Whiddon Parishes Magazine - October/November 2013

Castle Drogo – Inside OutHi again everyone.All is going really well up at the castle. The first meeting of the youth panel is due to take place in September and thenew viewing tower should be open for visitors by the time this issue comes out. We continue to get great feedbackfrom our visitors and work to stop water getting in to the fabric of the building is well and truly underway.2014 will be an important year for us. Not only will we be more confident in being open as a building site right fromthe start of the season but we will also be getting ready to commemorate the centenary of the start of the First WorldWar. We are doing an oral history project to gather as much info as possible about the men who were building thecastle at the time and what happened when war was declared. Erica, our volunteer Research Co-ordinator, will tellyou more.Castle Drogo during World War 1 1914 – 1918At the start of the war there were many workmen at Castle Drogo who were eligible to be called up to fight. We havebeen trying to find who went to war and what happened to them. Because many WW1 service records were lostduring the 2 nd World War it hasn’t been easy. We are asking for help from people in the area who may know thatsome of their relatives worked at Castle Drogo and also went off to war. Do you have a relative who was on theworkforce but also served in the army or navy, or even the early years of what became the RAF? Do you havephotos and service records? If so we would love to hear from you. Here are some examples of the sort of thing wehave so far been able to find out so far:A.J. Bennett – There is an Arthur Bennett on the Chagford War Memorial but our Drogo records never show firstnames so we do not know if this Bennett is one who worked at Drogo or not. The A J Bennett mentioned in theCommonwealth War Graves Commission was the son of Emma and Henry Bennett. Did this Bennett work at Drogo?Do you know of him?W.G. Arscott - We think that in this case we may have the right one but you may know more. William George Arscottwas in the Devonshire Regiment and died aged 24 in 1918 in Greece, where he is buried. His father was ThomasArscott of Netherton, Drewsteignton. Do you know of him? Was he a great uncle perhaps? Do you have photos?If you think you can help us please get in touch with me, Erica Williamson, Volunteer Research Co-ordinator, CastleDrogo Erica.Williamson@nationaltrust.org.ukPeople have always been very generous with stories of friends and family who worked at Drogo. In this case, we arespecifically looking at the people who built Drogo. Please get in touch with Erica if you have a story to share.As always, I hope that many of you will get a chance to pop up and see how things are going. Best wishes,PaulaCommunity Engagement Officer, Castle Drogo01647 434130, paula.clarke@nationaltrust.org.ukFungi foray: Sunday 20 October, 10am–12.30pm. Join an experienced mycologist finding and identifying the widerange of fungi on the Castle Drogo estate. £5 per adult, £2 per child. Booking essential on 01647 433306Medieval Gardens Workshop with Judith Richardson-Dawes. Friday 18 October 10.30am - 4.pm. What were theenclosed gardens of Medieval England like? Journey with Judith through herbals and prayer books and create agreeting inspired by medieval gardens, gild your work with fine gold. Expert tuition and specialist materials provided.Cost £35 includes coffees and lunch. Booking essential 01647 433306.Hallowe’en Trail: Saturday 26 October - Sunday 3 November, 11am–4pm Follow the spooky trail around thegarden and grounds to learn about hallowe’en customs and traditions. £1.50 per trail (includes prize) Normaladmission prices apply.Hans Memling ~ Between History and Legend, Lecture Lunch with Judith Richardson-Dawes. Friday 15 thNovember, 11am-3pm. Cost £22 includes coffees and lunch. Journey into the medieval landscape of Hans Memling.Explore his mystic images and his ethereal Madonnas and unlock the symbolism of the Middle Ages. An in depthlook at two paintings. Booking essential 01647 433306 or 01392 438273. Email castledrogo@nationaltrust.org.uk44