Meeting Report 13th March 2024

Our Reporter/Photographer Tony Taft writes:-

Today on a dull windy day we had an attendance of 24 with 3 apologies. 

Before the meeting proceeded we were introduced to a new member Chris Powling and we all gave a huge welcome to Chris, I will photograph Chris when he is badged up and his photo will be added to the rogues gallery. 

Our talk today was given by Phil Badcott on the subject of the Gilbert’s of Compton Castle and the title of his presentation was  Sir Humphrey Gilbert of Compton Castle. 

The Gilbert family have lived in Compton Castle for nearly 600 years, you can wander round this charming small Castles gardens great hall and sun solar and peer into the chapel and medieval kitchen.

The main theme of the talk was of the exploits of Sir Humphrey Gilbert half brother to Sir Walter Raleigh. 

Sir Humphrey born in 1839 grew up at Greenway and honed his skills in sailing on the river Dart, it was these skills that made him such a great explorer. 

Phil told us that in Sir Humphrey‘a early days he was employed as a tax collector. 

Sir Humphrey is best known as the man that founded the empire when with the full blessing of queen Elizabeth 1 he was sent on a mission to colonise new land and it was on this quest that he discovered what he described as new found land or in todays terms Newfoundland. 

In 1583 Humphrey Gilbert left on a second venture to the new world with five ships the Delight, the Bark Raleigh, the Golden Hind, the Squirrel and the Swallow. 

It is thought that a complete stranger pulling up on their shores claiming that this land belongs to queen Elizabeth 1 did not go down well with the locals especially when he wanted to introduce new tax laws, you could understand why. 

The photos of the stamps show Humphrey Gilbert kneeling before Queen Elizabeth 1 getting her blessing to go on his venture. 

The Gilbert family still occupy Compton Castle and when the property was eventually handed over to the National Trust it was on the understanding that the family would continue to call the castle their home. 

This review is only a fraction of the information that Phil told us and if you want to find all of that information it is all available on the internet. 

Ps. It was Humphrey Gilbert that came up with the concept of building a naval college in Dartmouth but Queen Elizabeth 1 did not wish to supply the necessary money to achieve this venture.