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The
Ivybridge & District Camera Club are in their summer
break and although there are no official meetings for
July and August, members were encouraged to arrange
group days out. Neil Doggett’s evening ‘Ramble
with a Camera’ was one of these and 17 of us were
skilfully and entertainingly guided by John Chilvers
on a four-mile ramble to Powder Mills ruins near Postbridge.
The evening
threatened rain but we were lucky: Dartmoor mist came
and went several times, as did the light, but many of
us made some interesting photographs in the intervals.
John Chilvers guided us down a series of descending
leats and through the various ruins of gunpowder grinding
houses, explaining the dangers of explosions the workers
had to be careful to avoid and describing the architectural
designs that made life safer for them. When we reached
the Cherry Brook John explained about the drying and
waterproofing techniques that were applied to finish
the gunpowder.
Then after a
photographic session with camera shutters zipping and
much tripod erecting and moving it was time to make
the return journey before darkness fell. We finished
the evening in a Postbridge hostelry for a hearty evening
meal and more anecdotes from John.
Many thanks
to Neil for arranging the event and to John for such
an amusing and informative trip into the 19th century
world of ‘blackpowder’ production.
The camera club
season starts again in September with a practical evening
on the 1st and a members’ show-your-own work evening
on the 8th. Visitors are always welcome to club meetings
and we meet at Bittaford Community Hall from 7:30 pm
on the second and fourth Tuesdays in the month plus
occasional other Tuesdays. Our programme, members’
photographs and much more are all available elsewhere
on this website. |
