 |
In April and May of
2017 we held an Exhibition called "The Life and Times
of Manning's Pit" at the Museum of Barnstaple and
North Devon, focusing on the historical and
cultural connections of Manning's Pit.
This page summarises the contents of the Exhibition, and also information that has come to light since then. |
| What is Manning'sPit?
Where is it? And why is it called Manning's Pit? Read more... |
Historical connections to Manning's Pit
|
 F R Lee. RA, famous landscape artist and yachtsman who collaborated with Sir Edwin Landseer and Thomas Sidney Cooper (and at least once, JMW Turner). |
 Benjamin Manning auctioneer, butcher grocer, Town Councillor, set up the Bodega, Barnstaple's first wine bar, often in hot water, a larger than life character. |
 H H Munro Saki short story writer, novelist, political sketch writer. |
 Colonel Hugh Hibbert Crimean War Hero and his wife Sarah, Lee's daughter, the Munro's neighbours |
 Map of the area around Manning's Pit 1840-1931 |
 Henry Williamson and his wife, the Hibbert's granddaughter. They visited Grannie Hibbert while Henry was writing Tarka the Otter. |
 The Golden Lion (click on image to read more) |
A special link to reports and
information about events that took place at the
February 1880 By-Election, an event that Saki attended
as a boy, and to which the Munro, Hibbert and Manning
families were all connected.
William Manning, Benjamin's son, was one of those who nominated Lord Lymington (the Liberal candidate) Colonel Hibbert, Sarah's husband, was one of those who nominated Sir Robert Carden (the Conservative candidate), and Hector Munro and his family watched the proceedings with avid interest. |
What was so special about Benjamin Manning?Benjamin Manning had
shops in Pilton, and Barnstaple and was the first
person to open a wine bar in Barnstaple, the Bodega
(where members of the local Liberal party met up with
one another.) He was a three times Town
Councillor, a butcher, grocer and auctioneer,
achieving all this from humble beginnings. He was a
larger than life character, opinionated, quarrelsome,
controversial, always in the news, a man who made a
big impact on the life of those around him. We
have no doubt that it is for that very reason that his
name lives on, through Manning's Pit.
|
More Cultural and Historical Links,
including local community ones.
|
 Allan Smith Barnstaple artist Manning's Pit Bridge 1914 |
 Brian Norman "The Battle of Manning's Pit" A poem about a battle between rival gangs of boys in 1946 |
 Manning's Pit in the Community, from early days until the present time |
 Manning's Pit by artists in more recent times |
 Mark Manning Zodiac Mindwarp and The Love Reaction 1980 Successful visual artist in recent times |
 Martin Kemp Film Director His films about Manning's Pit: The Magic of Manning's Pit The Battle of Manning's Pit recited by Brian and John Norman |