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Branscombe Image Library
Branscombe residents turn 'House Detectives'
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Branscombe residents turn 'House Detectives'
Location: Devon
November 2002
Branscombe's residents have turned 'house detective' in an effort to link names from the past with families of the present.
The war memorial at St Keverne in Cornwall and the graveyard in Branscombe both show surnames that are shared by current residents, offering an insight into the history of both the individual families and the whole community.
Branscombe’s local school took part in an investigation of local shops and trades by creating a project about the village post office, where many of the children would buy sweets on their way home. When the shopkeeper died, this became a very special memorial to him and tribute to his part in village life.
Another part of the multi-faceted Branscombe Project found common ground between long term residents and newcomers to a Devon village by exploring the human history of local houses, prompting “house detectives” to create exhibitions of text, pictures and artefacts that illustrated bygone lifestyles.
An unexpected spin-off has been the new found interest in sympathetic house restoration. This sort of approach can also encourage a greater sensitivity towards home improvements, so that when changes are made they are more likely to respect the historic character and purposes of a country cottage rather than simply imposing modern styles.
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