For the second of our winter Afternoon Author events, we were delighted to welcome local historian Tony Gale who provided our audience with a fascinating audio visual presentation based on his book Crediton & the Great Fire 1743.

Tony took us through the period before, during and after the fire revealing many intriguing stories about life in the 18th century in Crediton. Using a unusually detailed map of the town that was drawn up for the Lord of the manor, Tony illustrated the layout of the town and subsequently how the fire developed, using the rich archive of contemporary documents he has studied and includes within his book. Many towns suffered disastrous fires in earlier centuries – The Great Fire of Crediton in 1743 was reported as being particularly dramatic and destructive and was well-recorded. The presentation discussed that map – along with snippets from the mass of information that Tony has unearthed about Crediton in and around the 1740s – to tell the story of the town and its people before, during and after the Great Fire of Crediton.

Tony responded to a number of questions about the fire, his research and then signed books for the audience – we have copies available online HERE or from visiting the bookshop. We thank all of our customers who joined us on the afternoon.

Tony Gale is a Crediton-based local historian who specialises in the history of Devon. His main focus is on the Early Modern period, but his studies range from the 8th century CE (the Crediton Great Charter of 739, and a history of The Copplestone) to the 20th century (“Some May Call us Common Girls” – Devon Women in World War I), with stopping off points such as a history of the Chapel and Hospital of St Lawrence at Crediton (1231 – 1920); John Norden’s Survey of the Manor of Crediton (1598); John Ogilby’s Britannia (Britain’s first road atlas, 1675); and the Great Fire of Crediton (1743). Tony is a trustee of the Devon & Cornwall Record Society, as well as being involved with the Devon History Society and local groups in his hometown.