Meeting Report 25th September 2024

Our Reviewer/Photographer Tony Taft writes:-

Today we had an attendance of 21 with 2 apologies, we had no new members or guests. 

Our talk today was by Phil Badcott and his presentation was entitled The March of William of Orange through Devon. 

William III also known as William of Orange, amassed a fleet of five hundred ships carrying an army of fifteen thousand soldiers, and three thousand horses. 

The Fleet set sail from the Netherlands and arrived in Brixham on the 19th October 1688. 

The horses  were brought ashore by fastening a rope from the ships and the other ends to the shore then the horses were encouraged to swim ashore with a handler assisting them. 

Phil explained how William of Orange came ashore in Brixham harbour in a small boat but ran aground because the tide was out, and he had to be carried by a local man called Peter Varwell who had to wade in thick mud to do so. 

There are two monuments in Brixham claiming to be the correct location so the jury’s out as to which is the correct location. 

William rode his horse ahead of his troops to Totnes, and eventually on to a cottage which today is called Parliament House.

This was where he held his first parliament in this country.

Some say he spent the night in this cottage but some historians say he stayed the night in Paignton in a building near the Crown and Anchor way. 

Phil gave us a brilliant talk, and with the aid of a visual presentation of lots of maps and art work he indicated to us the route William and his army took, he stayed in various well known locations on his long and arduous journey to London. 

Phil gave us so much information that I have only been able to give a brief description but we all found his talk so interesting. 

Some of the locations Phil talked about were Torre Abbey, where his men searched for arms and horses, the clock tower in Newton Abbot where a proclamation was read out, Forde House where he slept a night, but the list was lengthy. 

Eventually but not immediately William and his wife Mary were crowned king and Queen.