Topsham Community Association

20 June 2011: Annual Report and Accounts

The 2011 Annual Report and Accounts are now online: 5.8 Mb PDF

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The Topsham Community Association - registered charity no. 274593 - was formed in 1977. Its objects and activities are to:
* promote the wellbeing of the inhabitants of Topsham without distinction of sex, race, religion, political or other opinions by: assisting the local authorities and voluntary organisations; advancing education; and by providing facilities in the interests of social welfare and recreation.
* secure, maintain and manage a Community Centre (Matthews Hall) for activities promoted by the Association in furtherance of its objects.

Topsham Community Plan 2007-2012
Starting in May 2004, under the auspices of Topsham Community Association and Topsham Community Association, a series of meetings began, for the purpose of collating a Community Plan for Topsham's future at the beginning of the 21st century. A public meeting in late 2004 presented the issues and asked for comment, followed up with further questionnaires in 2005 and public meetings in 2006, resulting in the publication of the plan by the Topsham Community Plan Action Group.

Topsham Community Association activities
Topsham Community Association is active in many local issues relating to the quality of life in Topsham: campaigning for road signs, finger posts and pedestrian crossings; the instigation of a Car Club car-sharing scheme; representing residents over bus service needs; coordinating opposition to proposals that adversely affect the character of the town; youth leisure activities; and hosting community discussion meetings.

Its organisation
All Topsham residents are automatically members of the Topsham Community Association (TCA). It is a voluntary organisation having 4 trustees, and a General Committee consisting of 5 honorary officers namely a President, Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer, Secretary , 3 elected members, up to 4 coopted members and an Exeter City Council representative. The Vice Chair is the Chair of the Matthews Hall Committee who, together with the Secretary, Treasurer, two elected members, a Saturday Traders’ representative, and 3 part time employees (live in Caretaker, Bookings Manager and Market Manager), manage the running and maintenance of the Hall and report to the General Committee.

Matthews Hall
Matthews Hall is leased to the Association by Exeter City Council under a 25 year lease dated 14/04/99. It is managed by a live-in Caretaker and 2 part time employees reporting to the Hall Chairman who is a member of the General Committee. Matthews Hall is in daily use for preschool playgroup; badminton; line dancing; drama groups; pantomime; art and music groups; meetings of many local clubs and societies; private functions; and - on Saturdays - a traders’ market. There is a cafe in the entrance hall, and the Hall otherwise serves as Town Hall, for example as a polling station.

Matthews Hall has its own website at www.matthewshalltopsham.co.uk

Matthews Hall

Matthews Hall now has its own website: www.matthewshalltopsham.co.uk

Follow the link for general information and hall booking details.

Exeter Memories has a good historical article - The Rex/Tivoli - Topsham - describing the hall from its origins as a cinema.

A number of enquirers have asked about the origin of the name. The hall is named after its donor and builder, James Woodrow Matthews. A brief biography:

James Woodrow Matthews, J.P., started his career in Topsham as a clerk in the office of one of the old sailing ship insuring clubs in the building [Grove House, then residence and business premises of John Holman] in which, having bought the property, he spent the last few years of his life. He was for many years with Messrs. W Lamplough & Co., Insurance Brokers, and was manager for them until, in 1901, he founded Matthews, Wrightson & Co. in conjunction with Mr Harry Wrightson and his brother Mr R.G. Wrightson. The firm became a private limited company in 1911, when Mr Matthews was appointed as chairman, and he held that position until his retirement in 1924. He was an annual subscriber to Lloyd's from 1901 to 1916, when he became an underwriting member. He underwrote marine in the syndicate of Mr Eustace R. Pulbrook [Sir Eustace Pulbrook, 1881-1953, Chairman of Lloyds] and non-marine, motor and employers' liability under the agency of Messrs. Matthews, Wrightson & Co. Ltd. He was one of the founders of the Corporation of Insurance Brokers, and was later its treasurer and a member of the council, finally being elected a vice-president. He was a prominent Freemason, a member of its Grand Lodge. He died at Grove House on July 30 1934 aged 83.
- from Times obituary, July 31, 1934 (thanks to Michael G Matthews for the enquiry that led to filling in the details).

Travel

View Larger Map

This is an active map that can zoom anywhere between global and street level: click-and-drag to pan. Use controls to pan, zoom and change the view format ("hybrid" is aerial with road overlay).

Topsham is easy to reach by road and public transport, and also makes an excellent centre for exploring east, south and central Devon, as well as the Jurassic coast of Devon and west Dorset. Wessex Trains run an hourly direct service from Topsham to Paignton, enabling day trips to popular coastal destinations such as Dawlish, Teignmouth and Torquay.

The Exeter-Exmouth train: half-hourly; all day; to/from Exeter St Davids and Central. Trains alternately go on to Paignton and Barnstaple.
The 57 Exeter-Exmouth bus: every 12 minutes; all day; to/from Exeter Bus Station; terminus at Topsham High Street.
The T bus: to/from Exeter High Street; Mo/Fri and Sat, half-hourly 10am-2pm, terminus at Topsham Quay.

Sea Dream II: Topsham to Turf Ferry
The Sea Dream II, owned and operated by Steve and Marianne Garrett, offers return sailings to the popular Turf Locks Inn, Sat & Sun Easter-October, daily Easter holidays and early May to mid-September. RSPB bird-watching cruises, Dec-March. Also available for private charter. All enquiries: 07778 370582 For Sea Dream II sailing times, see www.topshamtoturfferry.co.uk.

Topsham Ferry and Water Taxi
Ferry from The Passage to Turf Lock. Summer: Apr-Sep, 9.30am-5.30pm. Closed Tuesdays. Winter: weekends and Bank Holidays, 10.00am-5.00pm. Subject to tides and conditions. Ring 07801 203338 (also for evening water taxi).

Sea approach
For a very useful guide, see Exmouth and River Exe (including Topsham) at visitmyharbour.com. Entrance to the Exe Estuary is quite tricky and tide-critical.

More on buses
Stagecoach Buses - Local bus timetables
Dartline Coaches - Clyst St Mary based.
Western Travel - Coach hire, excursions, group travel.

Trains
First Great Western Trains - South West Intercity Routes, timetables and Information.
National Rail Enquiries - Source page for 'British Rail' train times: extremely useful service that quickly calculates your route and timetable, even if it's cross-network, given where and when you want to go.

Cycling

Topsham is on the Exe Estuary Trail section of National Cycle Network (NCN) Route 2, with convenient access to routes on both sides of the Exe.

Route 2  - this Cafe Bar also offers cycle hire, repairs and maintenance.

Miscellaneous
Exeter International Airport - the official website.
Exeter City Council Public Transport page
exe co-cars - Community Car Club
Topsham Car Parking and Travel - Buses, trains and automobiles of course!
Topsham & the M5 - How to get to Topsham from the M5.
Topsham Street Map - How to get around in Topsham.

USA Topshams

Topsham is not exclusive to England. Although the English Topsham is older, it doesn't mean that it's the greatest or the best - just the first. There are two Topshams in America: the larger is in Maine, but there is also one in Vermont, comprising East Topsham, West Topsham and Topsham Corners. If you know of any other Topshams, let us know and we'll add them here.*

Topsham, Maine, USA
Official Town site
Topsham, Maine, on Wikipedia

Topsham, Vermont, USA
Virtual Vermont: Topsham
Topsham, Vermont, on Wikipedia

* Best try so far: Torptsen (a.k.a Dorpsenn, Torpen, Torperen, Torpsum, Turphum, Turschum) - according to the Dutch Wikipedia a now-vanished mediaeval settlement in the Dollart.