Author Archives: Webmaster

“Modbury Through Time – a History of the Devonshire Town and its People” is a newly published book by Helen Charlesworth comprising a fascinating selection of newspaper articles from the 1700s onwards.

Its pages feature grisly deaths, accidents, disputes and plenty of colourful characters. Kingston appears in several articles, alongside tales from Ringmore, Yealmpton, Aveton Gifford and other nearby villages.  

In one Kingston story from 1876 the church choir “fled in horror; having witnessed the ghostly apparition of a dead church minister.” 

In another a labourer was fatally crushed by a falling wall – his bones having been “shockingly fractured in almost every part of his body”. 

Road traffic accidents are nothing new: In 1889, near Orcheton Mill a horse drawn lime cart ran out of control. ”Twenty-eight year old George Southern ran to lend assistance.. but was dragged under the cart and died from the injuries he received. He left behind a wife and three young children all aged under five.”

The book is not currently available in bookshops, but can be bought online here.

2023 continued the Kingston tradition of Christmas carol singing round the village. KLHS members and other residents assembled by the fire station and progressed around the central part of village, singing their way from corner to corner, knocking on doors and demanding money for charity – with the threat of more carols if generosity was not forthcoming! On being roused by a knock on his door, Viv Freeman requested ‘Silent Night’ – which, he pointed out with a customary wink, meant ‘Go Away!’. 

Glasses of sherry and mince pies were provided by generous householders en route. The carol troupe ended up in the Dolphin where, after a final chorus of “We wish you a Merry Christmas!” Leon and Natasha kindly supplied mulled wine and yet more delicious mince pies. This photo from Janet and Colin Burton beautifully captured the atmosphere. of the evening.