Plym Valley Heritage Chair Report September 2026
Our Speaker on Thursday July 16th 2026 was Hilary Bracegirdle. Hilary has enjoyed a career as a curator at several museums including the V and A in London, the National Horse Racing Museum in Newmarket, and the Royal Cornwall Museum in Truro. She has also held several roles at The Box in Plymouth.
As an author she has mainly published books on horse racing, but her talk for PVH focussed on her new book, “Beryl Cook: Life and Art” due for publication this month. Hilary explained how the book contains images from local artist Beryl Cook’s work, plus personal papers, photographs and letters from her family archive. Hilary also shared insights into Beryl’s methods and inspiration.
Our meeting on Thursday 20th August was a visit to Ford Park Cemetery. Our guide was Alan Bricknell and he was accompanied by other volunteers from Ford Park Cemetery Trust. The cemetery which covers 34 acres in the heart of Plymouth was established in 1848 and has been owned and managed by the trust since the year 2000.
Our visit concentrated on the stories behind the graves of some notable Plymouth residents. These included Joseph Spooner, founder of Spooners Department Store, Mabel Ramsey, pioneering female surgeon, Ann Farley, creator of Farley’s Rusks and Sergeant Bennett, Plymouth’s first policeman killed in the line of duty.
We were also able to visit the Victorian chapel and see the memorial to the Plymouth citizens who were killed in World War 2.
PVH COMMUNITY INTERPRETATION BOARDS
Our current community project is to design and supply two interpretation boards. One for Hooe Barn, the other for Hooe Green.
Their aim is to explain and inform about the history in their immediate area
These will be A1 size (59.4cms x 84.1cms) wall mounted in a stainless steel frame with full colour artwork encapsulated in Resin.
That for the Barn will be wall mounted, the one for the Green is lectern style.
To date the project has been supported by Cllr. Rebecca Smith MP and
Cllr. Kathy Watkin.
We have permission from the Barn owner to mount a board on the West wall and we are awaiting permission from PCC re the Hooe Green board.
Meanwhile design work is proceeding and we have arrived at this final draft which has been sent to a selection of board manufucturers.
Further information will be posted here as things develop.
The PLYMSTOCK TAPESTRIES
This website is now hosting a virtual view of the tapestries. Click here
Visit Plymstock Library to enjoy the real thing!