See The ternary calculating machine of Thomas Fowler. This site by Mark Glusker documents the reconstruction of an 1840 mechanical digital calculator based on a description discovered by researchers Pamela Vass and David Hogan.
Fowler, who was born and lived all his life in Great Torrington, was a printer, banker and self-taught mathematician who also invented the "thermosiphon", a central heating system very similar in concept to modern ones. As Treasurer of the Poor Law Union, his work involved repetitive calculations, typically involving ratios on sums of money converted into farthings. He initialy wrote a book, Tables for Facilitating Arithmetical Calculations with the subtitle Intended for Calculating the Proportionate Charges on the Parishes in Poor Law Unions, outlining a scheme for simplifying these calculations. His calculator was the next stage: nothing survives of it except a representation in a stained glass window in St. Michaels Church, Great Torrington.
(Note that this is not related to the later different Fowler's Calculator, a circular slide rule devised by the Oldham-born William Henry Fowler).
Read more ...
Westcountry Studies Library Newsletter
The Westcountry Studies Library Newsletter, including the booklist of recently published materials, is produced bi-monthly. It's aimed at both library staff and members of local history groups and other interested organisations
Currently - as of 30th September 2009 - it's up to issue 5. Read more ...
Currently - as of 30th September 2009 - it's up to issue 5. Read more ...
East Devon pebbles
From the Express & Echo, 29th September 2009: Team makes 'significant' find at ancient pebblebed.
For full background, see the East Devon Pebblebeds Project, "researching the archaeology, history and landscape of East Devon". Read more ...
Archaeologists say they have made a series of spectacular discoveries.
Working at Colaton Raleigh Common in East Devon, they have been excavating two pebble cairns and have found evidence of cremation pyres and the significance of pebbles to Bronze Age people.
For full background, see the East Devon Pebblebeds Project, "researching the archaeology, history and landscape of East Devon". Read more ...
Dartmoor books of William Crossing
As a follow-up to the recent post on Devon & Cornwall Notes & Queries, I find the Internet Archive has a number of works by William Crossing (1847-1928). They are:
* Amid Devonia's alps; or Wanderings and adventures on Dartmoor (1888)
* The land of stream and tor (1891)
* A hundred years on Dartmoor; historical notices on the forest and its purlieus during the nineteenth century (1902)
* Gems in a granite setting; beauties of the lone land of Dartmoor (1905)
* Folk rhymes of Devon; notices of the metrical sayings found in the lore of the people (1911)
* Guide to Dartmoor; a topographical description of the forest and the commons, Volume 1 (1914)
* Guide to Dartmoor; a topographical description of the forest and the commons, Volume 2, (1914)
See Sacred Texts for Tales of the Dartmoor Pixies (1890).
There are a few short online biographies, such as The Legendary William Crossing and that at The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History. Plymouth-born, Crossing lived a precarious life, pursuing his passion for writing and Dartmoor against a backdrop of failed jobs: his dislike of working for his father's sailcloth business (which went bust); a brief seafaring career before he was scared off by a close encounter with an iceberg; a failed venture running a small theatre; and, in old age, a spell in the workhouse. Despite this, he lived until 81, having written around two dozen books. Read more ...
* Amid Devonia's alps; or Wanderings and adventures on Dartmoor (1888)
* The land of stream and tor (1891)
* A hundred years on Dartmoor; historical notices on the forest and its purlieus during the nineteenth century (1902)
* Gems in a granite setting; beauties of the lone land of Dartmoor (1905)
* Folk rhymes of Devon; notices of the metrical sayings found in the lore of the people (1911)
* Guide to Dartmoor; a topographical description of the forest and the commons, Volume 1 (1914)
* Guide to Dartmoor; a topographical description of the forest and the commons, Volume 2, (1914)
See Sacred Texts for Tales of the Dartmoor Pixies (1890).
There are a few short online biographies, such as The Legendary William Crossing and that at The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History. Plymouth-born, Crossing lived a precarious life, pursuing his passion for writing and Dartmoor against a backdrop of failed jobs: his dislike of working for his father's sailcloth business (which went bust); a brief seafaring career before he was scared off by a close encounter with an iceberg; a failed venture running a small theatre; and, in old age, a spell in the workhouse. Despite this, he lived until 81, having written around two dozen books. Read more ...
Devon & Cornwall Notes & Queries
Many readers will be aware of the venerable journal Devon & Cornwall Notes & Queries, still going strong after over a century. A number of early issues can be found at the Internet Archive.
Volume 1, part 1, Jan 1900
Volume 1, Jan 1900 - Oct 1901
Volume 2, Jan 1902 - Oct 1903
Volume 3, Jan 1904 - Oct 1905
Volume 3, parts 5-8, Jan 1905
Volume 4, Jan 1906 - Oct 1907
Volume 9, Jan 1916 - Oct 1917
Volume 11, Jan 1920 - Oct 1921
The metadata is somewhat confusing; there are a few titles with the same Publisher, James G Commin, wrongly listed as editions of the journal. They're interesting nevertheless.
Volume 2, part 2, The Ancient Stone Crosses of Dartmoor and its Borderland by William Crossing (author of "Amid Devonia's Alps", "Tales of the Dartmoor Pixies", "A Hundred Years on Dartmoor", etc), 1902.
Exeter Churches by Beatrix F Cresswell, 1908 ("Notes on the history, fabrics and features of interest in the churches of the deanery of Christianity, Devon").
Volume 4, part 2, The History of Devonshire Scenery: an Essay in Geographical Evolution, by Arthur W Clayden, Principal of the Royal Albert Memorial College, Exeter, 1906
Volume 11, part 2 - The misericords of Exeter Cathedral by Kate M Clarke, 1920. Read more ...
Volume 1, part 1, Jan 1900
Volume 1, Jan 1900 - Oct 1901
Volume 2, Jan 1902 - Oct 1903
Volume 3, Jan 1904 - Oct 1905
Volume 3, parts 5-8, Jan 1905
Volume 4, Jan 1906 - Oct 1907
Volume 9, Jan 1916 - Oct 1917
Volume 11, Jan 1920 - Oct 1921
The metadata is somewhat confusing; there are a few titles with the same Publisher, James G Commin, wrongly listed as editions of the journal. They're interesting nevertheless.
Volume 2, part 2, The Ancient Stone Crosses of Dartmoor and its Borderland by William Crossing (author of "Amid Devonia's Alps", "Tales of the Dartmoor Pixies", "A Hundred Years on Dartmoor", etc), 1902.
Exeter Churches by Beatrix F Cresswell, 1908 ("Notes on the history, fabrics and features of interest in the churches of the deanery of Christianity, Devon").
Volume 4, part 2, The History of Devonshire Scenery: an Essay in Geographical Evolution, by Arthur W Clayden, Principal of the Royal Albert Memorial College, Exeter, 1906
Volume 11, part 2 - The misericords of Exeter Cathedral by Kate M Clarke, 1920. Read more ...
John Stabb updated
Our Newsletter issue 4, August 2009 contains news of Cameron Newham's reprint of Volume 1 of John Stabb's classic work: see DAE Publishing.
Stabb's 1908 book is actually findable online: Dr Roger Peters has transcribed it here. Stabb was an ecclesiologist and photographer who originally worked in London: according to The Victorian and Edwardian city of London from old photographs (James L. Howgego, 1977) in the 1880s-1890s he was one of the best-known photographers of London scenes for the London Stereoscopic and Photographic Company. After moving to Devon, he published between 1908 and 1916 three volumes of Some Old Devon Churches and one of Devon Church Antiquities. He joined the Devonshire Association in 1913. A projected second volume of Devon Church Antiquities didn't happen because of his early death at his home, Clanmarina in Torquay, on August 2nd 1917, aged 52.
Newham's new edition is not merely a reprint:
Judging by the online preview, it looks a very worthy update. Cameron Newham is a photographer and author with a BSc in information technology and geography. He is photographically documenting all of the rural parish churches in England. BBC Devon has a feature about Newham and his project: A photographic labour of love. Read more ...
Stabb's 1908 book is actually findable online: Dr Roger Peters has transcribed it here. Stabb was an ecclesiologist and photographer who originally worked in London: according to The Victorian and Edwardian city of London from old photographs (James L. Howgego, 1977) in the 1880s-1890s he was one of the best-known photographers of London scenes for the London Stereoscopic and Photographic Company. After moving to Devon, he published between 1908 and 1916 three volumes of Some Old Devon Churches and one of Devon Church Antiquities. He joined the Devonshire Association in 1913. A projected second volume of Devon Church Antiquities didn't happen because of his early death at his home, Clanmarina in Torquay, on August 2nd 1917, aged 52.
Newham's new edition is not merely a reprint:
The current set of volumes republishes Stabb's text and sets it alongside hundreds of stunning new colour photographs and updated descriptions from recent visits. Devon is famous for its magnificent mediaeval screens and these are illustrated along with numerous other examples of Devonshire craftsmanship; imposing monuments, ancient fonts, spectacular stained glass, intricately carved woodwork, and the impressive architecture of the churches themselves, set in some of the best landscapes in England.
Judging by the online preview, it looks a very worthy update. Cameron Newham is a photographer and author with a BSc in information technology and geography. He is photographically documenting all of the rural parish churches in England. BBC Devon has a feature about Newham and his project: A photographic labour of love. Read more ...
Newsletter: Issue 4, August 2009
The fourth issue of Devon History News, the newsletter of the Devon History Society, is now in print or available here: Devon History News 4, August 2009 (PDF format).
Contents:
1. Cover
2. Editorial.
3. DHS 40th Anniversary Book Project - contributions are invited! / Notice of AGM.
4. Report on DHS survey of members.
5. Treasurer sought / News from webmaster
6. Spring Meeting Report 2009.
6-8. Plymouth and West Devon Record Office - archivist Sam Johnston gives a brief introduction to its services. See www.plymouth.gov.uk/archives.
8-9. Report on June's History Day, Mortehoe, North Devon.
9-10. Warwick Knowles of the Bradninch History Society reports on research into the company records of WA Nicks Brothers.
11. Devon Churches: news of CB Newham's expanded reprint of John Stabb's classic work. See www.daepublishing.com.
11. Events of Exmouth Historical and Archaeological Society.
12. Events of Honiton History Society.
12. DHS Contacts. Read more ...
Contents:
1. Cover
2. Editorial.
3. DHS 40th Anniversary Book Project - contributions are invited! / Notice of AGM.
4. Report on DHS survey of members.
5. Treasurer sought / News from webmaster
6. Spring Meeting Report 2009.
6-8. Plymouth and West Devon Record Office - archivist Sam Johnston gives a brief introduction to its services. See www.plymouth.gov.uk/archives.
8-9. Report on June's History Day, Mortehoe, North Devon.
9-10. Warwick Knowles of the Bradninch History Society reports on research into the company records of WA Nicks Brothers.
11. Devon Churches: news of CB Newham's expanded reprint of John Stabb's classic work. See www.daepublishing.com.
11. Events of Exmouth Historical and Archaeological Society.
12. Events of Honiton History Society.
12. DHS Contacts. Read more ...
Donor card to help save Devon heritage
From BBC News, Saturday, 26 September 2009, Donor card to help save heritage. This concerns an initiative by the Friends of Devon's Archives to help preserve historical documents that are often discarded on the death of their owners.
... it wants people to leave a Devon Document Donor Card with their papers so that on their death, they can be given to Devon Record Office in Exeter.Read more ...
It says papers of local county value are often binned in house clearances.
The organisation, which was set up in 1998, added that significant items such as old letters, maps, diaries and even recipes were thrown away.
"Too often heirs and executors do not have sufficient time to read through the great accumulation of papers and many important items are unknowingly discarded," a spokesperson for the group said.
"Also, younger family members are often unappreciative of the historic value of material but regret it when they become older and interested in their family's history.
"We hope that the people of Devon will understand that the papers of ordinary people are just as important to save as those of the great families whose papers have generally been secured for the future."
Devon history at JSBlog
The Topsham-based books weblog, JSBlog, has a number of posts with interesting historical / literary / topographical explorations of Devon topics: see Life and death in Budleigh; To Exmouth again; Seaton, slips and Sabine Baring-Gould; and Sidmouth and nearby.
Read more ...
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