Menu

IndustryA Selection of News Articles Related to Industry

Edmund Hockin and Sons

17 September 1976

The current pound may well be sinking

but any Torridgeside resident who has a 19th century £5 note like this in his possession would be sure to get much more than its face value when it was issued by the Hartland Quay Bank.

17.9.1976 Hartland bank note1

No longer is it legal tender, of course, but its worth as a collector’s item in prime condition would be considerable. Established by Edmund Hockin and Sons, merchants, the bank occupied part of the present hotel at Hartland Quay, which at that time was a busy little commercial port. Its notes continued in local circulation for some years.

On the left-hand side near the margin, the notes had a view within an oval showing the Quay itself with a ship inside and the limekiln and two rows of houses n the background.

After the Hockin’s enterprise had stopped issuing notes the engraved plates from which they were printed were lost. But one – for £5 – turned up at a sale near Bude about 1930 and the late Mr Pearse Chope, a distinguished son of Hartland, acquired it and

...
Read More

Mr Rowed

3 March 1950

The new president of Bideford and District Chamber of Trade,

3.3.195 Mr Rowed

Mr Ronald A Rowed, has been in business with his father, Mr A E Rowed, as sports outfitters, radio and electrical dealers and contractors in Bridgeland Street, since 1926. His father commenced business there two years earlier and Mr R A Rowed was a wireless operator in the Merchant Navy during the interval.

Mr Rowed, who has been a member of the Chamber for twenty years, is 42. He is married and has two children and his home is at West Yelland. In sport he is particularly keen on hockey and is vice-captain of Bideford Hockey Club. In younger days he was a member of Mr Norman Chope’s concert party which was well known and popular in the town and district.

During the war Mr Rowed served in the RAF for four and a half years, being an instructor in wireless mechanics at Cranwell No. 1 Signal School, and London.

He is a member of Bideford Regatta Committee and recently he was sworn in as a member of Devon Special Constabulary.

Gazette...

Read More

Bideford Dairies

12 June 1964

Mr Mitchell able to complete his round

12.6.1964 spilt milk1

On Sunday morning a Bideford Dairies milk lorry, driven by Mr Geoffrey Mitchell, of Bideford, left the Bideford-Barnstaple road near Westleigh, smashed through concrete posts and wire and finished up on its side on the railway embankment.

The lorry was carrying a load of full and empty milk bottles, most of which were broken.

Mr Mitchell escaped with very slight injuries and was able to return to the dairy to collect another lorry and load to complete his round.
Gazette article dated 12 June 1964

Read More

Mr and Mrs Sleigh

6 April 1973

Win ‘Passport To The Sun’

6.4.1973 Royal Mail Inn1

Among 22 licensees of Watney Mann (West) who were guests of the company at a gathering at Congresbury to receive their ‘passports to the sun’ from the regional chairman, Mr Alan Seaward, were Mr and Mrs T W Sleigh, tenants of the Royal Mail Inn, Bridge Street, Bideford.

They will be among more than 200 Watney Mann licensees who early in May will enjoy a five day holiday in Sardinia. This is their prize in an incentive scheme to increase beer sales during the period April-September last.

Gazette article dated 6 April 1973

Read More

Lloyds Bank

21 December 1954

When you become responsible

31.12.1954 bank account Lloyds

for the well being of others besides yourself it is time to consider the advantages of a banking account.

The bank is quite the safest place in which to keep your money. The most convenient method of paying bills is by cheques. The use of an account is an encouragement to save. There there are some valuable services which Lloyds Bank can put at your disposal; for example, the Bank will arrange to pay, on your behalf, regularly recurring expenses such as rent or insurance premiums.

Finally, Lloyds Bank is always ready to assist customers with information and advice when financial problems occur.

Lloyds Bank Limited

Read More

New Light Industry at Appledore

Only Firm of Its Kind in Country

New Light Industry at Appledore 23.5.1952 

New Light Industry at Appledore 23.5.1952

 

Industry.  Formerly the home of a wealthy merchant, a pilgrims' rest house and later a block-maker's shop, Docton, Appledore, has now become the home of a modern light industry housing the only firm in the country manufacturing line-side features for model railway layouts.  Scalecast Models, Herbert W Miller

Read More

New Engineering Firm Comes to Bideford 1956

Interview with Director

New Engineering Firm Comes to Bideford 20.04.1956 

New Engineering Firm Comes to Bideford 20.4.1956

Industry.  Four weeks from now the former Rolamatic factory premises in Torrington Lane, Bideford East, will hum again to the sound of engineering machinery going into production. Interview with Director Mr WH Whiteland. Whiteland Engineering Ltd, Mr RJ Board, Tecalemit Ltd

Read More

Appledore Tile Factory to Close 1968

Over 30 to lose jobs

Appledore Tile Factory to Close 12.01.1968 

Appledore Tile Factory to Close 12.01.1968

Industry.  More than 30 people are likely to be out of work by the closing down in a month's time of the Appledore factory of the Barnstaple Brick and Tile Company which is a subsidiary of the Marley Tile Co. William Neve

Read More

Another New Factory for Torrington 1968

Manufacture of motor caravans to start next month

Another New Factory for Torrington 08.11.1968

Manufacture of Motor Caravans to start 1968

Industry.  Plan for a new factory at Torrington to manufacture motor caravans is well advanced. Alan Hutchinson, Ron Webster, Dr Margaret Hutchinson, Co-operative Society former bakery, International Computers Ltd

Read More

Another Industrial Estate at Torrington 1970

Second 'Pottington' for North Devon

Another Industrial Estate at Torrington 27.11.1970 

Second 'Pottington' for North Devon 1970Industry.  Devon County Council are spending around £60,000 on a "miniature Pottington" scheme designed to help attract more industry to Torrington. Land near Hatchmoor Road, Torrington for use as an industrial estate. Peter Symons

Read More

Baby Pants the Answer to Challenge! 1958

28 February 1958

Baby Pants the Answer to Challenge! 28 February 1958

Baby Pants the Answer to Challenge 28 February 1958

Industry. Bideford Glove Manufacturer's New Development. The manufacture of baby pants. Peter Fletcher, HE Fletcher Ltd, Mr WH Whiteland, Whiteland Engineering Ltd

Read More

Bideford Firm That Has 'Won Through' 1966

5 August 1966

Bideford Firm That Has 'Won Through' 5 August 1966

Bideford Firm That Has Won Through 5 August 1966

Industry.  Extended frontage for Sudburys Gloves Ltd. Its headquarters factory in Silver Street, Bideford. Over 300 women workers. Chairman of the company is Mr E Frank Day, with the directors the late Messrs T Burton, RL Cock, T Fulford (Westward Ho!), W Beer, formed Sudburys Gloves Ltd, Edwin Sawtell, Roger Day, Ray Sawtell, the late Mr Sawtell

Read More

Local Factory to Close Down 1981

11 December 1981

Local Factory to Close Down 11 December 1981

Local Factory to Close Down 11 December 1981

Industry.  Sudbury's Gloves Ltd to close their Bideford factory and develop their Appledore branch as their main production centre. Their Torrington factory, which was closed two years ago is to be re-opened. Roger Day

Read More

Mrs Gladys Nance-Kivell

10 November 1962

The funeral has taken place at the Higher Cemetary, Bideford, of Mrs Gladys Nance-Kivell of Homealong, Kingsley Road, Bideford, wife of Mr Leonard Nance-Kivell.

1972 Mrs Nance Kivell funeral

Before her retirement in 1971 Mrs Nance-Kivell had been associated with the gloving industry for over 50 years.For 24 years she was the manageress of Messrs Sudbury’s Appledore factory. 

The Rev Walter J Joyce officiated at the service. Immediate mourners attending were: the husband, Mr Victor Harvey, Mr David Harvey , Miss Louie Squire, Mr George Rumsam, Mr A Smale, Mr and Mrs T Nance-Kivell, Mr and Mrs Lawrence Nance-Kivell, Mr and Mrs G Prouse, Mr and Mrs S Moore, Mr and Mrs W Boundy, Mr and Mrs H Nance-Kivell, Mr B Nance-Kivell, Mr and Mrs B Smale, Mr and Mrs S Brown. Unable to attend were: Mrs V Harvey; Mrs D Harvey.
Bearers were Messrs S Harris, A Balsdon, H Daw, A Poole, A Parsons and J Walter.
Representing Sudbury Gloves Ltd were: Mr R E Day, Mr R E Sawtell, Miss B Tatem, Mrs A Tucker, Mrs M Bond, Mrs B Evans, Mrs B...

Read More

Encourages Christmas shopping

7 Deember 1937

Christmas Shopping

1937 Suspension of Shops Act


The Home Secretary has made an Order under the Shops (Hours of Closing) Act, 1928, suspending the operation throughout, England and Wales of the provisions of that Act relating to general closing hours from Saturday December 18th to Friday December 24 1937, both days inclusive, but excluding Sunday December 19 1937.
This Order has also the effect of suspending the operation during the period in question of evening Closing Orders made under the Shops Act 1912. It does not, however, suspend the operation of the provisions relating to the closing of shops on the weekly half-holiday, and a shopkeeper will not therefore be entitled to remain open on the weekly half-holiday before Christmas, except under the conditions laid down in the Act of 1912.
Nor does the Order in any way affect the operation of the provisions of the 1912 and 1934 Acts relating to the shop assistants’ half-holiday and the regulation of hours of young persons.
The provisions of the Licensing Act in regard...

Read More

Harbour Master is happy

January 1970

The first vessel ever to take a cargo of clay from Bideford Town Council’s quay left the port on Tuesday for Italy carrying also the high hopes of those who want to see the harbour’s future assured.

January 1970 Clay exports

January 1970 Clay exports

 

January 1970 Clay exports

 

 

The loading of 700 metric tons of bal clay from E.C.C. mine at Meeth into the ‘Friso’, a Panama registered and Dutch owned vessel, was watched with a good deal of satisfaction by Harbour Master Capt Pat Brennan.
The full article is dated January 1970

Read More

Mr Dipple dresses up

10 January 1958

Father Christmas stepped out of a chimney to hand out presents for all the children attending the East Yelland Power Station Social Club’s annual Christmas party on Thursday of last week.

1958 Yelland Power Station Christmas


Father Christmas was Mr T Dipple, of Bideford, and the chimney had been temporarily ‘built in’ with screening against one of the walls.
A tea for the children was paid for out of Social Club funds.
There were about 60 children present. They were children of the employees with the exception of a group specially invited from a Barnstaple children’s home. Mothers of those children who were aged up to five years were invited to attend.
This party was for children aged up to 10 years. On the previous day the Social Club had provided a thrill for employees’ children from 10 to school leaving age. This party of 66 children went on a trip to Exeter pantomime.

Read More

Future not so gloomy

January 1970

Biggest of its type in Europe

January 1970 Appledore Shipbuilders

Today’s official opening of the new Appledore shipbuilding facility is part of an overall success story which is almost without parallel in the shipbuilding world and it marks Appledore Shipbuilders Limited as one of the most outstanding companies of its kind in Europe.
Just over seven years ago the future of shipbuilding on this part of Torridgeside hung delicately in the balance. The yards operated by the long established firm of P K Harris & Sons were closed, nearly 400 men lost their jobs, and the future looked black.
But from the ruins Appledore Shipbuilders Limited was formed, to be incorporated into the Court Line Group in 1964, and from that time on it has been a story of ever increasing progress – a story reflected in the fine record of producing an average of ten ships a year.
Article dated January 1970

Read More

Family traditions building up

2 May 1958

 It’s just something for the scrapyard. 

2.5.1958 Bideford scrap metal

It is a 6½ ton fuel tank being loaded on to a railway waggon at Bideford Goods Yard. The tank is from the old Bideford Electricity Company’s works at East-the-Water and it is the last of three. 

One might say it is a tank with a family tradition behind it. At Mr Stanley Jones drove a diesel-powered lorry, carrying the tank, to the goods station he recalled when, 25 years ago, his late father drove the horse-drawn waggon which transported the tank on deliver to Bideford electricity station. And as Mr Jack Easterbrook, the goods yard supervisory foreman, took charge of the loading of the tank onto the train, he remembered how, 25 years ago, his late father, also as foreman, supervised the unloading of the tank at the yard. 

Gazette article dated 2 May 1958

Read More

Will they float?

4 May 1973

A new dimension in boatbuilding on the banks of the River Torridge was rapidly taking shape in a workshop at the bottom of Limers Lane, Northam. 

4.5.1973 cement boats Northam1

Two fero-cement sailing and motor cruises are being built by Mr Len Cooper, of Weare Giffard, an official of the North Devon Yacht Club, and a family partnership of Mr Andrew Cox and his father, Mr Cyril Cox, who are builders. 

When it comes to launching the boats they will be rolled to the nearby shore. Mr Cooper’s boat, which has been constructed in an upside down position, may present something of a problem. The work represents an application of principles by an Italian professor, Professor Nervi, who has specialised in the construction of thin concrete domes. 

The full Gazette article is dated 4 May 1973

Read More