Colyton Heritage Centre

12/06/2026

27/04/2026

REMINDER - JIM CAUSLEY will be appearing at Colyton Town Hall Tuesday 28 April at 2.30 pm. All welcome.

26/02/2026

Restoring Shute Church for the future and what will the future be?

Bijan Omrani will be giving a talk on Restoring Shute Church where restoration work will begin soon at 1.45 pm on Thursday 5 March at Umborne Hall. All welcome - visitors £4 to include refreshments and a raffle ticket.

25/02/2026

Colyton Chamber of Feoffees - making a difference since 1546

24/02/2026

REMINDER
CPHS' first talk of the year on 101 years of Colyton Library by William Mearns is this afternoon at 2.30 pm at the Town Hall. All welcome. Members £2 and Visitors £4

08/02/2026

Colyton Ghosts?

If anyone is interested in helping with some general historical research we are curious to know about Colyton ghosts! Do you know of any? Is there a story of ghostly activity which has come down through your family? Has anyone in your family experienced a ghostly siting or odd goings on in their home or the town? If so – please do tell us we’d love to know! Send any stories or oral history accounts to me [email protected]

Attached is an article from the Midweek Herald written in 2017 which contains a helpful resume of a number of local Colyton ghost stories. Do you know more?

Reference - East Devon’s ghostly residents | Midweek Herald

08/02/2026

Colyton Houses Through Time community project

We have had an amazing response to this project since we launched it in January and now have over 50 members researching the history of some forty houses in Colyton, Colyford and Seaton! Thank you to everyone who has joined up – your enthusiasm is inspiring! We are really looking forward to seeing the results of everyone’s labours and to learning more about the history and community of Colyton.

If anyone else thinks they would like to research the history of their house or is happy to help someone else do so then please do speak to Claire Ross ([email protected]), Sarah Humphries ([email protected]), or me - Sarah Charman ([email protected]).

Sarah Humphries is running regular sessions in the Heritage Centre on Saturday mornings (10.30 am to 12.30 pm) for researchers to drop in with any questions they may have and Claire Ross is happy to help people get to grips with online sources such as Ancestry.com I am happy to help with any general queries and particularly about the Feoffees.

Our next Houses Through Time project monthly meeting is at 10.00 am to 12 noon Saturday 14 February in the Sunday School Building where John Forrester Addie will be available to answer questions. (PLEASE NOTE This means Sarah Humphries will not be in the Heritage Centre next Saturday morning as she will be at the project meeting in the Sunday School building.)

Reference - BBC Two - A House Through Time

08/02/2026

In Memoriam - Cathy Ilsley

Mrs Marian Sydenham, Chairman of Colyton Parish History Society said today: “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of one of our longstanding members, Cathy Ilsley.
“We remember Cathy’s support and contribution to the Colyton Parish History Society with great appreciation. Cathy was an active member for many years, as well as being Secretary 2004–2007,and a committee member. Her extensive research into local businesses and trades within Colyton over the centuries is an important resource held in our archive at the Heritage Centre. It is consulted on a regular basis both by researchers and visitors alike seeking to trace family history.
“On behalf of the Colyton Parish History Society, the Committee would like to convey their condolences to Mike Ilsley and their families. A service will be held in St Andrew’s Church on Friday, 13 February at 1.30pm. “