Kingsnympton Video Archive
The video archive started as an idea during the Covid lockdowns. I had spent a lot of time in Kingsnympton during my childhood, and realised that my memories were of a way of life that is vanishing fast. The highlight was harvest time, when all the kids in the village would work first for one farm, then another, bringing in the harvest. It as very labour intensive in those days, and a real community activity. I also remembered shops and businesses that are long gone, and village `characters' that came from a long line of Kingsympton families.
Not everyone has felt comfortable appearing in front of the camera, but I am hugely grateful to those who have done so - I think there is a real value to preserving these memories in the words (and accents!) of those who lived them.
The personal recollections go right back to the 1930s, but of course you can go back even further when you ask people to recall the stories their parents and grandparents told them!
I have also been adding interviews with people who have interesting backstories to tell, for a series in Nympton News that I call Hinterland - those are also listed below, as is a link to the interviews that Anthea Sanders and I did on people's recollections of Queen Elizabeth IIs Cornation, for the Platinum Jubilee.
I am keen to keep expanding the archive, so if you know of family members who would be happy to talk to me, do let me know!
A list of those I have spoken to appears below - just click on their name to go to their page
Section 1 – interviews with people who grew up in the village in the early part of the 20th century, with first hand accounts going right back to the 1930s, and family histories going back even further. The farming, the community, the school, social events, characters, shops and businesses
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Two village stalwarts – Bryant sadly no longer with us – chatting in the pub about their memories of the village from the 60s and 70s.
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Roland interviewed about his personal recollections of village life, including running the pub
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Bryant’s memories of village life, including the farming community.
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Lloyd was born and still lives at Frenchstone Farm, near Georgenympton. Memories include the war years, and old farming practises
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History of the Short family, originally of North Close, then The Square and Glendale, where her father ran a chicken processing business. Includes the arrival of electricity in the village for the first time!
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A comparative youngster, but with great memories of Spittle Farm, the Down family, and James Ravilious’s visits to photograph the harvest
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Early years at Oakwell Farm, including the long walk to the school bus aged just 5 – and memories of running Oakwell Farm with her late husband Stuart
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Son of the village shopkeeper in Bishops Nympton. Memories of trainspotting on the now defunct line at Molland, sidecar racing, and working as projectionist at the old cinema in South Molton
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Born in the same house she now lives in – at Cawsey’s Meethe. Recollections of bell-ringing and pub darts teams.
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Arthurs memories of growing up on an Exmoor Hill Farm, and Norma’s of childhood at Down Farm, which she inherited and went on to run with Arthur
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Arthur is our oldest contributor, born in 1931. Memories of pre-mechanised farming. Wendy was brought up in Tawstock and Barnstaple, and had to adapt to farm life when she and Arthur married.
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Daughter of the village post master and mistress. Stories of travelling to Barnstaple Grammar school by steam train
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Fascinating family history and tales of his father Fred, one of the great village characters in the 60s and 70s.
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Great stories of farming life in the 70s and 80s, and a school career where the cane was not spared!
Section 2
Hinterland – interviews with familiar village figures about their less well-known backstories
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Both interviewed about their photographic trips to remote rural Romania.
Daryl interviewed about his former career as a professional jockey
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Talks about his career as an amateur racing driver, competing at all the great European Grand Prix tracks
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Pilot of the Devon Air Ambulance – talks about growing up on Exmoor, serving in the Blues and Royals alongside Robert Smallbone, and flying covert night-time missions behind enemy lines in the military, before becoming an air ambulance pilot.
Section 3
Archive films
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Archive material supplied by the Goviers – includes school celebrations in the 70s, and footage of various gang-show style events at the Parish Hall in the 80s
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Villagers who were alive at the time of Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation share their memories – of being in London for the event, of watching tv for the first time, and the parties!
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The Death of Queen Elizabeth II
How the village marked the death of QEII
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New Church Spire
A documentary by Ian Damms about the replacement of the shingles on the church spire.
