Architecture

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.

A Torrington landmark

which has stood for many years is vanishing. It is the old stone chimney which towers over the now disused area in New Road, known locally as the ‘tan-yard’.

Most of the yard, once a prominent centre of industry in the town, was owned by the Clinton Estate Company until their recent sale when it came into the possession of two local firms – the Reg Sussex motor-cycle business, and Messrs Sing and Gist, plumbers and dealers.

A spokesman told a Gazette reported that the two firms had not yet finally decided what should be done with the site. “But we are pulling down the old buildings there and the chimney, too, will come down” he added.

Employees of Messrs Sing and Gist are carrying out the demolition work.

The last time the ‘tan-yard’ was in use was during the second world war when camouflage nets were stored there. In earlier years, it had housed a leather works industry which was well known throughout this part of the country and which exported a fair proportion of its goods.

Gazette article dated 13 February 1959

‘Architecturally I’m a square’ says Surveyor

House too modern for Monkleigh?

After the Surveyor (Mr L J Dunn) had confessed: “I am a bit of a square when it comes to architecture”, Bideford Rural Council on Tuesday refused planning permission for a house which a nurse wishes to build in the Monkleigh locality.
The Surveyor told members that it was a two-storey building with a mono-pitch roof covered with aluminium. The external walls would be painted white with black plinths. The design was the first of this modern type in the district, he said. Although internally the house was very functional, it would be out of keeping with the neighbourhood.
He recommended that the plan be refused on the grounds that the house would be an intrusion in the rural landscape.
That would not prevent the erection of a reasonable house, pointed out the Chairman (Sir Dennis Stucley). A design of this nature would be out of harmony in the countryside.
Mr J Wickett, who said that the site was very suitable, pointed out that this was the second application.
It was agreed to suggest to the architect that he ‘tone down’ the design to suit the neighbourhood.
Gazette article dated 25 November 1960

A Wash And Brush Up

Surrounded by scaffolding, Bideford's statue of Charles Kingsley undergoes a periodical 'wash and brush up'.

A glance at the top and bottom of the photograph illustrates the 'before and after' effect. It appears that just at that moment a shoe-shine was being given.

Gazette article dated 30 June 1950