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What a weekend

The 3rd Rackenford Beer Festival went ahead in glorious sunshine. We had around 400 people through the gate trying our 32 beers, ciders and lager and some fantastic local wines. We thank everyone for their support. Four bands including The Rackenford Roosters, Lucy Lastic, Rough Justice and The North Devon Pipes and Drums also singer Tony Marino graced our stage over the weekend and we had visitors from as far-a-field as Bromley in Kent.

We hope everyone had a great time. Maybe see you all again in 2009 ???

Watch the pipes and drums

 

Rackenford Village Day 2007
Thank you to all the people who helped to make the day such a success this year. Forty people helped out on stalls. The pram race was run for the third year in a row by the same machine the Rackenford Rocket  but different runners, "Congratulations" to the Charles Family.  A record number of children took part in the children's races, Archie Stone, Max Neusinger, Samantha Wood and Shannon Willis won the cups this year. The tallest thistle came in at over 1.6 metres.
We made £800 to pay for  The Carnival, Bonfire Night, Children's Christmas Party and our insurance.
 
Rackenford Carnival 2007
We had a lovely evening this year. The entries were very original and professional. Well done to all the cup winners and all the Adults and Children who took part.

 

From: John Davies
Date: 04/18/04 08:10:25
Subject: Northam family
 
 
Hello Rackenford,
                              My great grandfather, George Northam (b.1834 Cruwys Morchard) lived in Rackenford, certainly between 1861 and 1881 and probably longer. The address was given in the census as Tiddy Port but I am told that this may be a transcription error.
  He was still working in 1893, as a dairyman, at Lower Meadown farm
nearby.(Kelly's)
 
George married Ann Elstone from Knowstone in the mid 50's, her family were blacksmiths there. They had 4 children, Emma 1857, Jane 1860, William 1862 and Mary Ann, my maternal grandmother, 1866. William went on to become a farmer at  Whippenscott farm (Ash Mill or Rose Ash.) and I remember visiting there in about 1930, when I was 9. His grandaughter, Ethel Mary Rossiter, is still alive at 84.
 
George was a lay preacher but |I have no details on this except that he was a non-conformist. George died in 1898 at Mill Cottage, Knowstone. I can find no record of George's marriage but I believe that up to 20% of families did not register events in those days. I am not sure if any of this is of any interest to anyone living in Rackenfords in these days but any comments or information would be very welcome,
                                                 Regards
                                                  John Davies

                                                                               19/04/04

I have researched my family ancestry and found that many of my ancestors were born,baptized,married, worked and died in Rackenford for many years. I have also found that they were the millers at Bradford corn mill in the 1800's until around 1890.

I have just returned from a visit to Rackenford and Witheridge to take photos of the area and do more research. I wonder if it is possible to find out more about my family history, their work, photos, information about the mill etc from you. I have researched my family tree and Devon Record Office are currently working on some research for me. I have traced my family to around 1670 - 1878 in Rackenford (but i suspect they were there before 1670) when they then went to Witheridge til around 1880 when my direct lineage left for London.

Please let me know if there is any info that you can provide for me. My family name is Crook and i know that one of my direct lineages was Peter Crook who died there in 1731 and whose wife was Charity Handford who he married in 1704 at Rackenford Church.

Many thanks in advance

Oliver Crook                                                              04/04/04

Contact  olcrk@aol.com 
I have been collecting material for a history of Rackenford for some years, and mean to start writing this year. Several people have kindly lent me old deeds to copy, but are there any more out there? Sight of any documents, family trees, photos or just stories would be much appreciated. Sarah Child on david.cocksqc@totalise.co.uk                     24/09/03