Activities

Talks
The Topsham Society arranges three talks each winter, usually in November, February and March. These are often given by local speakers and range across a variety of topics. Recent talks have been 'Cotes de Topsham - from vineyards to nurseries', 'Conservation Areas - their purpose, protection and appraisal', 'Local flood protection measures', 'Wilberforce and the slave trade', 'Aspects of the history of Countess Wear', and 'Islam in the early history of Western Europe'.

The talks take place in the Matthew's Hall at 7.30 p.m. There is usually an interval during the talk, during which wine and tea or coffee are served.

Entrance is free to members of the Topsham Society. Non-members are very welcome to come, for a fee of £1.00.

There is also an annual Topsham Lecture in October, arranged jointly with the Topsham Museum. The talk in 2007 was given by David Clement, the Chairman of the Topsham Museum Society, on the remarkable life and inventions of Captain Peacock, one of whose boats, Cygnet, the tender to his pleasure launch, Swan, is on display at the museum.

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.

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 Frances Nieduszynska (01392 877071).