NEWLY?discovered material about Victorian Dartmoor photographers will be discussed in an evening lecture, 'Pioneer Photographers of Dartmoor in the 1860s and '70s', at the beginning of next month.

The lecture, at the Devon Rural Archive on Thursday, November 1 at 7pm, will see Dr Tom Greeves, of Tavistock, discuss the new material he has discovered about the photographers, working between 1860 and 1885.

Abi Gray, consultant archaeologist at the Devon Rural Archive, said: 'Until recently very little was known about any images other than the work of Robert Burnard, who took a lot of important documentary photographs in the 1880s.

'However, Tom has uncovered a considerable amount of research on other photographers, working between 1860 and 1885, such as Francis Bedford and local photographers William Spreat, of Exeter, William Merrifield, of Tavistock, and Way and Sons, of Torquay, and whose work is of high quality and often very artistic — incredible given that the camera was only invented in the mid-1800s.'

The subject matter of the photos ranges from scenic views of the moor to historic buildings and industrial activity such as tin mining, as well as towns and villages.

Dr Greeves explores the landscape, deducing the stories of the people who lived and worked over the last 6,000 years or so. He was the first archaeologist for the Dartmoor National Park Authority (1979-85) and was the first site and monuments officer for Devon, establishing the county archive of archaeology from 1976 to 79.

The talk will take place at the lecture room at the Devon Rural Archive, Shilstone, near Modbury. Tickets are £35 each and booking is advised. To reserve tickets call Abi on 01548 830832. Refreshments will be available from 6.30pm.