About us

About the Dartmouth History Research Group

The Dartmouth History Research Group began in 1991 when Ray Freeman, a local history teacher and author, first brought together people interested in exploring local history. Sadly Ray died on 19 September 2023. A page dedicated to her memory, giving an account of her life and work, can be found here.

Although Ray’s published works had contributed a great deal to the understanding and appreciation of our local history, there was still a lot left to discover. The group agreed to concentrate on research and making historical information about Dartmouth and the surrounding area available to everyone – that remains our focus today.

Under Ray’s leadership, progress was rapid – by the end of 1993 there were ten books in print. To help the growing number of people interested in local and family history, the Group began collecting and transcribing documents such as parish registers and census returns. In 2003, under new Chairman Irene O’Shea, and led by Wally Fleet, longstanding member and later the Group’s third Chairman, the Group began a new project, the development of a website, “The Dartmouth Archives”, bringing together an extensive collection of information and resources, and funded by a generous grant from the Local Heritage Initiative of the Heritage Lottery Fund (and others). The website went live in 2007, enabling people all over the world to discover the history of Dartmouth and the surrounding area. The present website aims to build on that very considerable and remarkable achievement.

Over the years we have made available much family history information including parish registers, census records and burial records. Other activities include transcribing and summarising original records such as property deeds which are a rich source of information on the history of the town. Oral history has also been an important theme and we have taped the memories of older residents and anyone with stories to tell about the past. We have produced many books and articles and contributed to many collaborative projects, working with Dartmouth Museum, Dartmouth Town Council, and other local groups and organisations. Our contribution to Dartmouth’s Mayflower 400 project in 2020 is one recent example.

Perhaps you have memories of life in this part of Devon locked in your head, or longstanding family links to the local area, or other local knowledge? If so, come and join us and help make history! We’re always delighted to welcome new members and value all skills and experience. You can learn as you go along and you don’t need any research qualifications – just enthusiasm, perseverance and an enquiring mind! Members pursue whatever aspects of local history they are interested in, support other members in their research, or get involved in wider DHRG projects. Everyone works in their own way and contributes in whatever way suits them best.

To find out more, come to one of our meetings (see the home page for details) or email us at enquiries@dartmouth-history.org.uk

DHRG on Facebook

100 years ago this week, which was just after Easter, newspapers reported the results of "Egg Day" in local schools:“Dartmouth Cottage Hospital obtained 1558 eggs ... Dartmouth Girls Council School contributed 144, Boys’ School, 150; Infants, 90; Catholic School, 133; Secondary School, 179; Dittisham Church School, 120,; Kingswear School, 111; Stokefleming School, 117; Bedford House School, 127; Broadstone School, 48; Fairview College, 306; and Mrs Woodward’s market basket, 33.”The National Egg Collection for the Wounded began during the Great War. Local branches ran collections and ensured eggs brought in by the public reached local hospitals promptly. The practice continued after the war to help provide a nourishing diet for sick and convalescing patients in local hospitals (and because it was an eggsellent idea ..!)Wishing you all a Happy Easter exploring our local history!#localhistory #discoverdartmouth #Dartmouth ... See MoreSee Less
View on Facebook
If you're in Dartmouth, come and see us for a local history chat on Friday 11 April 2025 in Dartmouth Library, in the Flavel Centre, from 10am to 12noon. We can't promise a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, but we'll do our best to answer your questions about people and events in Dartmouth's rich history, or perhaps we can help you look into your family or house history. We look forward to meeting you!A big thank you to Dartmouth Libr#localhistoryn#Dartmoutha#dartmouthlibraryt#flavelmouthlibrary #flavel ... See MoreSee Less
View on Facebook
One hundred years ago this week Hauley Road was opened for traffic. In fine weather, a large crowd watched the Mayor, Dr H J Campbell, cut the tape.Connecting Newcomen Road to the Embankment, Hauley Road replaced the narrow Burrough’s Slip. Newspapers reported that “the old-fashioned construction of the lower part of the town, with its narrow alleys and roads, has proved a great inconvenience ... with the ever-increasing amount of traffic on the roads, a new thoroughfare to lead to the Quay without using the narrow corner in Fairfax Place was a necessity”. The Town Council had purchased a large block of old property running the whole length of Burrough’s Slip, four years before, and demolished the buildings. The new road was “a very pleasant public thoroughfare with a wide pavement on either side”. The rest of the land was soon to be used for shops and for building the Hospital extension.Though the road was very much a modernising improvement, the Town Council chose to name it after John Hawley d1408, Dartmouth's most prominent medieval resident. He may well have known the buildings demolished to make way for the road named after him!#dartmouth #localhistory #discoverdartmouth #devoninthe1920s ... See MoreSee Less
View on Facebook
Here’s a question on International Women’s Day. How many women are remembered in Dartmouth’s street names? If we discount Britannia Avenue, named (presumably) for HMS Britannia, the answer seems to be only one - Queen Victoria. She visited Dartmouth on several occasions, the first time as a girl, in 1833. When she became Queen in 1837, Victoria Place, newly built at the time, was named for her accession.Ten years later she and her husband Prince Albert paid a brief call in the Royal Yacht Victoria and Albert; and in 1846 they stopped overnight in the harbour due to bad weather. Victoria wrote in her journal that Dartmouth reminded her of “the beautiful Rhine”, a phrase much used afterwards to promote the town to visitors. Her fourth visit was in August 1856, again in the yacht. After an official reception, the Royal Party toured choice coastal viewpoints by carriage. The Royal Yacht remained overnight, with all the houses illuminated by candlelight. Dartmouth Regatta was due to start so she donated a prize of £25; and from then on, it was the Royal Regatta. The whole visit was front page news in the Dartmouth Chronicle. But it was not until her Diamond Jubilee, in 1897, that the New Road (completed in 1826) was renamed Victoria Road, in her honour. #dartmouth #localhistory #internationalwomensdayPhoto left, the listed street name on the old medical centre marks Victoria Place, and photo right, Victoria Road, looking east towards the town centre. ... See MoreSee Less
View on Facebook
In medieval tradition, Valentine’s Day marked the onset of spring, when birds chose their mates. In the 1600s, friends met on the evening of 13 February to draw valentines in lotteries, and exchange messages and gifts.The modern practice of sending valentine cards developed in the 1790s, when many new types of paper goods were invented, including greetings cards. By the mid-1800s thousands of cards were sent every year through the post. In 1869, the Western Times reported that, in Dartmouth, “more than 500 valentines were delivered by the postmen on Sunday morning.” Advertisements in the Dartmouth Chronicle (which you can see on our website) show that, at Cranford’s Library (now Kendrick’s Restaurant) you could find “a large, elegant and carefully selected stock”. Children sent “floral and fairy valentines” and those less romantically inclined could buy comic ones. Every year Cranford advertised fashionable new stock prominently in his newspaper. In 1884 his offering included “Prang’s American” valentines. Louis Prang was an American lithographer who became well known for high quality greetings cards. The example illustrated is from the New York Public Library. Wishing you all a very Happy Valentine’s Day tomorrow!#dartmouth #localhistory ... See MoreSee Less
View on Facebook