The Loaring family came to Winsham in the 16th Century. The first mention of a Loaring in Parish Records was a Thomas Loaring who was borne in 1535 and married an Edith (surname unknown) in 1560. They had four children, two surviving to marriageable age, and, in their turn having children of their own. The story continues until the death in 2011 of Susan Loaring-Percy and Mary Loaring's daughter. This record of the generations until 2002 was prepared by Maurice Loaring, and passed to the Winsham Web Museum by Jim Loaring, in conjunction with other members of the family.
Maurice Loaring provided studies of the history of the Loaring family and the family's branch in Western Australia which were updated in May 2014 - see links below:
Not a great deal is known about the Loaring family in Winsham during the 16th ,17 & 18th centuries, other than what we can find in the Parish Records. Thomas Lowring (the spelling of the name varies) appears on the 1641 Protestation. The name also appears in Chapel records around the middle of the 19th century.
Very early in the history of Winsham Parish Council-formed at the end of 1894, the name of Loaring appears as a Parish Councillor. It also appears in the Minutes of the committee that was responsible for the running of the Jubilee Hall. When the Jubilee Hall became an independent charity a Loaring was on the management committee of the Jubilee Hall. A member of the family had been a member of the Jubilee Hall's management almost continuously since it passed into full village ownership in 1904 until John Loaring's death in 2010. To mark this continuity, John Loaring was asked to lead the re-opening ceremony of the Jubilee Hall in January 2007, following its major renovation in the last six months of 2006 when it was closed. Mary Loaring, a notable Chair of the Parish Council between 1986 and 1994 died in the last year of her service to the community.
In the selection of pictures that follow it will be seen that the Loaring family was active in many village activities. As you browse other sections of the web museum you will often find pictures and mention of members of the family. This is particularly true of the web museum areas devoted to the Street fairs, The Winsham Band and the Winsham Football club.