Tiverton Civic Society

22/10/2026

Can you help us make our water testing more accurate?
Friends of the River Exe is after volunteers with experience of laboratory test work

Our FBI team currently tests the quality of water every two weeks at Exmouth and Lympstone for faecal contamination affecting bathing water sites, using Bactiquick to get a rapid result 15 minutes after taking a sample. This method produces a test result for Endotoxin Risk Level which measures the level of dangerous Gram Negative group of Faecal Bacteria and we post the results on a WhatsApp group, FORE’s page and in future on a new web-site to be launched this autumn.

The plan is to validate our BACTIQUICK measurements by also taking samples to test in a o mini-lab (to be established), using the low-cost method PETRIFILM method from Neogen. To do this we would like to recruit one or more volunteers who can help establish and manage a small lab dedicated to PETRIFILM analyses, with the testing and analysis work to be shared by others in the FBI teams.

If you’re interested in joining us please email [email protected]

21/10/2026

A long-lived local business, still trading today!

Over 150 years in Tiverton, and never a dull moment! 👀

🕰️ It started with clocks... Jacob Venner Pack wound the clocks in Devon’s grand manor houses, then opened his first shop on Leat Street in 1875.

🔋 Later the shop sold spectacles, and charged the batteries for people’s radios.

✈️ Geoff’s dad made fine instruments for aircraft in the Second World War.

🌊 In 1960 the flood put Tiverton under 3 feet of water. Then, to top it off, thieves did a smash and grab on the shop and got away with the watches. Most turned up dumped at Seven Crosses!

🔥 In 1994 a fire at the Seven Stars pub shut the Bridge Street shop for months.

🏃 And Geoff and Rachel once chased thieves down St Paul’s Street after they ran off with a tray of rings!!

Today it’s sisters Rachel and Lucy behind the counter at 58 Fore Street, and Packs still change the Town Hall clock.

So who’s the gentleman with the bicycle? Have a guess below 👇

21/10/2026

What would you like to see happen to this lovely building at the very heart of our town?

A historic Tiverton townhouse is up for sale for £500,000 — after the housebuilder that used it as its headquarters collapsed! 🏛️

Gotham House dates back to around 1739 and was once home to a local wool merchant and mayor.

More recently, it housed Devonshire Homes, which entered administration owing millions to creditors.

Now the building is on the market, with potential for commercial use or conversion back into a home, subject to permission.

What would you like to see happen to this piece of Tiverton history?

02/10/2026

What is a Civic Society and why might you join one?

A civic society is a voluntary organisation that promotes the interests of a local community. They aim to foster civic pride and to shape and preserve the identity of a place or community. Civic societies are formed in the belief that the public should take an active role within the management of their communities and that decision-making and leadership should not come from local councillors and local government officers alone.

A civic society takes an active interest in the historic environment and the cultural identity of a community. To protect these for the interests of future generations, a civic society will carry out a range of functions, including, but not limited to:

Commenting on planning applications and planning policy
Organising lectures and educational activities
Engaging with educational institutions and businesses
Running social events for members and the wider community
Intervening to save historic buildings, where possible
Civic societies have an important function as a ‘watchdog’. This involves monitoring planning applications and commenting, where appropriate, in a timely manner.

Tiverton’s Civic Society hosts a number of talks in the Town Hall every year covering a broad range of topics with a local focus. We are keen to welcome new members to the society and an excellent way to come and meet us is to attend one of our Tuesday evening talks. On October 13th we have a historical talk from Peter Maunder about the cloth trade and links between Tiverton and Topsham, and in the 27th October a talk from Christie McCombe about the Eastern Urban Extension to our town. These two talks exemplify the way in which our society has an eye on both the past and the future if the place we live in.

You can find out more about the society from our website https://tivertoncivicsoc.org.uk/
Membership costs just £12 a year and gives you access to all our talks and events.

If you are interested in giving a talk to the society please do be in contact with us!

Caring about our Town, Past, Present and Future

16/09/2026

Wonderful talk last night by Oliver Nicholson on the history and future of Tiverton Leat. Join Friends of Tiverton Town Leat if you want to keep up to date with the progress of the group of volunteers who aim to get the leat repaired and flowing once more in time for the next perambulation in 2031! This is a quintessential part of Tiverton history and something many Tivertonians care about.
You can also join the Tiverton Civic Society for access to our whole program of talks and events. Everybody welcome. Our next event is a talk by Christie McCombe on the Tiverton Extension plans on 6th October.
Pictured: our speaker Oliver Nicholson ( left) and chairman of the Civic Society Jeremy Salter (right)

09/09/2026

Church & Tower open event with tours of the bells, clock, ringing demonstrations and a chance to get splendid views of the town.

06/09/2026

06/09/2026

07/07/2026

Family Fun Day this Saturday at the Roman archeological dig at Halberton!

Forthcoming events, information about open evenings and recruitment events