April 1950
April 1925
Voluntary institution
1924
Windmill LaneBy Sarah Chappell
Thomas Tedrake48 Mill Street
Beacon light to shine forth1874
Used by Max FactorBooklet produced by the Archive
Saxon battles in North DevonBooklet produced by the Archive
Atlantic Racquet CentreA small local Club
North Devon at war1944
Within Northam's jurisdictionimprove the lungs of Bideford
Tithe Maps The Battle of the Somme 1916 United Services Proprietary College 1874-1903 Bridgeland Street, Bideford, Devon 1918-2018Eliza Honey 'before her time'
Bilbie Bells1770
History of Bideford Grammar School17c-1930s
World War 11914-1918
Voluntary institution1924
A Commanding site in Abbotsham Road
In April 1924 it was announced that a meeting of the General Management Committee fo the Bideford and District Hospital has been held in connection with the steps being taken for the building of a new Hospital. The option of re-modelling and enlarging the present site was found to be ‘excessive commensurate with the result.’ This scheme was abandoned and the Committee was ‘more and more convinced after the years of consideration given to the subject that the erection of a new Hospital on a more suitable site would meet with greater public approval and support.’ The Committee was able to avail themselves of the voluntary assistance of expert help. “Three sets of plans and estimates were examined, and those of Mr H Dighton Pearson, of Gower Street, London – a brother of Dr Ellis Pearson – were regarded as so entirely in accord with the conditions laid down, and the requirements sought, as to render it unnecessary to incur the expense of proceeding
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Windmill LaneBy Sarah Chappell
Why is the road named Windmill Lane?
When I first visited the community archive in Windmill Lane to see the archivist Mrs Pat Slade, this was the first question that I asked. It was also the request of my partner, who tolerates my interest in old things. Mrs Slade advised that the reason was that a windmill could be seen from the lane. The map of 1936 lodged at the archive indicates the position of the windmill and indeed the stump of the tower remain in situ north of Bidna Lane but is very difficult to see from the public highway. The current O. S map still indicates the remains of a windmill at Bidna.
Figure 1- Map of Northam and Appledore parishes showing the location of the windmills
The fact the road is called Windmill Lane because of a view of a windmill seemed a little unlikely. The lane has always been shown as Windmill Lane on the O.S. Maps dating from 1932.
Figure 2- O.S extract from 1930 showing development on the site of the Windmill Lane windmill site.(NCA)
A visit to
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Thomas Tedrake48 Mill Street
Thomas Tedrake
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 in Meddon St and in 1863 he moved to Mill Street. He suffered a setback in 1873 when a stove caused a fire. The photographic studio was a wooden structure at the back of his shop which had been waterproofed with tar on the outside so it burned fiercely and the building was completely destroyed.
Examples of his photographs are:
A new photo-studio is opened:
The 1871 Census identifies Thomas’s profession as...
Beacon light to shine forth1874
Hartland Point Lighthouse
Designed by Sir James Douglass, construction began on Hartland lighthouse in November 1873 by contractor Mr Levi Yerward under the supervision of resident engineer Henry Norris.
Photograph courtesy of Patrick Tubby
North Devon Gazette dated 21 June 1870 - 'A lighthouse is about to be erected near Hartland Point.'
North Devon Journal 23 June 1870 - 'Proposed new lighthouse at Hartland Point – The necessity of a lighthouse at Hartland Point has more than once being strongly urged, frequent wrecks occurring on that iron-bound coast. Sometime since negotiations were entered into for the purchase of piece of land for the construction of a lighthouse near Hartland Point. On Friday it is stated these negotiations were brought to a satisfactory termination, and it is reported that the work of constructing the lighthouse will shortly commence.'
4 April 1871 - Western Morning News
1885 Ordance Survey Map
From The Hartland Chronicle, July 1905, the following
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Atlantic Racquet CentreA small local Club
The history of the Club (with many thanks to Peter Colwill)
The Origins
The Club was formed in July 1946 by a group of friends and enthusiasts who had formerly played on a ‘pay and play’ basis on the Council owned courts in Golf Links Road, Westward Ho! Agreements with Northam Urban District Council were held leasing the courts for various lengths of time ranging from one to three years. Time limits on court, and always having to leave a court for the use of the public, meant that membership was restricted to 70 senior and 25 junior members. This situation was not satisfactory, and the general consensus of opinion of members was that, should ever the opportunity arise, the Club would make intensive efforts to prepare a development scheme for the future of the Club.
1959 article
27 January 1970 agreement with Urban District Council of Northam
Success!
An article dated 23 July 1954 details "By their victory at Saunton over Rock Park Club, Barnstaple, Westward Ho! Tennis Club retained
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Within Northam's jurisdictionimprove the lungs of Bideford
Commerating a Golden Jubilee
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 it was desirable to open up negotiation with Major Hogg and Captain Molesworth to inquire if they would sell, for public purposes their respective marshes, or such portions as might be agreed upon. The Committee also recommended that nothing be at present done to the flood-hatch, but the Surveyor watch it."
1886 Map
Queen Victoria was crowned in 1837, and in 1887 councillors decided to take steps to commemorate her Golden Jubilee
...United Services Proprietary College 1874-1903
Westward Ho!
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 a reasonably moderate cost, and from whence their entry into the Woolwich or Sandhurst Academies could be ensured, led to the foundation of the United Services College, as it became known, by the United Services Institution. The funding of an establishment of this sort was also an attempt to eliminate the necessity of the officers sending their sons to ‘Crammers’, after they had left school. These ‘Crammers’
...Bridgeland Street, Bideford, Devon
Bridgeland Street is in the town of Bideford, measuring approximately 201 metres long
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 yearly rental of £9 12s 0d.
Bounded on the East by the road leading to the Manor Wharf. On the north by the road leading to the Strand, and from which there is a back entrance. On the south, by Bridgeland St. There is a stable entrance on the north.and four windows looking ..the road.
The house is in good substantial repair, also the roof. The main building having recently been new roofed.
2
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