History features

Historic extracts from a Devon newspaper which carried reports of Nelson's victory at the Battle of Trafalgar have been  made accessible on the internet.

The web pages have been specially created by the Devon Local Studies Service as part of the celebrations to mark the 200th anniversary of the famous battle.

The transcriptions from Trewman's Exeter Flying Post provide a fascinating insight into how news of Nelson's exploits was reported in Devon in 1805. 

More than 1,000 men from Devon and hundreds more from other parts of the Westcountry played their part in the Battle of Trafalgar - so news was anxiously awaited by families back home.  

Reflecting the importance of maritime affairs to the people of Devon, every edition of The Flying Post carried lengthy reports from its full-time correspondents in Plymouth, Falmouth and Dartmouth, with occasional news from other ports in the West of England.

The weather was the single most important consideration for anyone concerned with maritime matters and was diligently recorded by Trewman's port correspondents whenever they reported shipping movements.

After the Battle of Trafalgar their reports show the unfavourable conditions faced by ships entering the Channel Approaches on their return to England, which explains the delay in the arrival of the news.

The text from archive copies of the newspaper was voluntarily transcribed by two local historical researchers - Pongo Blanchford and Charles Manning. 

It has been donated to the Devon Libraries Local Studies Service for the 'Etched on Devon's Memory' project.

'Etched on Devon' has already documented a wealth of precious images and information about the county's history, to enable a wider audience to enjoy them.

The Trafalgar newspaper archive is likely to prove extremely popular as the 200th anniversary celebrations reach their peak. 

"In 1805 the local correspondents' reports, and the Exeter editorial comment, give a clear picture of the reactions of Devonians as details of the Battle of Trafalgar slowly unfolded and spread across the county," said Mr Blanchford.

"Nelson's men at Trafalgar included over 1,115 men born in Devon, more than from any other county, and about 500 more born in Cornwall.

"The families of many more who were born elsewhere were resident in the West Country to be near their men when their ships returned to Plymouth and they all waited anxiously for the news that Trewmans brought to them.

"The news was only published weekly, generally on the first Thursday following the receipt of the report in Exeter, so each individual story would take several days to spread around the south west, as fast as a coach and horses could carry it."

The route taken by the messenger bringing home the news of Lord Nelson's death in the battle has been named Trafalgar Way as part of the 200th anniversary celebrations.