A NEW group has been set up in Sticklepath to research and preserve the history of the village.

The Sticklepath Heritage Group was initiated after many questions were being asked about the village’s history, buildings and families and the new group hopes to be able to conduct new research to find out more.

Three meetings have been held so far and the group has set up a constitution which will enable members to apply for funding. The constitution states the aim of the group is ‘to research and preserve the heritage and history of Sticklepath and the surrounding area and promote an understanding of the character of the district’.

The group will be having its first ever AGM on May 24 at 7pm in the village hall and is inviting interested people to attend.

Chairman of Sticklepath Parish Council Derek Moore said: ‘We are having our first AGM after three successful meetings which have attracted up to 28 members.

‘The parish council recognised that there was an interest in this because they had been asked many questions, for example about the name Stickle, about the two 12th century incised stones, the mills, forges and leats, the old A30 route, the Quaker Burying Ground and much more.

‘There are publications which mention Sticklepath but these are outdated and so new research has been started which will include trawling of records, excavations and oral histories.

‘For example, we are following links which took us to Catherine Jowett — a resident who travelled China and became an internationally recognised artist. She had a relative in Okehampton — Dr E P Jowett — and we would love to hear from anyone who knew this family.’

Anyone with any information about the Jowett family, any questions or information about the parish can contact Derek via email [email protected] or call 01837 840316 or anyone who would like to be a member of the group, or find out more about the group can attend the AGM.