Torrington

Christmas Eve at the Front

An interesting letter has just been received by Mrs Packer, of Broadclyst, from her husband, Corpl Packer of A Company, 1st Battalion Devonshire Regiment, who is serving with the Expeditionary Force in Northern France. In the course of a letter he describes a remarkable incident which occurred on Christmas Eve between the British and German trenches.

People living in the Torrington area

were invited to help in the preparation of photographs which is to be sent to Torrington, Connecticut.

The request for help came from Mr Harold Bundy, chairman of the International Committee of the Rotary Club of Torrington, which plans to twin with the Rotary Club of their American daughter town.

First contact with the Connecticut club was made by Mr Alan Stacey, formerly manager at the Torrington Unigate depot, while he was on a visit to the States, and another link was forged when a visit was paid by Mr Arthur Newcombe, of Newton Abbot.

Contact has also been made between the Rotary Club of Torrington and that in Aseda, Sweden, in this case through Mr Eskil Vilhelmsson, managing director of Dartington Glass Ltd and it is hoped to make this an official twinning too.

More on Torrington, Connecticut, can be found at THIS LINK

Full Gazette article dated 26 January 1973

Torrington - by air

Just over 400 years ago the traveller-antiquarian John Leland came through Torrington

and described it in his journal as ‘a great large toune and standith on the brow of an hille and hath 3 fair streates in it”.

Making no claim nowadays to being a large town – in fact it is one of the smallest boroughs in the country – Torrington still stands on its hill and certainly has more than three fair streets, as this recent aerial photograph shows.

Gazette article dated 18 August 1961

Future of Torrington Almshouses

Torrington Town Council are exploring further an offer by the Clinton (Devon) Estates Co.

to hand over to the Council free, subject to the Council paying legal costs, the six almshouses held by the estate in New Street.

The Council have received a report from the District Valuer on the almshouses which stated that with the exception of the roofs, which required attention, the premises appeared to be in sound structural repair.

Members of the Council are at present considering the extent of improvements contemplated, bearing in mind the possibilities of getting the grant towards the cost of the works.

The consent of the appropriate Ministry will be required for the transfer.

One of the agreed conditions will be that the houses shall continue to be let to old people.