanged In Heavitree; New Link With Heavitree, Jamaica; Dick Manley and East Avenue (part 2) |
Newsletter 40 | Mar 2010 | Dick Manley - Heavitree Craftsman and Rugby International (part 1); Exminster's Wartime Secrets |
Newsletter 39 | Dec 2009 | Rowancroft; Heavitree Jamaica; Graves in Higher Cemetery |
Newsletter 38 | Sep 2009 | Records of Retailing in Heavitree 2008-9; King George V Oak Tree |
Newsletter 37 (erroneously numbered 29) | Jun 2009 | Royal Albert Memorial Museum; Victorian Deeds; Thomas Paine |
Newsletter 36 | Mar 2009 | Street Furniture; Fore Street Tour; Haldon Belvedere Tour; Polsloe Party in the Park |
Newsletter 35 | Dec 2008 | Heavitree Parish Records; Dr W G Hoskins; Victorian Discoveries; Exeter Tailors' Celebration |
Newsletter 34 | Sep 2008 | Records of Retailing in Heavitree 2007-8; Origins of Heavitree Social Club (Wingfield Park); Theatre Royal Fire 1887; Heavitree's South African Connections |
Newsletter 33 | Jun 2008 | Men and Medals; Heavitree Road, Plumstead (part 2); Excerpt from Express and Echo 50 Years Ago |
Newsletter 32 | Mar 2008 | Heavitree Road, Plumstead (part 1); 1948 Olympic Torch in Heavitree; Exeter Notables |
Newsletter 31 | Dec 2007 | Heavitree's Jamaica Links; 1911 Air Race |
Newsletter 30 | Sep 2007 | Archaeological finds during the building of the new Princesshay; Hamlin Lane Playing Fields; Botanical history of Heavitree Pleasure Ground; Retailing in Fore Street 1999 + 2007 |
Newsletter 29 | Jun 2007 | St Michael's School log; Hamlin Lane Playing Fields; Sampford Courtenay visit; HLHS publications |
Newsletter 28 | Mar 2007 | Today's Heavitree Jamaica; Exeter Civic Society: History + Role; F.W. Meyer + Meyer Court |
Newsletter 27 | Dec 2006 | St Michael's Church: Dry rot + rotting bodies; Further information on Heavitree Jamaica; Old press: Caution against indiscriminate alms giving; Armorial bearings in church |
Newsletter 26 | Sep 2006 | Memories of St Michael's Primary School (part 2); Exeter Archives talk; Czech Involvement in WW2 Exeter; More Heavitree Jamaica links |
Newsletter 25 | Jun 2006 | Memories of St Michael's Primary School (part 1); Pleasure Grounds in Devon |
Newsletter 24 | Mar 2006 | Heavitree Pleasure Ground Centenary; North Street Widening; Heavitree Jamaica Link; First Bank in Heavitree |
Newsletter 23 | Dec 2005 | Heavitree Pleasure Ground; Exeter Blitz Victims |
Newsletter 22 | Sep 2005 | Heavitree street party 2005 report + photos; Heavitree boundary walk 2005 report; Secretary's report for AGM |
Newsletter 21 | Jun 2005 | Heavitree Street Party 2005; Heavitree Boundary Walk 2005; Mystery Stones Found in 19th Century; Apprentices in Heavitree |
Newsletter 20 | Mar 2005 | Women's work in rural England 1450-1700; Dealing with Blitz victims 1939-45; Heavitree Pleasure Ground World War II photo |
Newsletter 19 | Dec 2004 | Heavitree's cricket connections; Heavitree's 1946 victory celebrations; Whipton Lane street party 2005 |
Newsletter 18 | Sep 2004 | Polsloe Park for sale 1846; Neighbourhood Watch 1831 style; Whipton Lane street party 2005 |
Newsletter 17 | Jun 2004 | St Katherine's Priory; Exeter's Roman baths; Heavitree fire hoax 1862; Sivell Place Mortuary |
Newsletter 16 | Mar 2004 | Sivell Place Mortuary; Polsloe Park Estate + Exeter Brick & Tile Company; Second Avenue in the Blitz; Residents' complaints about Salvation Army 1883 |
Newsletter 15 | Dec 2003 | Heavitree Sunday School Excursion 1890; Poltimore House Links with Heavitree; Heavitree Conservation Area |
Newsletter 14 | Sep 2003 | Exeter School Tour; Further Memories of North Avenue; St Katherine's Priory; Honiton Road-Pinn Lane Boundary Stone |
Newsletter 13 | Jun 2003 | Uncovering Your House's History - a Local Case Study (part 2); Heavitree Agriculture in the 17th Century; Heavitree Muster Roll in the Civil War; Exeter Blitz Film |
Newsletter 12 | Mar 2003 | Uncovering Your House's History - a Local Case Study (part 1); Exeter Night Watch 1835; Regent Square Project; Exeter Blitz Film |
Newsletter 11 | Nov 2002 | Heavitree Boundary Walk; Joanna Southcott; Devon & Exeter Institute; WW1 Roll of Honour Publication; Heavitree Names |
Newsletter 10 | Sep 2002 | Heavitree 2002 RAMM Exhibition; Wreck of The Avalanche; Heavitree-related articles from old local press |
Newsletter 9 | Jun 2002 | Heavitree 2002 RAMM Exhibition; The Heavitree Yew; Wreck of The Cospatrick |
Newsletter 8 | Mar 2002 | How education came to Heavitree; Heavitree 2002 RAMM Exhibition; James Upright's grave Heavitree |
Newsletter 7 | Nov 2001 | Gardeners Arms pub site; Heavitree Jamaica update; Heavitree Gap Australia; Grave of Sir John Bowring |
Newsletter 6 | Aug 2001 | Heavitree Jamaica; Heavitree-related articles from old local press; AGM |
Newsletter 5 | Jun 2001 | Fore Street Heavitree - a Roman Road?; Heavitree News from Exeter Flying Post 1820 and 1871 |
Newsletter 4 | Feb 2001 | Heavitree and the Domesday Book; Manor House Fore Street site |
Newsletter 3 | This newsletter was never published | |
Newsletter 2 | Jul-Oct 2000 | General Society business |
Newsletter 1 | Apr-Jun 2000 | Inauguration of the Society; Topics to explore |
Our newsletters are in pdf format and require Adobe Reader or similar in order to be read.
Click here to download.

Gallery of Past Society Events
Tour of Higher Cemetery - Sun 22nd Oct 2023
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Further information:
Scroll to top of pageWhipton Brook Walk - Sat 20th May 2023
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Stroll Through Historic Wonford - Sun 16th Oct 2022
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Further information:
Scroll to top of pageNorthbrook Walk - Sat 14th May 2022
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Tour of Heavitree - Sun 24th Oct 2021
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Tour of Polsloe Bridge Area - Sun 13th Oct 2019
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Northbrook Walk - Sat 11th May 2019
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Tour of Heavitree - Sun 14th Oct 2018
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Beating the Bounds of Heavitree - Sat 7th + 14th Jul 2018
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Tour of Polsloe Park - Sun 15th Oct 2017
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Beating the Bounds of Heavitree - Sat 22nd Jul 2017
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Tour of Heavitree Parish Church - Tue 6th Jun 2017
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Tour of Heavitree - Sun 16th Oct 2016
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Tour of Exeter Guildhall - Tue 8th Mar 2016
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Centenary Exhibition - Fri 1st + Sat 2nd Nov 2013
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