The South West Heritage Trust has recently released a new website featuring 78 interviews of a wide range of Exmoor people, mostly recorded between 2000-2002, from chambermaids to blacksmiths, farm workers to landed gentry.
The Exmoor Oral History Archive was gathered by Birdie Johnson, who travelled throughout Exmoor with her tape recorder, listening to local life stories. For the first time the interviews are available in full online, accompanied by stunning photographic portraits by Mark Rattenbury. Each recording has a summary with the start time of the topics covered.
Amongst the people interviewed are many with a close connection to the Exmoor Society. Hope Bourne talks whilst sitting in the shade of a hedge overlooking Ferny Ball. Malcolm MacEwen’s wife Ann, speaks about her career in architecture and town planning. Lynton and Parracombe GP, Dr Ernest Mold, tells about his visits to remote farms, his fascination with the archaeology of Exmoor, and his collaboration with Hazel Eardley-Wilmot.
The collection covers every aspect of twentieth century Exmoor life, including two world wars, the formation of the National Park and the 1952 Lynmouth Flood disaster. We recommend you set aside some time to just sit and listen to some of these fascinating recordings.
Access the website here.
Graeme Horne, Archivist
Image: Mark J. Rattenbury
