Lustleigh Community Archives – Printing the Production of the “Lustleigh and World War Two” New Publication – an Update to this Grant made in 2025.
The Archives of Lustleigh, located in the Old Vestry, provides an important insight into the development of a village situated on the edge of Dartmoor.
A New Publication in 2025 of “Lustleigh and World War Two”…
Over the past four and a half years, a group of archives volunteers have been carrying out research into the second world war, with particular emphasis on what life was like during the war, particular events affecting the local area and the men who sadly lost their lives.
The text drafts are complete and another volunteer has offered to do the design work, leaving only the cost of printing the publication (to coincide with the 80th anniversary of the end of the war in September 1945).
13 March 2026 – We are please to announce an Update on this Publication…
A community history project from Lustleigh has received national recognition after winning Best Community Publication at the prestigious Alan Ball Awards.
David McGahey, chairman of the Lustleigh Society, said: “A huge achievement and just recognition of the amazing community we have in our beautiful Dartmoor village.”
Judges praised the publication, noting the high standard of entries this year and highlighting the scale of local involvement behind the project.
The book brings together the work of a large group of volunteers, each contributing research into different aspects of wartime life in the Dartmoor village. Topics range from the activities of the Home Guard and other military units, to the experiences of children and evacuees, as well as the roles played by women, Girl Guides and the local church.
It also explores how tourism continued in Lustleigh during the war years, and concludes with detailed biographies of the 10 men from the parish who lost their lives in the conflict.
“It is another publication of which the Lustleigh Society is immensely proud,” said David McGahey, “and this Award really is icing on the cake.”
The Lustleigh Society, founded in 1985, works to research, preserve and promote the heritage of the parish. It also manages the Lustleigh Community Archive, which holds a wide range of historic documents, maps, photographs and parish records.