Monthly Archives: March 2017

Barnstaple Museum Exhibition : The Life & Times of Manning’s Pit

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EPSON MFP imageThe recent application to build houses on the much-loved Manning’s Pit has prompted a great deal of activity in Pilton.

The closing date of 16th March for comments on the application ‘to build up to 43 dwellings’ on the fields behind Lynbro Road resulted in over 250 objections, a clear demonstration of the passion of Pilton people for Manning’s Pit.  The Friends of Manning’s Pit are putting on an exhibition in Barnstaple Museum from 1st April to 20th May entitled ‘The Life and Times of Manning’s Pit’.  In addition to The Pilton Story’s small collection of stories it has gathered together contemporary material from the 19th century, when the Manning family lived in Pilton and are thought to have kept cattle on the land we now know as Manning’s Pit.

Don’t miss the chance to see it.  It’s free and the museum is open from 10am until 5pm Monday to Saturday.

WWI Memorial Plaque for Rotary Gardens

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A memorial plaque is planned for a plinth in Rotary Gardens, Pilton, next year to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the end of World War One.

Memorial Plinth in Rotary Gardens

Memorial Plinth in Rotary Gardens

North Devon Council is appealing for people to come forward with stories, pictures or letters back home of any men or women from the Pilton area who served, fought and survived or of one of the 39 men who lost their lives in the war.

Martin Haddrill of The Pilton Story said “Pilton, the original settlement of Barnstaple, has a great sense of history as shown by the success of the heritage archive ‘The Pilton Story’.  Before it is too late, we hope to collect stories of some of the men and women from Pilton who fought in World War I and, in some cases, did not return.   Their stories will be told on the fourth plinth in the centre of Rotary Gardens.  We already have three stories but would love some more”.  If anyone has any information they would like to share, please contact the parks department on 01271 388326 or email parks@northdevon.gov.uk or The Pilton Story on 01271 371121.