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News

We are very pleased to announce the publication of a short book by our curator, Tina Kelly, about the history of Whimple's Congregational Church, which was operational for nearly 100 years between 1862-1973. Read about its origins in the religious turmoil of the Reformation, its involvement with missionary work in the South Pacific, and the tragic life of its most popular Minister, Rev. Thomas Redler. Copies can be purchased from our shop during normal opening hours, or through our online shop hosted by the Devon Museums website HERE.

We are thrilled that the September 2024 issue of One Magazine contains an article featuring a Whimple Orchard Walk terminating at the Heritage Centre and taking in lots of Whimple's cider making history along the way. The magazine is delivered free to addresses around Exeter and East Devon, but if you did not get one then it can be viewed by following the link Advertise your business in Exeter - ONE Magazine (one-mag.co.uk) and scrolling down.

 In March 2024 we hosted a group from the Exeter and East Devon branch of CAMRA at the Heritage Centre. We are very pleased to say that they enjoyed their visit, and you can read more about it in a review by one of their members in the centenary 'Summer' edition of their quarterly magazine, ExeAle, available here Exe Ale Magazine - latest - Exeter & East Devon CAMRA.

One of our new displays for 2024 is about the making of traditional farmhouse clotted cream by farmers' wives in Whimple during the first half of the twentieth century. One of our trustees, Margaret Burrough, comes from a long line of clotted cream producers. In 2011 Margaret appeared in episode 9 of the BBC TV series, Edwardian Farm, demonstrating the art of making traditional farmhouse clotted cream. You can watch the episode in which she appears by following the link Watch Edwardian Farm - YouTube (Margaret features 23mins 50 secs into the episode)

 We have been very busy at the Whimple Heritage Centre over the winter changing our displays. Our theme for the year is 'Women of Whimple', and our new displays focus on the often overlooked history of women's lives.  From lace makers to land girls, from dairymaids to factory workers and wassail queens, our displays tell their stories.

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  • Come and see our new display explaining the folklore behind the Whimple wassail with wassail costumes, sheet music of Devon folk songs, and rarely seen footage of a 1927 wassail at Whiteway's Cyder orchards.
     

  • Learn about Whimple's most famous twentieth century resident - a trailblazing woman who rose to the top of her profession as a world renowned puppeteer, and her most popular creation beloved by a generation of children, Muffin the Mule.
     

  • To coincide with the 80th anniversary of D-Day, find out more about Whimple's role during World War II as the location of a Women's Land Army training centre.

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