Crediton Worthies

Our exhibition this year features notable people who have lived in the town and surrounding villages.

Devon style wrestling

In the days before TV, Devon style wrestling was a sport with an international following. This drawing in a national newspaper illustrates its popularity. Colebrooke’s Abraham Cann became world champion and his title defences received much coverage.

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The exhibition focuses on people from the Crediton area who have made an impact on the national or international scene.

"Our research has revealed an amazing number of local people who have really made a difference to how society has developed over centuries. Of course, we start with St. Boniface, who took Christianity to Germany and Holland and we include the lauded Boer War General Sir Redvers Buller. But it doesn’t end there! In the 1700s mathematician and cartographer Samuel Dunn produced amazing maps of the world and vital navigation advice to mariners. In the same century, John Davey of Shobrooke was a leading composer and in the 19th century Col. Montague accumulated a collection of antiquities at his home in Penton House which is now the largest such collection at the Royal Albert Memorial Museum in Exeter." (David Nation, Secretary)

"Moving into the 20th century, we are able to celebrate the achievements of local artists like Lionel Aggett and Arthur Homeshaw and the world-wide success of Arthur Richardson, MBE, whose greatly valued Richardson-Tertis violas increased the popularity of that instrument." (Sandra Cooper, Vice Chair)

Objects on display include a sculpture by Witold Kawalec. loaned by Charlesworth Nichol and a Ministerial ‘Red Box’ used by former MP for the area Sir Peter Mills, kindly loaned by his widow Lady Joan Mills. Another interesting item is a player’s medal won by Newton St Cyres born Stan Hurst, the first Crediton footballer to play professionally, when he scored the winning goal for Exeter City when they became champions of the lower leagues cup in the 1933/34 season. National champions Abraham Cann (wrestling) and George Boobier (rowing) are also featured.

We haven’t included living personalities, otherwise the list would have been far longer and we would have run out of space.

The museum will be open every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 10am till 4pm and on Saturdays from 10am until 1pm, until October. There is now also a Devon Heritage Centre ‘Service Point’ at the museum, where parish registers from the 1500s can be searched and census returns from all over the country.