Devon Dowsers was formed in 1992 when John Bowers was teaching introductory ‘Dowsing for Beginners’ classes at Chulmleigh, South Molton and Okehampton Community Colleges. These courses were very popular.
It was after one of these courses that John Down, who attended the South Molton class, suggested that it would be a good idea to have some sort of follow up so people could continue to meet and practise dowsing together.
So he, John Bowers, John Lott and Michelle Boyd formed Devon Dowsers and over forty people attended the first classes at Okehampton. Speakers at the early meetings included Donovan the Diviner, and David Crow, who ran the Henge bookshop at Avebury. The first AGM was held in November 1993.
Devon Dowsers continued to meet at the South Molton and Okehampton Community Colleges for some time before moving to the Fox and Hounds at Eggesford. In 2014 it was decided to relocate to the Red Lion Hotel at Chulmleigh.
In 1993 the first magazine, Devon Dowsers News, was published with John Lott as Editor. This included a competition for the Society’s logo, and details of the first all-day field trip to Avebury in September 1993 which forty-seven people attended.
The library was started with over forty books on Dowsing and related subjects, which members could borrow; also DIDI Divine’s shop with pendulums, Mager Rosettes, rods and other relevant items for sale.
At one point in its history Devon Dowsers was the largest dowsing society in the country with over 200 members.
