MRS Sandra Cooper, chairman of Crediton Area History and Museum Society, recently welcomed Friends of Crediton Museum to a reception in the museum to hear of plans for the future of the museum.

A total of 14 local firms are “Corporate Friends” and their annual contributions ensure the continuance of the museum. In addition, a growing number of individuals, mainly living locally, are Friends too.

The reception was intended as a Thank You to them all for their vital support and to advise them how this small local museum, now in its fifth year, will develop over the next few years.

The Society archivist, John Heal, said that the presence of the museum in Crediton High Street meant that so many more people were coming forward with information and material about the history of the area.

He gave details of several pieces of research that have resulted. An item which brought very much to life the effect of the First World War on the town was a scrapbook of poems, drawings and comments by soldiers who had stayed in the two VAD hospitals in the town, at the hospital site in Western Road and the former Liberal Club in High Street, between 1914 and 1918.

This had been loaned to the museum by a niece of a nursing sister there. A copy is now in the museum archives and it shows graphically how much the soldiers appreciated the help and care they received during their stay, what they thought about their experiences in combat and the impact it had on their lives.

Mr Heal also told of the information provided by a 1922 sale document relating to property in the town then forming part of the Downes estate, home of the Buller family.

The document had been annotated to show the names of purchasers and gave a fascinating insight into what the town looked like then.

Similarly, one of the Society’s volunteers who had been trained in reading early handwriting had been given the opportunity to transcribe an 18th century legal document relating to a property near The Green.

Mr Heal said this gave valuable information about the area before and immediately after the Great Fire of 1743, which had wiped out most of that part of Crediton. The full implications of the information were still being considered.

The Society secretary, David Nation, advised that discussions were going on with the owners of the Old Town Hall in which the museum is housed, and other users to try to ensure that they could make maximum use possible of the space available.

He said that the Society’s collection would enable them to take over the entire building but that wasn’t possible because of the rent that would be involved.

He thanked all Friends and particularly the local firms, for their support as without them, donations by visitors to the museum would be insufficient to cover the overheads.

Anyone interested in becoming a Friend, to ensure the survival of Crediton Museum, is asked to contact David Nation on telephone 01363 774441 or by email: [email protected] .