THE name Zeal Monachorum always arouses curiosity and explanations rarely disappoint.

A little off the beaten track the place lives up to expectations with a history going back before King Edgar in 974 and a village which shows off it’s years with, among other things, thatched cottages, an ancient church, and the former school built in 1850.

Anyone who chose to have a stroll around would be particularly lucky on Saturday, July 18 as then they would find a rare showing, for one afternoon only, of an exhibition about the Parish and its history coming right up to the present day.

Norman Vicary and Nick Burgess unveiling the Zeal Village Sign after renovations in 2006.
Norman Vicary and Nick Burgess unveiling the Zeal Village Sign after renovations in 2006. (Erica Eden)

Alongside it, traditional Devon Cream Teas will be served, all to be enjoyed in the former school which is now the Village Hall.

The Hall itself is celebrating 70 years since the community got together to raise the money to buy the building and have run it ever since as a charity. For those who like a challenge they can complete a quiz paper where all the answers can be found in the exhibition.

Erica Eden, who has lived in the village for over 40 years, has put the exhibition together from the Archive she started collecting back in the 1990s.

She says how grateful she is that over time local people have contributed photos, documents and their reminiscences of their own lives living in Zeal.

The Archive now has nearly 600 photos from the late 1800s to the 1970s and since then.

Erica welcomes more material, so if you find Zeal related items when clearing out the attic or going through the photo albums please get in touch.

Contact Erica on 01363 82606 or mobile 07729 086623 or email: [email protected]

The Archive Exhibition and Cream Teas will run from 2pm to 5pm, admission by donation.