Activities

Talks

The Topsham Society arranges various talks each winter, this year in November, January, February and March.  These are often given by local speakers and range across a variety of topics.  Recent talks have been “Merchants` Houses in Topsham”, “Who owns Topsham? Who owns Devon, Who owns the World”, “Joseph Conrad – exile, seafarer, writer”, “Barbary Pirates of the 17th Century”, “Fred Karno – Master of Mirth and Tears”.

The talks take place in the Matthews Hall at 7.30 pm.  Doors open at 7.00 when wine, tea, and coffee are available before the presentation, and also during the interval.  Entrance is free to members of the Topsham Society. Non-members are very welcome for a fee of £2.00.  There is also an annual Topsham Lecture in October, arranged jointly with the Topsham Museum Society.  The Topsham Lecture was renamed The Oboussier Lecture in 2008, in honour of the great contribution to both societies by Caroline and Philippe Oboussier.

Programme of Talks Autumn to Spring 2009/2010
Matthews Hall, 7.30 pm

Tuesday 13th October 2009
The Oboussier Lecture
"What's New on the Roman Exe" Professor Valerie Maxfield
Professor in Roman Archaeology, University of Exeter. Professor Maxfield specializes in the archaeology of the Roman Empire in general.  At the Oboussier Lecture, organised jointly by The Topsham Museum Society and The Topsham Society, she will be talking about recent discoveries in the Exeter area.

Tuesday 3rd November  2009
 "The Codebreakers of Bletchley Park 1939 - 1945" Tony Smale
On behalf of the Bletchley Park Trust www.bletchleypark.org.uk
Bletchley Park was once Britain's best kept secret, during WW2, despite thousands of people working there; involved in codebreaking successes which helped save countless lives and shorten the war.

Thursday January 14th 2010
"The Anglo-Saxon Charter of Topsham"
John Allan. On the staff at Exeter Archaeology, John allan is Honorary Curator of the Royal Albert Memorial Museum, and Archaeologist for both Exeter Cathedral and Glastonbury Abbey.

Friday 26th February  2010
"Mrs Charlotte Treadwin - Exeter Lace Maker"   
Carol McFadzean OIDFA , is President of the International Bobbin and Needlelace Organisation, and author of a book to be launched in November about Mrs Treadwin; a leading figure in the history of Devon lace, whose workshop was located at 5 Cathedral Close, Exeter. 

Friday  26th March 2010
“By rail to Exeter”
Amyas Crump is a local railway enthusiast who will entertain us with the story of the arrival of the steam train to Devon and more.

If you have topics which you would be interested in hearing about, or speakers you could recommend, we should be very glad to hear from you. Please contact Chrissie Edginton (01392 873972).

Walks
Informative walking tours of the town are run by Topsham Society guides every Wednesday and Saturday from May to September. These free tours start from Holman Way Car Park at 2pm, with no booking necessary.
Call 01392 873457 for group bookings.

Planning Group
The Society committee includes a Planning Group, including local residents and co-opted experts including architects and environmental consultants, who regularly scrutinise the Exeter City Council planning applications for matters of concern to Topsham, and respond accordingly. This group also arranges for copies of relevent planning applications to be posted in Topsham Library.