Booklet produced by the Archive
Until its closure in 1969, Bideford Black, as it is most generally known, was a mining and manufacturing industry unique to North Devon and possibly in the world; utilising a local mineral deposit, a range of black colouring pigments was produced for use in such widely diversified end-uses as paints, paper, cement, rubber reinforcing and even cosmetics. The mineral in question was related to anthracite, known in Devon as culm, a form of coal which for centuries had been mined as a fuel. Most of the literature on the subject refers to this
…Booklet produced by the Archive
Introduction
Northam lies in a quiet corner of the North Devon coast occupying a vantage point overlooking the confluence of the Rivers Taw and Torridge and protected from the wild Atlantic by Bideford Bay.
Northam's neighbour Appledore originally known as Tawmutha in Old English, provides beach front anchorages suitable for shallow draught vessels to be hauled out of the channel.
Can this little known village of Northam together with its neighbour, Appledore, have been pivotal in two battles: one securing the rebuilding of the power of Wessex and one signifying its end?
The two battles are firstly the defeat of
…improve the lungs of Bideford
Bideford's Park is a favourite spot for Bidefordians who are pleased to hear that visitors admire it. The flower beds are invariably a mass of bloom throughout the spring, summer and autumn season at at once catch the eye. But read on to find out how the Park came into existence.
In September 1886 at a meeting of Bideford Town Council, the "first business was to receive the report of the Committee respecting the suggested purchase of the marshes adjoining the Pill. The report was to the effect that the Committee were of opinion that
…48 Mill Street
Forty-eight Mill Street, Bideford, was home to Thomas Tedrake from 1863 to about 1908, as well as being his newspaper office with printing press. His wife also ran a shop there.
He was a man with many interests: he opened a photographic studio in Bideford and also published a guidebook to the area as well as running his own newspaper for many years. He was active on the Town Council for decades and, if he needed a hobby, it must have been issuing and receiving court summons' of which there were many!
Tedrake's original photographic business was started
…The 1838 Tithe map and Tithe Apportionment Book for Northam, Appledore & Westward Ho!
When researching family, property and community history we often turn to maps to show how things were. Early in the nineteenth century a series of maps covering the whole of England and Wales were produced and they can be used to find out who owned the land, who occupied it, what it was used for the size of the field and the rent payable. These maps were the Tithe Commutation Maps.
What were Tithes?
Tithes were a tax which had
…At the outbreak of the First World War, the Devonshire Regiment had 6 battalions - 2 regular; 1 Special Reserve, and 3 Territorials. Combining with 2 Devon Yeomanry regiments, they eventually formed 24 battalions, and 1 single company. Ten battalions of the Devon Regiment fought on a number of fronts – North Russia, Italy, Egypt, Macedonia, Palestine, Salonika, Mesopotamia, Belgium and France. Records detail that more than 6,000 Regular and Territorial men were killed and approximately 18,000 injured. The Devonshire Regiment won sixty new battle honours, 2 Victoria Crosses and over 1,250 other
…The Foundation of the United Services College
The founding of the United Services Proprietary College Limited, at Westward Ho! was a reflection on the strains and stresses of Victorian society of the time. Army officers were considered to be members of the upper crust yet their salaries did not stretch far enough to allow them to send their sons to the ‘Great’ Public Schools, unless of course, they possessed a private income to supplement their army pay.
The need for a school, where the sons of officers in both the forces could be given a thorough education at
…There is only one street named Bridgeland Street making it unique in Great Britain.
The following information is from Bideford Bridge Trust – its reports on the condition of the several properties in the street …. At a monthly meeting of the Trustees held in the Bridge Hall on June 25 1890.
1 Bridgeland Street
Known as Garcignes Court in Lease Book, for many years used as the Custom House.
Present leaseholders and occupier Mr T(Thomas) Martin on a lease for 99 years absolute granted February 4th 1888 at a
Eliza Honey 'before her time'
1856 – Eliza Honey, a widow aged 25 and with a 5-month old baby, took on the running of ‘The Bideford Weekly Gazette and Devon and Cornwall Advertiser’.
1859 – 1st female doctor is registered
When parliamentary reform was being debated in 1867, John Stuart Mill proposed an amendment that would have given the vote to women on the same terms as men but it was rejected by 194 votes to 73.
1869 – women who pay property tax can vote in some elections
1878 – London University allows women to graduate
1881/82 – Married women
1770
We believe that Northam Church had bells as early as the first half of the 16th century.
In 1549 most of the bells in Devon and Cornwall were dismantled as a punishment after the Prayer Book Rebellion. However the bells were not taken away as a 1553 inventory lists four bells in the tower, probably without their clappers. West Country bells were allowed to ring again from 1553 when Mary became Queen.
In 1562 an account was rendered “for the casting of our two bells”. It would seem that no attempt was made to rehang the original four bells
…17c-1930s
MORRIS MARPLES
M.A.(OXON.), F.R.G.S.
Headmaster of Bideford Grammar School 1931-37
WARREN AND SON LIMITED
THE WYKEHAM PRESS, WINCHESTER
1937
MADE AND PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN
BY WARREN AND SON LIMITED
HIGH STREET, WINCHESTER
PREFACE
THIS small volume is the outcome of five and a half years during which much of my thought and energy was devoted to the Bideford Grammar School of to-day. Inevitably I became curious about the Bideford Grammar School of yesterday; and yet it was very difficult to find out anything about the past. The standard histories of the town
…1914-1918
The Bideford & District Community Archive Centenary display will be at the following locations:
FULL DISPLAY:
St Margaret’s Church, Northam : Friday 26th October – Wednesday 7th November
PART DISPLAY:
Church, Westward Ho! : Wednesday 7th November – Sunday 11th November
If you are unable to see the exhibition at either of these locations you are welcome to visit the Archive offices in Windmill Lane. Our opening times are: Monday – Wednesday; 9.30 am – 1.00pm
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When thinking about, and planning for, the centenary exhibition I felt it needed to be approaching events by starting from the stories in our local paper, the
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ABBOTT R. C. PTE; ADAMS THOMAS PTE R.N.D.H; ADAMS T PTE; ADAMS T. H. PTE DEVON REGIMENT; AERTON GERALD B. 1ST/6TH DEVON REGIMENT; ALEXANDER ALEC FORTESCUE; ALLIN HAROLD CORP LANCASHIRE FUSILIERS; ALLIN ARTHUR PTE; ALLIN WILLIAM PTE; ALLIN HAROLD 2ND LIEUT LANCASHIRE FUSILIERS; ALLIN A.R. LANC CORP; ANDREW HARRY WILTSHIRE REGIMENT; ARDEN-BOTT JOHN CAPTAIN ROYAL FUSILIERS; ARNOLD WILLIAM DRUMMER; ARNOLD W PTE 1ST/6TH DEVON REGIMENT; ARNOLD HERBERT PTE; ARTHUR E. PTE;
ARTHUR E. PTE DEVON REGIMENT; ARTHURS E PTE DEVON REGIMENT; ARTHURS E. DEVON REGIMENT; ASH RICHARD WORCESTER
by Malcolm Low
Memories if a little clouded with time came flooding back as I walked up Honestone Street in Bideford where I grew up with my younger brother Gordon. The names and places mentioned in the following are from a memory which is fading. I apologise if I am incorrect in some instances, obviously there are other contemporaries and acquaintances from the dim and distant passed who are now practically forgotten by name, perhaps someone somewhere will help me to remember.
Number 7 Honestone Street with Osborns Models shop. My memories of living here
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ADAMS LINFORD H. FLIGHT SERGT
ADAMS HERBERT FLIGHT SERGT
ALEXANDER ARTHUR GRENVILLE STOKER
ALLEN A. G. SERGT
AMBROSE HARRY FRANCIS LANC CORP
ANDERSON DAVIS ANGUS SERGT
ANSELL MICHAEL LIEUT COL
ASH F. J. GUNNER
ASH F. J. DRIVER
ASHPLANT WILLIAM LEONARD SERGT OBS.
ASHPLANT JACK D CORP
ASHPLANT J. D. CORP
BACKWAY WILLIAM SYDNEY SERGT GUNNER
BACKWAY W. S. SERGT
BACKWAY PERCY WILLIAM
BAKER KENNETH CORP
BALKWILL
Foreword
This booklet records in brief the story of Chopes of Bideford, from the establishment of the firm in 1898 to its 75th Birthday in 1973. The first 50 years until 1948 are covered in the first sixteen pages under the title “Fifty Years of Fashion”, and this is an unaltered reprint of the booklet of that title, produced by A. K. Chope and N. H. Chope in 1948. The remaining pages entitled “Years of Change” bring the story up to date. Chopes has always been a “family business”,
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