Reg. Charity 1043675 No. 86 April 2017

Berry, a historic house, nestles at the head of a combe north of Tiverton

Tiverton Civic Society Newsletter

CONTENTSPage

Chairman’s introduction, Jeremy Salter 3

Outings to Cadhay and Hillersdon House, Alison Gordon 7

The Waldron family of Berry, Chevithorne, Tiverton, David Maunder 9

Edward Capern, Jeremy Salter 18

The Tiverton Theatre, 1815 – 1844, Norman Annett 19

Electricity, Pippa Griffith 26

_________________________________________________________

Committee Members and Members with Special Responsibilities

Janet Rendle President

Jeremy Salter Chairman

Brian Jenkins Vice Chairman

Anthony Longbourne Hon. Treasurer

Fern Clarke Hon. Secretary

John Rendle Membership Secretary

Mary Cross Social Secretary

Frank Connock

Dennis Knowles

Andrea Rowe

Alison Gordon Outings organiser

Anne Davies Heritage Open Days, Walks and Refreshments

Contact Telephone Number for membership enquiries: 01884 254914

Our thanks to David Maunder for providing the front cover picture

2

Tiverton Civic Society NewsletterChairman’s Introduction APRIL 2017

The postponement of our first talk was a disappointing start to our

programme for 2017, but we are very glad that the talk on ‘The Future of the

Civic Movement’ has now been rearranged for Tuesday, April 25th at 2.30 pm.

We have recently welcomed several new members and we are pleased that

numbers remain strong. However, and perhaps inevitably, the increase in

subscriptions has led to some problems for our Treasurer. We would be very

grateful if those existing members who have not already done so would

change their standing orders to reflect the increased amounts payable and,

where applicable, reimburse him for the shortfall.

Alison Gordon has kindly organised two very interesting outings for Society

members for 2017. Members are encouraged to sign up for these as soon as

possible. Details of the outings are in this Newsletter.

We welcome the excellent, detailed, and meticulously researched, articles in

this Newsletter, written by members of this Society, and we hope that many

others will consider contributing in the future. Although a printed version will

continue to be circulated, we also intend to place copies on a password

protected Members’ Page on our website: when this occurs, please contact us

if you no longer wish to receive a printed version. We also continue to

consider different future formats including shorter, more regular, Newsletters

updating members of current matters of interest including planning, the

activities of the Civic Trust and notices of forthcoming events.

3

Tiverton Civic Society NewsletterCutbacks in Government funding for local authorities have been much in the

news, and Mid Devon District Council, like many others, is running a deficit

budget and searching for further savings. Since April 2016 local authorities

have been encouraged by the government to sell off assets and to use the

receipts to plug holes in their budgets to improve local services and to fund

schemes to create jobs and growth. Because of this, many cherished assets

have been sold or put to more profitable uses in many parts of the country,

including works of art, historic buildings, museums, parks and playing fields.

In Mid Devon, recent disposals, or changes of use, include Tiverton Town Hall,

Crediton Council Office, and the Tiverton Information Centre kiosk, while Mid

Devon District Council are at present attempting to sell the Moorhayes

Community Centre to ‘the community’. Ironically, this was built not only with

the proceeds of S106 money from the developers of the estates in

Moorhayes, but also with funds raised by the local community. Should the

community be expected to pay for their community hall twice?

The recent proposal to move six pictures from the art collection in Tiverton

Town Hall ‘to place them in a location with greater security’ has been viewed

with great concern, with a widespread suspicion that they could end up in the

saleroom. These pictures include four royal portraits which have probably

been in the town’s possession since the eighteenth century. Although three of

them are contemporary copies taken from existing portraits, they are of fine

quality and have some sale value, while the fourth, and most valuable, of

these is the full-length portrait of George III in the Mayoralty Room, which,

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Tiverton Civic Society Newsletteralthough unsigned, has been professionally attributed as an original work by

Sir Joshua Reynolds, and is undoubtedly one of the finest paintings in public

ownership in Devon. Tiverton Town Council have offered to pay full insurance

and security costs, and we urge Mid Devon Councillors to vote to retain all

these paintings in their present locations.

Many critics have expressed the opinion that the encouragement of councils

‘to sell off the family silver’ to fund services is a temporary source of income

and therefore a damaging and unsustainable move. Local authorities are

therefore being encouraged to seek other solutions to the funding problem,

one of which is to work much more cooperatively with neighbouring local

authorities, for instance by sharing management and services. Most local

authorities, including Mid-Devon, are already exploring and implementing

ways of doing this, and a small number have gone much further by

recommending complete amalgamation with their shared management

partners. The latter include the two councils immediately to our north,

Taunton Deane and West Somerset, which agreed to merge in September

2016. Their shared partnership already delivers annual savings of £1.8 million

and the total savings after merger are predicted to be over £3 million a year.

Such amalgamations can be costly and subject to judicial review. They are also

difficult to manage because of concerns over the loss of sovereignty and

identity of the individual councils, as well as the impact on employment, but

more mergers could eventually become inevitable.

5

Tiverton Civic Society NewsletterSingle unitary authorities, which involve amalgamations of greater numbers of

local councils, have been created in many areas, including Torbay, Plymouth

and Cornwall, and Dorset County Council voted in January to replace its nine

district councils with two unitary ones, with an estimated saving of about

£108m over six years. However, proposals to create separate unitary councils

for Devon and Exeter were rejected by the Secretary of State in 2010 because

of ‘affordability, the risk of fragmenting local services, and the lack of

widespread local support’. The emerging Greater Exeter Strategic Plan, at

present undergoing public consultation, which will hopefully deliver further

savings, is not at present intended to replace constituent local authorities or

local plans, but could be the first step towards a revival of the idea of unitary

local government in this area. Its purpose is ‘to establish an aspirational and

joined-up vision’, addressing future housing, employment and infrastructure

needs, as well as safeguarding and enhancing environmental assets, over a

wide area centred on Exeter, including the city itself and the districts of Mid

Devon (which has much the smallest population), East Devon and Teignbridge.

The development of Tiverton’s Eastern Urban Extension, which has stalled for

some time, appears to be gradually moving towards a satisfactory outcome,

the key issue being S106 funding for the proposed new A361 junction. Much

depends on the resolution of access to ‘Area B’, development of a Master Plan

for this area, and, eventually, applications for Outline Planning Permission.

However, it could be several years before significant building takes place!

Jeremy Salter

6

Tiverton Civic Society NewsletterT.C.S. Visit to Cadhay

Friday 19th May 2017, 1.45 pm

Postcode: EX11 1Q Listing: House, Grade I; Gardens, Grade II

Location: 1 mile north-west of Ottery St. Mary

Directions: From the west, take the A30 and exit at Pattersons Cross. Follow

the signs for Fairmile and then Cadhay. From the east, exit at the Iron Bridge

and follow the signs for Fairmile and then Cadhay.

Cost: £8.00 per head Please book before Friday 12th May

Pevsner stated that Cadhay was one of the most interesting Tudor houses in

Devon. The main part of the present house was built about 1550 by John

Haydon. He retained the Great Hall of the earlier house, of which the fine

timber roof can still be seen in the Roof Chamber. A long gallery, a feature of

late sixteenth century building, was added closing in the south side of the

house to form a courtyard in which there are statues of Henry VIII and his

three children. The house is surrounded by magnificent gardens.

Booking Form for Cadhay

Name ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Address ………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Telephone ……………………………. Email ……………………………………………………………

Do you want a lift? ……………………….. Can you give a lift? ……………………………..

Please send this booking form and a cheque for the relevant amount made

out to Alison Gordon, Tiverton Castle, Park Hill, Tiverton, EX16 6RP. Tel: 01884

252300. Email: info@tivertoncastle.com. No tickets will be issued.

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Tiverton Civic Society NewsletterT.C.S. Visit to Hillersdon House

Wednesday 14th June 2017 at 10.30 am

Postcode: EX15 1LS Listing: Grade II*

Location: Ordnance Survey Grid reference 996079. South-east of Tiverton, to

the south of the road from Tiverton to Cullompton.

Directions: From the top of Newte’s Hill, proceed past the crossroads for East

Butterleigh. Go to the top of the next hill (Forges Hill). Turn right (opposite

Beacon Lane). Take the first lane to the left. The main entrance to Hillersdon

House is adjacent to Hillersdon Lodge.

Cost: £16.00 per head. Please book by Wednesday 7th June

A late Georgian style house overlooking Cullompton, built on the site of an

earlier manor, Hillersdon was designed by Samuel Beazley, better known as a

theatre architect, and built in 1848-9 by William Charles Grant (1817 – 1877)

in red brick, dressed with Portland Stone. Recently, the house has undergone

a complete refurbishment by Mr. and Mrs. Mike Lloyd.

Booking Form for Hillersdon House

Name ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Address ………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Telephone ……………………………. Email ……………………………………………………………

Do you want a lift? ……………………….. Can you give a lift? ……………………………..

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Tiverton Civic Society NewsletterPlease send this booking form and a cheque for the relevant amount made

out to Alison Gordon, Tiverton Castle, Park Hill, Tiverton, EX16 6RP. Tel: 01884

252300. Email: info@tivertoncastle.com. No tickets will be issued.

The Waldron Family of Berry,Chevithorne, Tiverton

Berry, the historic house pictured on the front cover of this issue of the

newsletter, has been in the ownership of the Waldron, Dickinson, Heathcoat

and Heathcoat Amory families, and has been my home since 1972. My

research on the house has shed light on the links between the Waldron and

Slee families, and between the Waldron and Prowse families. John Waldron

senior, who built the almshouses in Tiverton, is described in John Blundell’s

‘Memoirs and Antiquities of Tiverton’, printed in 1712, as being ‘of Berry’.

I have traced the inheritance of Berry in the Waldron family from 1579 to

1773, when it was bought by Benjamin Dickinson (1737 – 1806), who went on

to buy the original Knightshayes in 1781 - but that is another story. Berry

remained in the Dickinson/Walrond family for four generations until John

Heathcoat bought it in 1855. This article focuses on the family relationships of

John Waldron senior, who owned Berry during the sixteenth century, and

those of his heirs and the related members of the Slee and Prowse families.

Early family relationships within the Waldron family

Mike Sampson describes the Waldrons as ‘the most prominent family in

Tiverton in the 1560s’ (A History of Tiverton, 2004: 76). Given the numerous

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Tiverton Civic Society Newsletteruse of ‘Ralph’, ‘John’ and ‘Robert’ as Christian names in three generations of

this family, there has been understandable confusion over the family

relationships. It is often stated that John Waldron, founder of the Almshouses

in Westexe, Tiverton, had a brother called Robert. He did not.

This John Waldron is referred to in various documents - Wills and Inquisition

Post Mortems (IPMs) - as ‘senior’. From the IPM of John senior’s father, Ralph

Waldron senior, it is clear that Ralph had a brother called Robert described as

‘of Cove’ who died in 1587. From this Robert’s will, it is clear that four of his

six sons were still alive in 1587. One son, Robert, died in 1564, and his will

establishes that he and his brother, John Waldron junior, were younger sons

in Robert senior’s family. Confusingly, the IPM of John Waldron junior

describes John Waldron senior as his uncle. I believe this reflected the age gap

between the two. They were cousins.

Both of Robert of Cove’s sons - John junior and Robert junior - had sons called

John, and John junior also had a son called Robert. John Waldron senior had a

son Ralph (d. 1560), and John Waldron junior had a son Ralph (d. 1612).

A simplified family tree is shown on the next page. For clarity, at least twenty

family members have been excluded from the family tree. Amongst the

descendants of the brothers Ralph (Raffe) and Robert Waldron and through

six generations there are nine Robert Waldrons and eight John Waldrons. I

have plotted over 100 descendants through to the mid eighteenth century.

10

Tiverton Civic Society NewsletterHarding quotes a deed dated 19th Oct 1577 by John Waldron senior

establishing the creation of the almshouses ‘and for the special trust and

confidence that I have reposed in John Waldron the younger, of Tyverton, my

Names in bold indicate the initial main line of inheritance of John

Waldron senior’s wealth

cousin, the sonne of one Robert Waldron the younger’ - to

have the choice of the eight people to be housed etc. (Harding: History of

Tiverton, Book 3, pages 91-92). This appears to be referring to Robert Waldron

junior’s son John, about whom there is little known and no obvious baptism or

burial in the Tiverton Parish Records. He was not John Waldron senior’s cousin

but the son of his cousin. Alternatively, this could be incorrect and should

have referred to “John Waldron the younger, of Tyverton, my cousin, the

sonne of one Robert Waldron senior”. I have not been able to trace this 1577

deed.

Ralph (Raffe) Waldron seniord. 8.3.1560Will and IPM

Robert Waldron senior ‘of Cove’d. 14.8.1587 Will only

John Waldron senior ‘of Berry’d. 21.7.1579Will and IPMMarried Richarda Prowse

John Waldron juniord. 13.4.1602Latin IPM

Robert juniord. 6.5.1564Will and 1579 IPM

Ralph (Raffe) Waldrond. 22.3.1560

Ralph Waldrond. 1612IPM 1612

John Waldron b. 1578Alive in 1612

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Tiverton Civic Society NewsletterJohn Waldron senior suffered the loss of both his father Ralph and his son

Ralph in the same month in 1560. Mike Sampson describes how wealthy John

was and how he was a trader importing iron and other goods in exchange for

Tiverton kerseys. From Raffe Waldron senior’s IPM it is clear John inherited a

significant portfolio of properties from his father.

Peter Maunder, my cousin, has researched a fascinating summary of John

Waldron senior’s trading activity which expands our knowledge of this

extraordinary man. Over the eleven-year period 1567 to 1578 there were at

least sixteen consignments of imported goods made by him. His property

portfolio detailed in his IPM shows how widely he had spread his investments.

It included:

The Manor of Wonford in Heavitree with 20 messuages (a dwelling

house with outbuildings and land assigned to its use) and over 1000

acres of land.

The Advowson of the church of Bampton bought with his father.

Woodbeare and eight messuages in Plymptree with over 400 acres of

land.

Land in Halberton and Cullompton with six messuages and over 700

acres of land.

Various properties and pieces of land in Exeter including 24 messuages.

25 Messuages and tenements in Tiverton.

The Manor of Daccombe and Coffinswell with 24 messuages and over

440 acres of land.

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Tiverton Civic Society Newsletter The Advowson of the rectory of Coldridge.

A messuage with over 100 acres in Colaton Raleigh.

In 1577 two years before his death, John Waldron senior recorded his wishes

in ‘indented writings’ to the effect that his trustees were empowered to:

‘both for and in consideration of a certain marriage-portion solemnized

between Richaurda, then his wife, and for and in the consideration and

purpose of a certain fitting and appropriate Joining, had, made, and

confirmed to the afore-mentioned Richaurda, his wife, for and in title

and recompense of her dowry, which to her should appertain, from all

and singular his Manors, lands, tenements, and hereditaments,

whatsoever. And for the good will, love and affection which he bears

both for the afore-mentioned Richaurda, his wife, and his kinsman, John

Waldron Junior, of Tyverton aforesaid, and the rest of his brothers, sons

of a certain Robert Waldron senior , of Tyverton aforesaid, and for the

advantage of the name of The Waldrons, which for the great desire that

the afore-mentioned John Waldron senior then should have had that all

that his Manor, lands, tenements, and hereditaments, in the aforesaid

Indenture mentioned and expressed, should remain and continue to the

heirs of the body of the same John Waldron senior, and for the failure of

such issue, to the male heirs of these other persons of his name and

blood-line, in perpetuity, who in the aforesaid recited Indenture have

been specifically named and appointed;’

In the final section of this very lengthy IPM there is the following: -

13

Tiverton Civic Society Newsletter‘The Jurors aforesaid declare that the aforesaid John Waldron senior died

on the eighteenth day of July in the year of the reign of the said lady

Elizabeth, now Queen of England, the twenty-First. And that the aforesaid

Robert Waldron of Tyverton aforesaid is his blood relative and next heir.’

This must refer to his uncle, Robert Waldron senior of Cove, who died eight

years later. Robert’s son, Robert Waldron junior, had already died in 1564.

The inheritance passed to John Waldron junior, Robert Waldron senior’s

eldest son, who died in 1602, and then to John Waldron junior’s eldest son

Ralph, who died in 1612. This Ralph Waldron junior’s very long and complex

IPM dated 18th Sept 1612 sets out how he inherited most of John Waldron

senior’s portfolio of properties, and also the complex entailment of the

inheritance thereafter.

Of interest, perhaps, is that, after Ralph Waldron senior died in 1560, it

appears that his widow Ellen married Henry Tremlett and had a daughter

Johan (b. 1561) and a son Richard (b. 1562). Ellen died in 1591. After John

Waldron senior died in 1579, his widow Richarda married Roger Giffard in

1580 and went to live in St Peter Street and then Tiverton Castle, where Roger

Giffard died in 1603. She died the following year.

The relationship between the Waldron and Slee families of Tiverton.

In the 1560 will of Ralph Waldron senior there are approximately 50

individuals named as beneficiaries. After individual bequests, the rest of his

estate goes to his son John and he names his brother Robert as overseer. The

14

Tiverton Civic Society Newslettergreatest individual bequest is for the unborn child his wife Ellen ‘goeth with’

(£200). Next is his wife Ellen (£100) and then Raffe (£50), the son of his son

John. As already noted, this Raffe died two weeks after his grandfather. Of

interest, then, are the bequests of £30 each to three people - Juliana Slee wife

of William Slee, Thomas Londe and Christian Londe (children of his first wife

Elizabeth Londe/Lande).

In John Waldron senior’s IPM dated 1579 there is:

‘both for and in respect and consideration of the good will, love, and

affection, which [he, John Waldron senior] himself bears for his nephew

George Slee of Tyverton aforesaid, merchant, son of a certain William Slee

of Colrudge aforesaid, and Juliana, his wife, natural sister of the same

afore-mentioned John Waldron senior.’

Without doubt, John Waldron senior had a sister Juliana who married William

Slee (b.c.1525, d.1585), father of George Slee (b.c.1555, d.1613) of the Great

House, St Peters’ Street. It is not apparent whether Juliana was the daughter

of Elizabeth or Ellen. However, there was a Julyan, daughter of Jullyan Lande,

buried in 1587 in Tiverton Parish records, indicating that the name could have

come from the Lande family.

John Waldron acquired the advowson of the rectory of Coldridge in January

1562, and from his IPM it is clear George Slee was his nephew and should

inherit the advowson should John senior himself have no son. George

subsequently left it to his son Roger Slee (b. 1582). Another link between the

15

Tiverton Civic Society Newslettertwo families had occurred when John Waldron senior’s cousin Robert

Waldron junior married William Slee’s sister Alice in Coldridge in 1556.

The relationship between the Waldron and Prowse families of Tiverton.

John Waldron senior married Richarda Prowse. She was the eldest daughter

of John Prowse (1516 – 1585) of Peadhill, who was the eldest son of Robert

Prowse (1492 – 1529) of Chevithorne Manor (Barton?), the sixth son of John

Prowse, Lord of Chagford (1436 – 1526).

Three months after the death of Ralph Waldron senior in 1560, his widow

Ellen had a daughter Elizabeth. She married Thomas Prowse two months after

her brother John Waldron senior died. This Thomas was brother of Richarda

Waldron (nee Prowse). John Waldron junior married Annes Prowse in 1569.

Her position in the Prowse family is unclear.

Mike Sampson has gathered a substantial collection of references to the

Prowse family and many show their connections with the Waldron family.

Over the period from the earliest records to the mid eighteenth century there

were many properties in and around Tiverton where the Prowse family

members had an interest. Included in the list are: Chevithorne Barton, land at

West Chevithorne, East and West Mere, Peadhill, Pilywell, Leverlake, Pitt

Farm, Warnicombe, Hensleigh, Rix, Bolham, Colcombe, Manley (where there

is ‘Prowse’s Farmhouse’), Pool Anthony and the Manor of Chettiscombe

where there is now ‘Prowses Farm’.

16

Tiverton Civic Society NewsletterI suggest it is reasonable to suppose that, despite John Waldron’s immense

wealth and land ownership, his wife might have persuaded him to live at

Berry, perhaps an off farm of Chevithorne Barton. This may have been the

Chevithorne Manor owned by Richarda’s grandfather. This would explain the

change of access to Berry between 1819 and 1889 revealed by the maps

below. I also think it was John Waldron

who installed the fine panelling in the

property. Similar panelling can be seen in

the Great House in St Peter Street,

built by George Slee, son of his sister

Juliana and William Slee.

In the 1819 Ordnance Map the access to Berry is shown via Chevithorne

Barton .

In 1889 the access had switched

to the west and crosses by the

rear entrance to Pitt farm.

Some other points of interest

17

Tiverton Civic Society NewsletterMy cousin Peter found, and I bought, a grandfather clock made c.1720 by

John Waldron (c. 1690- 1757), who then owned Berry by a convoluted family

inheritance. Berry had passed through five generations of the Waldron family

and perhaps as many as fifteen or sixteen members of the family were in

some way involved. After the clockmaker, John Waldron’s, bankruptcy, Berry

passed through the hands of another John Waldron (1713-1772, a butcher!),

and shortly after his death the family got together and sold Berry to Benjamin

Dickinson (1737-1806) in 1773.

Benjamin Dickinson’s grandson and great grandson both changed their names

to Walrond by deed poll after Benjamin Bowden Dickinson married Francis,

the Walrond heiress, in 1815. Benjamin Dickinson’s great grandson, Sir John

Walrond Walrond (1818-1889), sold Berry to John Heathcoat in 1855 and the

original Knightshayes to his grandson John Amory in 1867. The latter changed

his name to Heathcoat Amory in 1874. John Heathcoat’s great, great,

grandson, Sir John Heathcoat Amory, sold Berry (keeping the 72 acres) to his

agent Captain Geoffrey Peters in 1959, who sold it to me in 1972.

David Maunder

Edward Capern, ‘the Postman Poet’ 

The recent publication of a biography and a new volume of his poems has

focussed renewed attention on Edward Capern, who was born in Tiverton in

1819. He is best known for the period between 1848 and 1866, when he

worked for the Post Office at Bideford as a letter-carrier. He began to write

18

Tiverton Civic Society Newsletterverse for the North Devon Journal, and his poems were soon in great demand.

He wrote five volumes of poetry and songs, and a patriotic poem about the

Crimean War, The Lion Flag of England, earned him a Civil List pension,

awarded by Lord Palmerston. He died at Heanton Punchardon in 1894.

Jeremy Salter

The Tiverton Theatre 1815 - 1844It was the chance discovery in the stored ephemera of the Museum of Mid

Devon Life of a playbill dated January 10th 1815 setting out the programme at

Tiverton’s ‘New Theatre’, that began the investigation into what was once an

important part of the social life of the town and district. Further information

on the early days of the visiting troupes of actors was found in Dunsford and

further details, together with another example of a playbill from twenty years

later, in the pages of Snell’s ‘Chronicles of Twyford’, while a visit to the West

Country Studies Library brought to light yet four more late playbills.

The information given by these programmes sheds light upon the building

used in St. Peter Street, the nature of its internal layout, the manner of each

evening’s performance, the charges to the public, the cast and extent of its

capabilities to portray changing scenes. More personal memories of the

theatre, its productions, company members, invited well known artists and

audiences were, by happy chance, found in a long article by Mr. J. Sharland in

an issue of the local paper of the late 19th century: together all this was used

for an article published in ‘Devon and Cornwall Notes and Queries’, Vol. XLI -

19

Tiverton Civic Society NewsletterPartII, Autumn 2012, and a talk to the Civic Society ‘The Tiverton Theatre’ in

November 2016.

There the matter may have rested if it were not for sheer serendipity. Mr.

Douglas Rice, in his investigation into the play of 1829, ‘Tiverton Castle’ or

‘The Siege of Tiverton in 1645’, by Thomas Henry Heathcote, asked me if I

knew of a possible source for more information and I suggested that there

might be some items remaining from the one - time collection of a Tiverton

Trust once held in the local branch of the County Library. Indeed, there he

came across a collection of no fewer than 66 copies of playbills, all from the

years 1827 -1829 with the productions in September, November and

December 1827 and January and February 1828. It also included the playbill

for ‘Tiverton Castle’ for Thursday 26th March 1829, billed as ‘the last

performance but one’ and ‘By the Desire and under the Patronage of The

Worshipful Mayor and Corporation’. The collection showed the extent of the

programmes, the variety of the main attractions, the regular changes that

took place during each week, the difference in the second half offerings and

how the members of the company undertook many different roles.

The playbills for the period September 1827 to February 1828 show that

Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays were the theatre’s ‘playing days’ and

always saw a change of programme, as well as on other days when holidays

such as Christmas fell. The company of provincial or ‘strolling’ players

remained together for most of the period, with an occasional additional actor

joining mid-season: wives and children of the regular cast also appeared. A

20

Tiverton Civic Society Newsletterstudy of the cast list shows the leading lights who took the choicest roles and

those who were the supporting players, together with odd ‘bit’ characters.

From September 1827, there was a core cast of eight men, who were joined in

November and December by five more, and eight ladies, one of whom, Mrs.

Cornwall, was from the Theatre Royal, Bristol. One of the new men, a Mr.

Danvers, was reported as being a pupil of J. Blewitt, Esq., Composer of Music

for the Theatre Royal Drury Lane and Vauxhall Gardens. He appeared on 13th

Nov. 1827 and it was noted that it was his first time on stage: thereafter he

was a regular performer. Two of the original men and Mrs. Cornwall, joined

the company from the Theatre Royal, Bristol. The company then remained

unchanged with the addition of Mr. Beverley from Bristol and Mr. Heathcote,

author of the play ‘Tiverton Castle’, from the Theatre Royal, Portsmouth, the

following year. Both appeared regularly from February 4th 1829.

All cast members were ‘all round’ performers, not only taking parts in the

major and the second half supporting items, which were commonly farces or

melodramas, but also as singers, dancers and story tellers. While the principal

production of each performance was a usually a serious or classical play, the

light - hearted nature of the second would be made plain, like the introduction

for ‘Tom and Jerry’ or ‘Life in London’ on December 5th 1827, where it was

described as, ‘ClassicComic, Operatic, Didastic, Moralistic, Aristophenic,

Localic, Analytic, Terspichoric, Panoramic. Camra-Obscura-ic, Extravaganza

Burletta of Fun, Frolic, Fashion and Flash’. It then said that it was ‘Produced

under the superintendance of the most celebrated artists “Both in the Ups and

21

Tiverton Civic Society NewsletterDowns of Life” Who have all kindly come forward to assist the manager in his

endeavour to render this piece a complete OUT AND OUTER, with PRIME

CHAUNTS, RUM GLEES, and KIDDY CATCHES”.

An article in an issue of The Tiverton Gazette tells that cast regular Mr. Kent

was indispensable to the company as his appearance and voice, together with

his sword play, made him a good choice for the role of all kinds of villain.

Major members of the cast, together with the senior backstage and orchestra

leaders, were rewarded with a ‘Benefit’ performance at the end of the playing

season. Some evenings were ‘under the desire and patronage’ of local citizens

of note or fame, for example John Heathcoat and Lady Duntze, both in

February 1828, together with groups such as ‘The Ladies of the Book Society’,

‘The Gentlemen Subscribers to the Coffee Room’, ‘The Late Amateur Musical

Society’ and, of course, the Mayor and Corporation.

In January and February at the end of the 1828 season, benefits were given to

almost all the regular players who would at the top of the bill give their thanks

for the many favours they had received from the Ladies and Gentlemen of

Tiverton and its Vicinity. Whereas tickets for performances were normally

obtainable from the printer, Mr. Salter, and Mrs. Lee at Mr. Daw’s, tallow

chandler in Fore Street, the benefit players would also arrange to sell them at

their own nominated outlet as well. Thus Mr. Lloyd chose the currier, Mr.

Viney on Angel Hill; Mr. Hughes the whitesmith Mr. Sharland in Newport

Street, Mr. Danvers at Mr. Collard’s in Kiddell’’s Court, while Messrs Shatfird

and Fenton chose The Barrington Bell inn and Mrs. Lower’s in West Exe. The

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Tiverton Civic Society NewsletterLeader of the Band, Mr. Donaldson, and Mr.

Gillings the Stage Keeper and Bill deliverer, used

Mr. Pile of St. Peter Street and Mrs. Duckham of St.

Andrew Street. Thus, quite a number of locals

were involved.

Outside the normal season special performances

were held when London ‘stars’ were invited to

Tiverton for a limited period. Thus, in June 1829

the delectable, but temperamental, Miss Foote,

was invited to play Rosalind in Shakespeare’s ‘As

You Like It’ and Donna Violante in ‘Wonder A Woman Keeps A Secret’, as well

as singing and dancing while playing the castanets. Her versatility and

popularity was tempered by the fact that the management had to ensure her

companion chaperone stayed with her between acts as she had a well-known

liking for ‘stimulating liquors’. She was paid £15.00 a night, a sum that the

management hoped to cover by increasing the cost of entry; boxes were

charged 4s.6d., Pit 2s.6d. and the Gallery 1s. and, if notice was given, part of

the Pit could be converted into boxes. The Gazette records that this venture

was not a financial success.

That the management of the actual theatre, enlarged and with improved

facilities from 1825, showed concern for the comfort of the audience, may be

seen from notes on the playbills for November 1827 that patrons would be

comfortable for ‘The Theatre is well aired, Fires having been constantly kept

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Tiverton Civic Society Newsletterin it for several days’. As to facilities when the company played ‘Faustus’ for

the very first time on December 6th 1827, it was stressed how the scenery and

machinery were entirely new and that there would be a succession of scenery

and incidents; each was in turn described, views of the mountains, St, Mark’s

Venice, a palace chamber and saloon and the exterior of an inn. On Dec.12th

an outline of the main item’s plot appeared and this was featured on several

occasions after, where the play was new or rather involved. On December

26th 1827 for a production of ‘Blue Beard’ and incidental to the performance,

‘there would be new scenes and characteristic pageantry’, a ‘New Romantic

Drop Scene’, ‘An Asiatic Perspective Scene’ with Blue Beards Train passing

over distant mountains with Spahis, Camels and Dromedaries.

Something new for the patrons was promised for January 28th 1828, the

benefit night for Messrs. Shatford and Fenton; the conclusion to the evening’s

performances was to be Mr Shatford’s, “Grand Optical Exhibition and Grand

Phantasmasgoric Display Consisting of Beautiful Views of Landscapes,

Architecture, Moonlight Scenes, etc. Imperceptively changing from one to

another, as if by Magic, before the Eye of the Spectator, And which have in

PARIS and LONDON gained the applause of all the scientific men of the age.

To give a description of the effect produced by this ingenious machinery,

would be a thing impossible. It presents Landscapes, Moving Figures,

Transformations, Portraits, &c. in a manner, to the unlettered totally

unaccountable.” This must have been a lantern show, probably from behind a

screen, so as to add to the mystery, as in the famous ‘Phantasmagoria’ shows

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Tiverton Civic Society Newsletterput on at The Lyceum, London, from 1801, by Paul de Philipsthal. The show

was repeated on February 13th and advised in the same wording.

The first playbills from the 1829 season begin with that for February 4th when,

from his announcement at the top of the bill, Mr. Shatford had taken over as

manager of the company which remained unaltered from the previous year.

The season carried on with exactly the same format, although on this first

night a ‘Grand Broadsword Combat’ was performed by Messrs. Fuller and

Davis as part of the dramatic action. A feature of the remaining nights was the

coming and going of Mr. Herbert Lee, introduced on February 5th as about to

visit to perform roles he had undertaken at Bristol, Salisbury and Barnstaple,

etc. The first of these was as Shylock in ‘The Merchant of Venice’, Mrs. Lee and

Ms. Lee appearing with him as Portia and Jessica. He performed again on

February 11th, returning on the 16th, 25th, 27th, then on the last night of the

season when the company played Richard III, he briefly appeared in the finale,

An Indian Dance, with Miss Lee. On two occasions Mr. Shatford produced

dramas which were running elsewhere to large and enthusiastic audiences,

one in London the other at the Royal Surrey Theatre.

The cast members listed in the playbills for 1835 show that, with the exception

of Herbert Lee and Mr., Mrs. and Master Davis, the company of players had

completely changed, now comprising eleven men and four women with two

youngsters. Nine years later the company was again new, only Master Davis

remaining from 1835, with eight men and four women. This group of players

from 1844 was almost certainly the last to grace the stage of the Tiverton

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Tiverton Civic Society NewsletterTheatre, for in that year Mr. Davis relinquished the lease on the building,

which was then sold to Mr. Samuel Gath who demolished it and built himself

‘a commodious house’ thereon – York House, St. Peter Street. The players

presumably strolled on their way to other provincial theatres still open.

Norman Annett

ElectricityAt Tiverton Museum, we are currently working on a project to replace the

lighting with LEDs to reduce running costs and our carbon footprint. This work

has been generously funded by Viridor Credits Environmental Company

(£15,459), alongside a Small Grant Big Improvement grant from the South

West Museum Development Programme, funded by Arts Council England

(£2000), and a donation of £225 from the Tiverton Lions Club.

Changing to LED lighting will reduce the carbon footprint of the museum as

the KW usage per hour would be reduced by about 77%. Some movement

sensors will also be introduced further reducing the museum's carbon

footprint by about 88% per year. This project will significantly reduce our

electricity costs, and reduce ongoing maintenance costs of replacing bulbs, as

LED lamps have a longer life (also reducing landfill waste). The LED lighting will

produce less heat than the existing bulbs, and produce less ultra violet light,

which will be better for the objects on display in the museum.

This project prompted us to look at the history of lighting and electricity in

Tiverton. Tiverton has had street lighting since 1831 when gas lights were

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Tiverton Civic Society Newslettersupplied by the gas works at the Heathcoat Factory. The ‘Report to the

General Board of Health on a preliminary inquiry into the sewerage, drainage

and supply of water and the sanitary condition of the inhabitants of the

Borough of Tiverton’ of 1851 records that there were 44 public lamps costing

the town about £2 per lamp each year. The report states that there were

great complaints that the ‘light was insufficient, both as regards the number of

lamps, and the hours in which they are lighted’ (between September to May

excepting at times of a full moon). Mr Harford, the Superintendent of Policy,

said that ‘the town would be much more secure if the lights were increased,

Robberies have been committed under cover of darkness. One of my men was

shot at in Elmore [Chapel Street]. The want of lighting in the back courts is a

serious inconvenience, as they form a harbour for persons committing, or

contemplating the commission of, crimes.’ In December 1850 more lamps

were installed in the town, including 6 in Elmore. Tiverton Gas Works were

purchased by the Borough Council from the factory in 1895 at a cost of

£20,000. This was criticised by some who saw electricity rather than gas as

power source of the future. Tiverton’s first Electricity Works were situated

next to the Gas Works on Blundell’s Road. Mike Sampson records in his

‘History of Tiverton’ that there were 31 customers in 1924 rising to 107 by

January 1925. The Borough Council’s Gas and Electricity Showroom was on St

Andrew’s Street in Tiverton in the 1930s. Sadly, we don’t appear to have any

photographs of this in the museum’s collection. Nationalisation occurred in

1947 when the South West Electricity Board was formed. At the museum,

there are all sorts of electrical gadgets on display which would have

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Tiverton Civic Society Newslettertransformed households, including

vacuum cleaners, radios, toasters,

cookers and irons.

This view of Fore Street (c. 1900)

shows two free standing gas lights at

the Town Hall end of the street, and

lights highlighting the passageways to the Half Moon Inn on

the right, and the Phoenix inn on the left.

Exe Valley

Electric Company had premises in Bampton from 1927, and continued to

supply the local area until 1947.

These two images show the Electricity Works and the Gas

Works on Blundell’s Road. In the background, you can see

Old Road and Tiverton Station.

The BP Electric Guide 1920s-1930s provides householders

with guidance on changing fuses and wiring all sorts of devices.

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Tiverton Civic Society NewsletterPippa Griffith

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