Social History Historic Events
Russian Decoration for Dartmouth Man First World War 20thC
DHRG No. 100145
Document Held: Newspaper Article. Harry Langmead, first-class petty officer blacksmith on board H.M.S. Jupiter received from the Czar of Russia silver medal For Zeal, with a ribbon, and also the Order of St. Anne, These decorations were awarded by the Emperor of All the Russias in appreciation of services rendered by the ship's company from February to May, 1915, during which period the Jupiter salved a large steamship which went ashore.
Russian Decoration for Dartmouth Man First World War Military Royal Navy 20thC
DHRG No. 102662
Document Held: Newspaper Article
Harry Langmead, first-class petty officer blacksmith on board H.M.S. Jupiter received from the Czar of Russia silver medal ''For Zeal,'' with a ribbon, and also the Order of St. Anne, These decorations were awarded by the Emperor of All the Russia’s in appreciation of services rendered by the ship's company from February to May, 1915, during which period the Jupiter salved a large steamship which went ashore.
Harry Langmead, first-class petty officer blacksmith on board H.M.S. Jupiter received from the Czar of Russia silver medal ''For Zeal,'' with a ribbon, and also the Order of St. Anne, These decorations were awarded by the Emperor of All the Russia’s in appreciation of services rendered by the ship's company from February to May, 1915, during which period the Jupiter salved a large steamship which went ashore.
Pilot’s Rescue, 1940 Harbour Activities Military Port of Dartmouth Royal Navy Second World War 20thC
DHRG No. 102674
This contribution from the Dartmouth History Research Group, by Capt. Robert Franks, is about more recent times and concerns the rescue of an aircraft pilot in 1940 and the subsequent salvage of the aircraft’s engine in the 1980’s.
HMT Finesse: A Hero’s Tale Harbour Activities Military Port of Dartmouth Royal Navy Second World War 20thC
DHRG No. 102675
During the Second World War the river Dart was the base for a fleet of trawlers which were converted into minesweepers. This story of an eventful day on HMT Finesse in 1942 was told to the Dartmouth History Research Group by Mr. Frederick Jenkins, now of Cardiff.
Certificate of Service, WW I First World War 20thC
DHRG No. 102728
Image of certificate given to Austin Drake, example of certificates given by Borough of Dartmouth to those who served in the forces during the First World War.
Names on Dartmouth War Memorial, Royal Avenue Gardens First World War Second World War 20thC
DHRG No. 102730
List of all those named on the War Memorial in the Royal Avenue Gardens Dartmouth including civilians. Covers 1914 - 1919, 1939 - 1945 and later conflicts.
For more information on those who died in the First World War see www.dartmouthgreatwarfallen.org.uk and DHRG No 103086 on this website.
For more information on those who died in the Second World War see DHRG publication 40, When War Came to the Dart, chapter 8.
The Wilton Memorial to Dartmouth Men who fell in the Great War 1914-1919. Commercial First World War Residential 20thC
DHRG No. 102731
Images of booklet on the history of the Wilton Memorial, endowed by Sir Thomas Wilton, Mayor of Dartmouth 1914-1919.
Author not given, published 1930.
Endowment covered Cromwell House, Fairfax Place, and two residential houses in Victoria Road. Details given in booklet.
Witches of Dartmouth 1601-1602 17thC
DHRG No. 102734
Article by Todd Gray about a series of depositions of alleged witchcraft in Dartmouth.
With thanks to Devon and Cornwall Notes and Queries for making the above available.
With thanks to Devon and Cornwall Notes and Queries for making the above available.
A Brief History of Dartmouth
DHRG No. 102735
A brief history of the town from before the arrival of the Normans in 1066 until recent times.
See also Significant dates in Dartmouths history.
See also Significant dates in Dartmouths history.
Town’s Charter of Incorporation 1604 Documents Town Administration 17thC
DHRG No. 102737
Transcription of the Charter of Incorporation granted by James I on 3rd August 1604.
Charters of the Borough of Clifton Dartmouth Hardness Documents Town Administration 14thC 15thC 16thC 17thC
DHRG No. 102738
Image of illuminated scroll listing the Charters granted to the Borough of Clifton Dartmouth Hardness from 1341 to 1674.
Kings & Queens of England
DHRG No. 102740
Dates of reigns of Kings & Queens of England, Egbert-Elizabeth II.
Report on the Borough of Dartmouth 1835 19thC
DHRG No. 102744
Dartmouth Paper 3 by Tom Jaine. Transcript of Parliamentary Commissioners' Report on Municipal Corporations in England and Wales, Dartmouth, 1835, with notes and commentary.
Included here with the kind permission of Tom Jaine, Allaleigh House, Blackawton.
Included here with the kind permission of Tom Jaine, Allaleigh House, Blackawton.
Loyal Address to George V 20thC
DHRG No. 102751
Loyal Address of Borough of Dartmouth to George V at his Silver Jubilee, 1935 (image)
Dartmouth MPs 13thC 14thC 15thC 16thC 17thC 18thC 19thC 20thC 21stC
DHRG No. 102754
A history of MPs for Dartmouth since 1289 by Eric Preston, DHRG, and published in the Dartmouth Chronicle in 2010. Includes a list of all known local MP's to that date.
The Coleridge Hundred and its Medieval Courts 11thC 12thC 13thC 14thC 15thC
DHRG No. 102755
Paper by Heather Burwin, prepared and written as part of the requirement for an honours degree in law at Exeter University, 1982. Coleridge Hundred included Dartmouth and Totnes.
Image of £1 banknote, Dartmouth Bank 19thC
DHRG No. 102928
early 19th C banknote from Dartmouth General Bank, 1810-1824.
Memories of two London evacuees to Dittisham Dittisham Second World War Villages 20thC
DHRG No. 102966
Memories of two London evacuees to Dittisham during the Second World War, Henry Robert Butt and Leslie (Jock) Harper.
WWII Air raids Dartmouth and District Second World War 20thC
DHRG No. 102987
Extracts from a diary kept by Mrs Ivy Sams of Dartmouth of air raids in the area from 6th July 1940 to 30th June 1943.
Dartmouth Magnificat 15thC
DHRG No. 102991
Extract from article of 1958 by musicologist Thurston Dart (1921-1971) on the Dartmouth Magnificat, a polyphonic setting which appears on four folios of the Borough Court Book 2 Richard III to 3 Henry VIII, held at the Devon Heritage Centre. Thurston Dart dated the work to the late 15th century.
St Clements & the English Civil War English Civil War 17thC
DHRG No. 102992
Letter from Ray Freeman in reply to a query asking about bullet marks on the tower of the church, also containing information on vicars and burial records. (See Burial Records)
A Brief History of Dartmouth
DHRG No. 102993
A brief history of the town from before the arrival of the Normans in 1066 until recent times.See also Significant dates in Dartmouth's history.
Formation of No 1 Commando Military Royal Marines Second World War 20thC
DHRG No. 103004
Formation of the first Commando unit WWII at Dartmouth in March 1941, commanded by Lt. Col. W Glendinning.
Poll Tax 1377, Dartmouth 14thC
DHRG No. 103008
Article on the 1377 poll tax in Dartmouth, with full transcript of list of tax payers, by Maryane Kowaleski. With grateful thanks for permission.
Thomas Newcomen Bill for Gunpowder – transcript English Civil War Family History Named Families 17thC
DHRG No. 103013
Transcript of invoice for expenses claimed by Thomas Newcomen (grandfather of inventor) following a journey to London to purchase gunpowder for the Borough of Dartmouth, 1642 (see 102046).
Town Regalia: The Silver Oar Documents Town Administration 18thC 19thC 20thC
DHRG No. 103031
Photograph of Capt. Maunder with Dartmouth Corporation's Silver Oar. In 1721 a Silver Oar was presented to the Mayor & Corporation of Dartmouth by the then Duke of Cornwall, later George II, as a symbol of their rights as holders of the Bailiwick of the waters of Dartmouth. Taken back in the 1870s, it was restored in 1911 in a presentation by the Prince of Wales.
Dartmouth’s own car builder Harry Inder 19thC 20thC
DHRG No. 103053
Harry Inder designer and builder the first motor cars in Dartmouth in 1898
Dartmouth_WW1_Dead First World War 20thC
DHRG No. 103086
Information on the many men commemorated in Dartmouth who died during the First World War. More information about each individual can be found on www.dartmouthgreatwarfallen.org.uk.
Acton Evacuees 1939-1942 Education Second World War 20thC
DHRG No. 103087
On Friday 1st September 1939 children from Acton Central School and other Acton schools boarded a train at Acton main line station for Kingsbridge in Devon. The Girls remained there while the boys (with two of their sisters) were accommodated in Dartmouth. War with Germany was declared two days later. The school remained in Dartmouth and Kingsbridge until 1942.
WWI Certificate First World War 20thC
DHRG No. 103120
Image of Certificate given by the Dartmouth Town Council to those who served in the forces during WWI
Dartmouth Castle Garrison Army Military Second World War 20thC
DHRG No. 103124
Names of Army personnel at the Dartmouth Castle garrison during WWII listed on an old duty roster.
WWII Castle Garrison Army Military Second World War 20thC
DHRG No. 103129
Names of Army personnel serving at Dartmouth Castle during WWII as remembered by Daisy Fleet & Caroline Hunt daughters of George & Selina Gunnell who lived in the old lighthouse during that period.
Significant events in dartmouth
DHRG No. 103140
A time line listing important events in Dartmouths past
From the early Eighth Century until 1949.
From the early Eighth Century until 1949.
Thomas Newcomen, Bill for Gunpowder English Civil War Family History Named Families Newcomen Family 17thC
DHRG No. 102046
Document Held: Devon Heritage Centre.
Original invoice for expenses claimed by Thomas Newcomen (grandfather of inventor) following a journey to London to purchase gunpowder for the Borough of Dartmouth, 1642 (see 103013).
Original invoice for expenses claimed by Thomas Newcomen (grandfather of inventor) following a journey to London to purchase gunpowder for the Borough of Dartmouth, 1642 (see 103013).
Harry Inder – An Inventive Life Harry Inder 19thC 20thC
DHRG No. 103195
Harry Inder is recognised in Dartmouth as inventor of the town's first motor car. But that's not Harry's only achievement. Barry Inder, his grandson, has been researching Harry's wider contribution to Dartmouth's shipbuilding and engineering history, and his other significant inventions.
Royal Jubilees in Dartmouth 19thC 20thC 21stC
DHRG No. 103194
To mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee in 2022, DHRG has researched the history of Royal Jubilees and how they were celebrated in Dartmouth.
Memories of War Second World War
DHRG No. 103187
Preliminary draft of DHRG publication number 16, "Memories of War, by local people at home and abroad, 1939-1946", compiled by Ray Freeman in 1995. Contains many accounts by local people of their wartime experiences, both in Dartmouth and elsewhere in the world during the Second World War. Copy of final publication held in Dartmouth Library.