THE next fund-raising event in support of the Holy Cross Crediton Campaign Roof Appeal will be an illustrated talk by Richard Holladay on Monday, November 19.

Taking place in the Boniface Centre, Church Lane, Crediton, Richard’s talk is entitled “Garton and King Exeter’s oldest business, 300 years of history”.

The talk will begin promptly at 7.30pm. Richard’s family was involved with the Garton and King foundry business from 1898 until 1990.

Garton and King have a traceable history back to 1661 and for much of the time since, and unusually for a foundry where located in the middle of Exeter in Waterbear Street, roughly where Woolworths used to be in the Guildhall Centre.

The foundry used to make a wide range of items which included large gear wheels, gratings, man hole covers, cistern heads and pulleys.

There will certainly be examples of some of their work right under your feet as you walk around in Crediton!

The foundry relocated to Tan Lane Exeter in 1939 where a triangular shaped piece of land was purchased from the Great Western Railway Company for the sum of £550.

Crucially for a foundry this piece of land was thought to be above the flood plain and this proved correct in the Exeter floods of the 1950’s and 1960’s.

Anyone wishing to wet their appetite in advance of the talk should visit: www.exeterfoundry.org.uk .

Admission to the talk is £6 and includes light refreshments.

During the evening tickets will be on sale for the Gala Concert on the Sunday evening of the forthcoming Holy Cross Christmas Tree Festival when the church is most fortunate to be able to welcome Dame Felicty Lott (international soprano) with Sebastian Wybrew (piano) and Vice Admiral Duncan Potts (guest speaker). Tickets will be available at £25, £15, £12 and £10 (no direct view).