Following the publication here (from March 2007) of the information on the graves in St Michael's churchyard, and our linking up with the GENUKI web-site, our local historian has had some very favourable comments:

THANKs a Million for the attached info - it will be a big help I am sure. I have written to Diana and I must say your whole organisation is TOP DRAWER... what a response to what I thought was a speculative plea for help! Dedicated enthusiasts you most certainly are!!!!

Let me say a big thank you for the wonderful transcript data that you have sited on the GENUKI Bampton web page. It has been....and will continue to be, an invaluable source of data for the families I am researching. John Hall

Idea: History of some of the “Old families of Bampton”. Mine came to Bampton in 1659 from Oakford where they were Millers. A Thomas Gibbings married an Elizabeth at local church.  Many of us buried in local church yard.  Last Gibbings left in 1978 when my Grandfather died. We first lived in Newton Square then in 5 Castle Street.  Full family tree if you are interested.  Some went to Coldridge (about 20 miles west) and by chance I found and bumped into their relations in Western Australia while I was there visiting friends. The Escott family were another with a long history in Bampton.  You also had a Jewish family called Lazarus who owned a butchers in the town in the early 1800’s.  Where did they come from? How did they come to arrive in Bampton and what happened to them?  Just an idea that lots in the village may be able to help with.  List all the gravestones on a map of the graveyard? That will keep the kids occupied in the summer and that’s where the history is now.   Chris Gibbings  

Gravestone survey now available on this site - here.

I found your site when looking for information about England. Very nice and informative. I made a link
from my website, so everyone can enjoy it. When placing this link is a problem, please let me know and
i will remove it from my site.
You can find my webiste at: http://jkersten.topcities.com Greetings from Holland - Jan Kersten

(Your suggestion is now implemented - thanks!)

One of the if not the best town websites I have seen over the last 3 years. Congratulations to all concerned.

Dennis - Tiverton

We visited Bampton as part of our house search, and followed it up with a " just in case" search for a web site. We did not expect that the site would be so professional and give us such a comprehensive view of "whats on".
Well done!

Now of course we would like to live in the locality even more!
Steve & Ruth

Congratulations on an interesting and comprehensive site!
Although you provide links to the Devon History Society and the Devon Records Centre I think you should consider starting a specific Bampton Genealogy Message Board. I visited Bampton last year principally because my mother's family (Webber) originated there. Since then I have had communication with others holding similar interests.
I appreciate that the local on-line inhabitants may have reservations (particularly a fear of being bombarded with requests for information). However, the message board may also provide them with some interesting family connections.
Regards,
Russ
Comanche, Texas.

Hello- I have enjoyed going through your website, reading the history and comparing the map to when I lived there as a youngster, from 1941-1944. I remember when they took away the iron railings around the houses for the war effort (one of the houses on High Street opposite the Pastry Shop)
The owner had a large coin, I think it was a two penny bit. I was one of the refugees living at "The Old House" on Frog Street. Can you please tell me how old is that farm building ? While there I went to the Junior School then in 1944 I attended the big school on the hill.

Ted

Dear Bamptonians,
My Mum keeps me in touch with some of Bampton's goings-on and I was delighted to find your web page.
I have attached a few photos of Bampton Fair 1973:
The first one has a shot of 47, Brook St taken from what use to be the grocer's shop.
The second one includes the same grocery shop (I forget their name) taken from 47, Brook St.
The third one is taken out the front of 47, Brook St.
The fourth one, a similar view, was taken on a non Fair Day.
I hope these photo are of interest for you.
Kind regards
Christine Lux (nee White ex-resident of 47, Brook Street now living in Australia).
The photos can be found on the Bampton Fair pages, and also the Bridges page.

I am contacting you as promised to let you know how much our family (all 17 of us!!) enjoyed doing your quiz when we stayed near Bampton at the end of July. It took us a few trips in to Bampton before we were able to find most of the pictures but it gave us the opportunity to get to know Bampton and to talk with some of the residents who were all very friendly and helpful. We left a copy of the quiz in the house where we stayed so I'm sure you'll get many more quizzers wandering around soon!

Thanks again,
Alison

By chance, this family met the webmaster and sought advice on the more difficult places to find! Alison had made posters of the pictures from the quiz so that they could carry them around. The family, down here for a family gathering, included members from Australia.

You have captured the timeless tranquil charm of the West of England, a place I plan to visit one day as my own father grew up in Devon.

Bob (Baltimore, USA)

Just like to say what a fantastic web-site you have about your village. I have looked at lots in and around the Tiverton area and have been able to find all the information I needed about Bampton from just your one site. I frequently end up doing many searches. (Houses, business, school, community etc.)

Thanks again, will definitely come to visit when I am next over that way. (Only made it into Tiverton last weekend).

Janine

PS. What about a comments or guest book section? (Which led to this comments page)

Congratulations on winning the award for your excellent web-site - I wondered whether you would like to write an article for Village Green and share the good news around the county? (Article written and published)

Regards
Annie

500 hits really surprised me - I didn't think the internet was that efficient! I imagine that people are becoming more skilled at using it. Many thanks for your support over the folk music festival publicity, it was greatly appreciated.
Best Wishes
Clare-----

Just wanted to express my appreciation for your excellent web-site. We are currently house-hunting in the Bampton area and have found it invaluable. We currently live nr Cambridge and do not know the area at all so everything has been scanned with interest for the insight it can give us. Thank you for all your hard work.
Lesley
Saffron Walden, Essex

Hello
I was just looking at your site, which we judged as a winner for the Village of the Year IT awards last year (and indeed helped John Humphrys present the award we are in the picture!), and thought that you don't link back to UKVillages.co.uk!! So here are a number of links you may find useful. (Links now added)

I hope all continues well in your lovely village
all the best
Ellie
UKVillages.co.uk

I got round to looking at the Bampton Web-site. again and I was really impressed. Much for the same reason I looked at the Exmoor Tourist Association web-site. and it is not a PATCH on the Bampton one! Congratulations - I wasted far too much time looking at all the interesting entries! (We couldn't possibly comment!)

Congratulations about the IT award.

You will find your link at http://www.british-towns.net/england
Using the main menu on the left select "Far South West" and a map for Devon and Cornwall will appear. From this click on Devon and then on "Mid Devon" You will find a section of Towns and Town Councils in the District of Mid Devon, clicking on "Bampton" will take you to your URL.
All the best
John
British Towns Network

We heard about your site after you won an award recently. We were impressed with your site and wondered if you would be kind enough to put a link to us in your web-site. perhaps in the local businesses section?

We have already put a link to you on our links page.

Best wishes
Martin

I have just browsed your web-site. and was impressed by its ease to use. The photos of Bampton are fantastic and there are some many interesting things to do, like going to the Tiverton museum.

And from the other side of the world.

I am discovering the internet for the first time at a computer course and am amazed at how much information is available.
I was delighted to find that Bampton had its own web-page on the internet. I loved your web page especially as I was born in School Close, Bampton in 1964 and my father was the art teacher at the "Big School". My family emigrated to New Zealand in 1972 but I've only been back once in the mid 1980s for a flying visit. Bampton has really changed a lot from when I was a child so I'm thankful for my memories of how it looked then., but very interested in what it looks like now and how other people feel about the lovely village.
Cheers and kia ora from New Zealand
Rebecca Smith (daughter of Derek and Ann Smith)

I am ashamed to admit that I visited your page for the first time today. I am amazed at the width of the content and at the clear evidence of constant updating.
Congratulations

Alan
Morebath