the brayford bells restoration project · chapel dedicated to st petrock in 1424 which was later...
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The Brayford Bells Restoration Project
2010 - 2011
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Brayford Parish and Bells Project Page 3
Newspaper articles Page 6
History of Bells and Bell Ringing Page 12
Memories of Brayford Page 15
High Bray Census - 1891 Page 46
Particulars of Bray Estate sale - 1919 Page 52
Brayford School Head Teachers Page 56 Brayford School Register - 1879 to 1979 Page 57 More History in Pictures Page 78
Brayford parish with its deep wooded valleys and fine moorland scenery, is situated in North Devon to the North East of Barnstaple and North of South Molton Its perimeter extends to the Somerset boundary along a high ridge of Exmoor and includes Span Head (1618 ft ) and Setta Barrow (1556 ft ) There is an ancient fortification of about 4 acres, a tumulus 114 feet in circuit and 10 high, and several smaller tumuli on Whitefield Down, Bray Common and Fullaford Down Successive strata in the tumuli have been found on examination to contain - first: ashes, Roman coins, and cinerary urns; next: Greek coins; next: Egyptian coins, Phoenician coins, and copper arrow heads
The village of Brayford was the centre of extensive iron smelting during Roman times using ore brought down from Exmoor
Whitefield and Gratton farms were Domesday estates, and Muxworthy is mentioned as early as c 1100 Lydcott, the house whence Amy Robsart of Sir Walter Scott’s novel of “Kenilworth” went, is now rebuilt as a farmhouse; its ancient chapel is now the farm garden, and a shilling of Queen Elizabeth was found there some years ago
The ford in the village of Brayford was a well-established pack horse route and drover’s trail from Porlock to Barnstaple By the mid 17th century, Brayford was on the most important highway across Exmoor, from Dunster via Exford, Simonsbath and Kensford Cross (Kinsford Gate) to Barnstaple In the late 1920s a bridge was built, and now thousands of visitors pass over this on their way to enjoy the sights of Exmoor
The Village of Brayford has a Methodist Chapel built in 1927 and also a former Baptist Chapel Regular Methodist preaching began at Brayford in 1777 The Baptist Chapel was built in 1820 on land donated for a Methodist chapel
and graveyard in 1813 by Joseph Gould It was once the oldest in North Devon but is now a private dwelling
In the neighbouring village of Charles is the Church of St John the Baptist restored in 1891, and replacing the old chapel dedicated to St Petrock in 1424 which was later converted to become the rectory
High Bray, which sits above the village of Brayford, has a grade I listed church (All Saints Church) It appears to have been established by the Normans, though it is said a church has been on the hill since Saxon times The present building dates largely from a reconstruction in the 1500’s and was thoroughly restored in 1878
All Saints church has many interesting historical features The main entrance to the church is through a pair of Ashlar gatepiers (1864) which have pyramidal caps Set in these is a wrought iron double main gate and a side pedestrian gate to the left with fleur-de-lis heads to the shafts and dog bars, and a twisted wrought iron simple arch overthrow with central lamp bracket In the entrance porch are stone seats and an old coat rail and inside the church the aisle has four bays and the nave has a wagon roof A capital on one of the pillars between the nave and aisle has a carving of a bellringer with a rope entwined around the column
Other features of particular interest include a 15th century rood screen, now in the tower arch and a circular font with a characteristic Norman zig-zag frieze (the shell ornament on the lower part of the bowl was added later with a chisel) There is a stained glass window dated 1919, which is a memorial to landowner Sir Charles Dyke Acland
The church tower, which contains six ancient bells, is broad and battlemented with carved faces and gargoyles
Brayford Parish and Bells Project
Contents
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Details and size of bells in the tower
No Tone Date Size Maker Inscription
5 Bb 1450 37” IT Protégé Virgo Pia Quos Convoco Sancta Maria
3 Db 1499 29 63” Exeter Foundry Voce Mea Viva Depello Cuncta Nociva
Tenor Ab 1807 40 88” Thomas Bilbie Mr Rich’d Dyer Churchwarden High Bray 1807Bilbie Cullompton Fecit
2 Eb 1892 28 13” John Warner & SonsLondon
C P Whitaker, Rector,P Rock, G Moule , Churchwardens
4 C 1400’s recast1892
32 25” Exeter FoundryJohn Warner & SonsLondon
Est Mihi Collatum IHS Istud Nomen Amatum + Walter +To The Glory of God + Recast in 1892 in Memory of Walter Edmunds By His Son Walter John Canon of Exeter, Rector of High Bray 1873-1889
Treble F 1895 27 25” John Warner & SonsLondon
Praise Ye The LordC P Whitaker, RectorG Moule, J Robins, churchwardens
and the bell chamber is approached via narrow circular stone steps Two of the bells are some of the oldest in the country being cast and placed in the church in the 15th century - one in 1499 and one in 1450 - and have been
identified as being of historic significance by the Council for the Care of Churches Of the other four bells, one was cast in 1807, and three were cast in the 1890s when the current bell frame was constructed and put in place
The ProjectThe community of Brayford of approx 320 people are very active and have undertaken a variety of successful projects over the years At the end of 2009 a parishioner asked if the Parish Council would consider a project to restore the ancient bells in All Saints Church at High Bray (they had not been rung for nearly 25 years due to the deterioration of the oak framework in the tower)
Research was undertaken to assess the work and costs involved and the relevant church organisations were approached for approval to undertake the work Two quotations were then obtained and a Parish Council Open Meeting was held at the beginning of February 2010 for everyone to consider the proposed work and costs involved Following discussion and consultation, it was unanimously agreed to support the proposal It was agreed to accept the lower quotation from John Taylor Bellfounders of Loughborough (£34k) as they were prepared to adjust the costs if volunteers were provided to help with the manual work
A project group of seven volunteers was then set up, with the support of the Parish Council and under the umbrella of High Bray Parish Church Council, to manage the work and to raise the necessary funds At their first meeting, held
on 24th February 2010, it was agreed to seek written approval from the relevant authorities to undertake the work, to approach various organisations for funding, and to draw up a work plan This was very much a community project and the group were keen that everyone should be kept informed and involved via the Village Newsletter as well as details being included on the village website (www brayford org) The school were also asked to design a logo
Raising monies for the costs involved was quite an
undertaking for such a small community, but everyone was keen to ensure that a historic landmark in their community was preserved for future generations The work involved restoring the six ancient bells and the bell frame in the church tower, installing lighting in the bell chamber and spiral stairway up the tower, and also fixing a camera in the bell and ringing chambers to connect to a screen below so people could see the bells turning in the tower when being rung The project also included the production of leaflets recording the history of bells and bell ringing, DVDs and visual displays for display at various fund-raising functions, so everyone could learn about the ancient traditions of bell-making and later to take part in learning to ring the bells Fund-raising continued during the summer, with a BBQ being held at the church in August giving the community the opportunity to see the bells before they were removed from the tower and to gain an appreciation of the work to be undertaken At the beginning of November the group organized a ‘Come Dancing’ event which proved so popular that everyone wanted to know when the next one would be held! This fund-raising event raised over £2k The project group were also successful in obtaining an award of £20 5k from the Heritage Lottery Fund, as well as pledges from other organisations
By the beginning of December 2010 the project group had just about reached the targeted £34k and were able to commence work on removing the bells A ‘Bell Removal’ event was organised on 16th December so the local community and school children could see the last bell being lowered from the tower BBC Spotlight and the North Devon Journal were in attendance, as was the Chairman of the South West Heritage Lottery Fund
At the beginning of March, restoration of the bells had been completed so members of the project group visited John Taylors at Loughborough to see the work that had been undertaken The group was given a guided tour of
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the works and saw at first hand the art involved in the casting and making of bells
The bells were replaced at the end of March and a Celebration Event to welcome their return was held on Saturday 23rd April 2011 This included a thanks-giving service by the Rt Revd Robert Evans, Bishop of Crediton, a cupcake competition, and an Easter Egg Hunt for the children The community were also able to savour the sound of the pealing of bells and rejoice in the successful completion of the project
There have been many visits by bell ringers since the bells were restored, and everyone was amazed at how successful the Brayford community had been in completing this task in such a short time span
AcknowledgementsThe success of this project is due to the generous awards received from the following organisations:
• AllChurchesTrust• LeonardLaityStoateCharitableTrust• NorthDevonCouncillorGrant• TheManifoldTrust• TheSharpeTrust• DevonshireFreemasons• DevonChurchBellsRestorationFund• HeritageLotteryFund
However it was the involvement, enthusiasm and unstinting support of the local community that was so important to its completion
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Newspaper Articles
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Ringouttheold,ringinthenew,Ring,happybells,acrossthesnow:Theyearisgoing,lethimgo;Ringoutthefalse,ringinthetrue.
‘RingOutWildBells’byLordAlfredTennyson
Bell History Although the ancient Chinese were casting musical bells, small and large, over 3,500 years ago, they were first introduced into Christian churches in Europe by Paulinus, Bishop of Nola (353-431AD) in Campania, Southern Italy However their adoption on a wide scale does not become apparent until about 550AD, when they were introduced into France Later on in Italy (at about 604) Pope Sabinianus hung bells in turrets and had them rung to announce canonical hours From France and Italy, the idea spread to Britain, especially to Ireland and the North, and it is thought that both the concept and the bells themselves were brought over by monks and friars coming to join religious orders in this country
The hanging of bells in British churches spread quickly:
The Venerable Bede (c 673-735) tells us of one imported from Italy by Benedict Biscop, Abbot of Wearmouth, to hang in his abbey Bede also mentions the bell which was hung in Whitby Abbey in 680
Abbot Tucketul hung bells at Croyland (or Crowland) Abbey in 930 and by 960 these had been increased to a peal of seven, each having a name, with the tenor bearing the name of the patron saint of the abbey
In about 954, St Dunstan (Abbot of Glastonbury, Bishop of Worcester, Bishop of London and Archbishop of Canterbury) hung bells in all churches under his care and gave rules for their use In 960 St Ethelwold (Abbot of Abingdon and Bishop of Winchester) hung bells in the restored Abbey Church at Abingdon
By the early 1300’s Oseney Abbey in Oxford had a named peal of six bells It is thought that the huge clock bell, Great Tom (also called Old or Mighty Tom), which today hangs in Tom Tower, Oxford, was at Oseney Abbey The oldest dated bell of 1296 is at St Chad’s of Claughton in Lancashire It is sixteen inches high and has a diameter of twenty one inches at the mouth
By 750 bells were sufficiently common for Egbert, Archbishop of York, to order all priests to toll their bell at certain times Bells were used to call the faithful to worship and to remind others that a service was about to take place Church bells were also used to call people to the fields - there was a Seeding Bell, a Harvest Bell and a Gleaning Bell to warn that it was time to start or finish work A Pancake Bell was rung to remind people of Lent, and an Oven Bell to warn them that the Lord-of-the-Manor’s ovens were hot and they could bake their bread Bells have also been used as a means of warning At sea the naval tradition of ringing bells to mark the changing of
the watch dates from the era before reliable and affordable pocket watches The ringing of the bell was a simple way of informing the entire crew of the time They were also used in buoys to warn sailors of rocks
Shape and Size of BellsChurch bells were first cast in this country by monks from about 800AD For a long time they were comparatively small but by the early 13th century larger castings began to be made, and by the late 14th and early 15th centuries their weight and size had increased rapidly The bell of Cologne, cast in 1448, weighed 11 tons As time passed, even heavier ones were produced In 1735, the heaviest in the world, The Tzar Kolokol of Moscow, was made It weighed about 197 tons, but unfortunately it was damaged by a fire in 1737 before it could be hung Since then it has stood on a platform in the Kremlin The fragment that broke away weighs about 11 tonnes!
The first bells in England were probably quadrangular or wedge-shaped - broad and square at the mouth, rising to a ridge at the crown St Ninian’s and St Patrick’s bells (of 465) are examples The shape and size altered much between the 5th and 13th centuries Mediaeval bells were longer and narrower (more cylindrical) than present day examples
Many ancient bells (i e cast before 1535) in religious houses were lost when Henry VIII’s minister, General Thomas Cromwell, dissolved the monasteries and abbeys between 1536 and 1540 Waltham Abbey was the last to surrender, in March 1540, and their bells were melted down to obtain their metal Great Tom, a pre-Reformation bell (the Reformation being c 1515), was removed from an abbey (probably Oseney) and taken to Christ Church College in Oxford, at the command of Henry VIII Great Tom was re-cast in 1680 and was the largest (6 tons 4 5 cwt) in England at that time
The largest bell in England today is Great Paul in St Paul’s, London, which weighs 16 7 tons Big Ben is 13 5 tons The heaviest full-circle ringing bell, at 4 1 tons, is the tenor at Liverpool Cathedral
Bell foundersThe first bell-founders in Britain flourished in the church foundations of the early years Many experiments in the manufacture, shaping and hanging of bells took place in monasteries and abbeys A large number of these experiments were thought to occur in the Oxford area, since in those times it was surrounded by many abbeys, priories, friaries and monasteries The Augustinian Abbey of Oseney, built in 1129, may have been the place where the English bell was given its present shape of a hollow, cup-shaped instrument with a thick lip
As monastic houses and churches increased in number, bell founding fell into the hands of a professional class The first of this class worked for the local abbey and cast bells for churches owned by the abbey Later, members worked for themselves and sometimes had another trade
The History of Bells and Bell Ringing
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as well The first known founders outside the church were Master John (1229) and Master Thomas (1333) of Lynn in Norfolk In the 14th century, York, Gloucester, Nottingham and London became the chief centres for bell founding However there were several bell founders based in the West Country Many of the early founders wandered the countryside casting bells where they were required, generally in churchyards and even in the church itself
When bellringing was in its infancy, many founders were required to meet the demand for bells At first churches had one, two or three bells, but as bellringing grew, these rings were augmented to four, five, six or even eight, thus making change ringing possible The introduction of change ringing caused many churches to have their bells re-cast or replaced by ones tuned to the notes of a major scale Before the advent of change ringing, bells were swung through part of a circle and sounded at random, as they are on the continent today, instead of evenly and rhythmically Random sounding did not require perfect tuning
Two of the large number of bell founders in England who once practiced their craft are still established:-
Taylors of Loughborough, in the hands of the Taylor family since 1784 but continuing a line in bellfounding dating back to the 14th century, and The Whitechapel Foundry (established in 1570)
MaterialsBells have been made of many different materials as well as in most shapes and sizes The French used iron, the English and Italians brass, the Germans steel, while others used gold, antimony, silver, bronze and even glass As time passed, ‘bell metal’ was used In the Middle Ages, their tin content was increased, to harden the alloy and to produce bells of greater vibrancy Bell metal is an alloy, the basis of which is four parts copper to one of tin Steel has been used but has less of a sustained vibration In the 19th century the steel producer Naylor Vickers experimented with bells and supplied several single bells and peals There is one in a chapel near Barnstaple
Casting a BellThe casting of bells in England has changed very little over the last thousand years The first stage involves the inner core of the mould which is prepared on a baseplate - the mould being formed around a core of coke and a shaped brick (which allows the escape of gases during casting) On top of this core a layer of moulding material (or loam) made from sand with a high clay content mixed with chopped hay and horse manure for binding, is built up by hand
Each layer of the moulding loam is slapped on top of the previous layer and carefully smoothed in As it is built up, it is shaped using a ‘strickle’ (or ’crook’) according to the size of bell required The strickle is revolved around the mould, paring off excess loam and shaping it to the required profile Once a number of layers of loam have been applied, the mould is placed in a drying oven at regular intervals to bake hard The core is dried in an oven at 150º and if cracks appear (as they often do), these are filled in and the core is dried again (it is vital that no
moisture remains in the mould as it will instantly turn to steam when the molten metal is poured in - it will expand and cause an explosion!) Once fully dried, the mould is then painted with a ‘non-stick’ coating of graphite, which prevents the molten metal from burning the moulding loam
The next stage is forming the outer mould using a cast iron mould with holes in which allows the loam to ooze through and thus prevents it from dropping out when the case is turned over As with the core, moulding loam is built up on the inside and the strickle, which has now been inverted, is once again used to remove surplus loam and form the required shape A small hole is left to allow the molten metal to be poured through when ready Decorations and inscriptions for the bell are impressed in ‘mirror writing’ on the inside of the outer mould and then coated with graphite
The third stage involves fitting the outer case over the inner core and the whole mould is then clamped firmly to the baseplate The mould is buried in a sandpit (which helps to cool the hot metal slowly) and a pouring box is
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then fitted to receive the molten metal Bell metal is an alloy of 23% tin and 77% copper which is heated to 1200 degrees When the metal is molten more tin is added to compensate for that which burns off during the melting process It is first poured into a large ladle or ‘shank’, stirred to remove pockets of gas and skim off any impurities that float to the top, and then poured into the mould
The bell cast is left to cool for three or four days according to size before being lifted from the sandpit, laid on its side and the clamps removed The core is taken out and the mould is placed upright and gently shaken from side to side so the bell will drop out The mould is destroyed when removed from the bell casting, which means every bell is unique
Tuning the BellWhen bells were first made, tuning involved cutting small groves in the bell until the correct tone was reached Nowadays the bell is taken to the tuning shop where it is placed, mouth upwards, on a large vertical lathe with a revolving turntable and small amounts of metal are removed with a cutting tool The bellmaster will use a tuning fork, electronic equipment and his highly sensitive musical ear to assess when a bell is correctly tuned
Bell RingingWherever one goes in England, one’s attention is attracted by the sound of bells It may come from a church, a public clock, an ambulance, fire engine, a ship or from a hand-bell used by a town crier or official at the opening of a market or fair
Campanology is the name generally given to bell-ringing by those who do not ring bells, but bell ringing (or ‘change ringing’ as it is known) is steeped in history and has been known in Britain for some hundreds of years Although it did not originate here, the art of bell ringing developed in England during the 17th century as an aristocratic pastime, and societies were formed to promote this new art
The oldest society is London’s Ancient Society of College Youths, which was founded in 1637 It was followed by
The Society of London Scholars, which is now known as the Society of Royal Cumberland Youths (the name was changed in honour of the Duke of Cumberland, after the Battle of Culloden) Later on, provincial societies appeared, such as the Saffron Waldren Society of Essex (the oldest) and The Oxford Society of Change Ringers
In 1667, Fabian Stedman of Cambridge published his “Tintinnalogia”, which he dedicated to the Ancient Society of College Youths In this book, Stedman outlines his famous principle for five bells, the Stedman Principle, which he invented in 1657 To Stedman is owed that complex system of changes which makes a “peal” Because of this, Stedman is called “The Father of Modern Bellringing” The oldest system of change ringing is Grandsire Doubles (formerly Grandsire Bob), which is rung on five bells From these two, Grandsire and Stedman, change ringing on five evolved Later on, change ringing was extended to a greater number of bells
The Art of Change RingingBells for change ringing are hung in sturdy frames that allow the bell to swing through 360o (i e swung in a complete circle so that the clapper hits the bell hard) Each bell is attached to a wooden wheel with a handmade rope running around it, and the mechanism is so precise that the balance of the bell allows young or old, large or small, even the unfit to ring Although it does take a great deal of practice to ring the bells correctly, the harmonic richness of a swinging bell cannot be matched by the same bell hanging stationary
In some churches the bells are mounted on a spindle or half wheel, while others are attached to a fixed metal bar so that the bell cannot be moved at all Fixed bells are known as “hung dead” and are sounded by clocking - the clapper being pulled against the side by means of a rope attached to it Those with a spindle or half-wheel can be chimed (i e the side of the bell being struck by the clapper by gentle swinging) In ‘chiming’ the bell is pulled gently so as to swing through a narrow arc, with its clapper hitting the inside of the lip, whereas ‘ringing’ involves the continuous exaggeration of this motion
In change ringing bells are rung from the ‘mouth up’ position and each pull of the rope causes the bell to swing in an almost complete circle There are two distinct strokes made by the ringer and the length of the rope in the ringer’s hands alters with each stroke:-
Handstroke is when the ringer pulls the rope using the woolen sally This stroke ends with the ringer’s hands above the head Backstroke is when the rope is pulled down from the latter position, the bell revolving in the other direction, and the ringer catching the sally as it appears in front of them
Little ‘brute’ strength is required once the art of ringing has been mastered To ensure that the bell does not swing completely over while the ringer rests, a piece of wood known as the ‘stay’ projects vertically from the headstock (at the closed end) of the bell, and rests against another piece of wood known
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as the ‘slider’ The slider is pivoted on the frame below The free end of the slider moves between two blocks When the bell is at rest, with its mouth pointing upwards, it is said to “stand” or to be “set”
Learning to RingA bell sounds some two seconds after the rope has been pulled, so learning to strike it in the correct place calls for practice First of all the bell is rung in rounds, the order of the descending scale From there the ringer may choose to ring simple call changes where the bells are rung in a fixed order until the conductor calls for a change Progress can then be made to change ringing
An important factor in change ringing is for the bells to be in the ‘rung up’ position, i e mouth upwards They are swung, gently at first, but in an ever-increasing arc until they are revolving through 360o, first in one direction and then in the other The stay and slider mechanism allows the bell to be set and left at a few degrees over the point of balance one way or the other, regardless of the direction of revolution Given tuition and practice, the ringer has
full control of the bell, determining exactly when the rope should be pulled Change ringing, with good striking, is what most ringers aim to do It is the art whereby a different “change” is produced at each pull of the rope When a given number of bells are rung repeatedly in the same order, from the highest note (the treble) to the lowest (the tenor), they are said to be ringing ‘rounds’ When bells are not rung in rounds, they are rung in a set sequence or ‘method’ These sequences or methods have names such as ‘Grandsire’, ‘Cambridge Surprise Minor’ and ‘Kent Treble Bob Major’ The ‘surname’ is the key to how many bells are changing places in the sequence
Changes are variations in this order By a series of permutations, it is possible to find the maximum number of unique changes, without any one being repeated On four bells, 24 unique changes can be rung (found by multiplying 1 x 2 x 3 x 4), while 720 changes can be rung on six (1 x 2 x 3 x 4 x 5 x 6)
Memories of Brayford• EvelynRadley-BrayfordThen&NowandPoem• GladysBarrow• RuthEdward• MikeThorne• JulieParkin• JoanGreenwood• RuthBoyles• JohnThorne• BillMaddox• SpencerKingdon• JamesTyson
BRAYFORD - THEN AND NOWby Evelyn Radley (nee Huxtable) 1992
In a book about Exmoor, I once read that one day in the late 18th century a lone traveller, in his account of his journey from Dunster to Barnstaple, taking the old Saxon trade route from Gloucester and Bristol, wrote in his diary: “Ontylle I came to a pore village called Brayford”, and I wondered what would Brayford have really been like as that traveller came through, and was it truly so poor?
There would not have been a good road through the village - that’s for sure - and the ladies stepping out with “patons” fastened on to their shoes to keep their long skirts up out of the mud would have been a familiar sight Neither was there the present wide bridge over the river, for the old narrow humped backed bridge which we can remember had, of necessity, to be built up and widened by 1925 to take the more modern traffic
There would, I feel sure, be much more water flowing down the river beds - none being taken to help supply the growing towns and villages in those days - and more, many more beautiful trees in and around the village Why, I canremember the great beech trees up beyond the Mill and
the present school - also at the end of the village at the top of the hill - lovely old trees that we used to climb and play around as children! Also the huge beech that stood where the road divides by the bridge: you know, for years after it had been taken down, my father always referred to that spot as “over by beech tree”!
I think it unlikely that there were many wheeled vehicles in use in and around Brayford at that time either, for I
Brayford Bridge - then
and now
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believe Devon roads were notoriously bad In fact, Mr Robin Stanes in his book “A History of Devon” remarks that “Its roads were so appalling that even by 1760, there was scarce a pair of wheels in the County”
Mr Charles Wybrow wrote that “wheeled transport was only coming into use by 1824/25”, and Mr Charles Hulland in The North Devon Magazine (1987) says “until the 1830s when carts first appeared around Exmoor”
We do know that for years, the main transport of goods of all kinds was done by strings of pack-horses or donkeys (only nine allowed in any one string) with their specially designed pack-saddles piled high with perhaps wool to Barnstaple, skins for the tannery at Swimbridge, maybe bark and the like, and these would I feel sure pass through Brayford often on their way from over Exmoor and through Moles Chamber, and these could no doubt have forded the river in Brayford
There was no ‘seat of learning’ for the children in the village in the late 1700s The school there, a ‘church’ school, was only opened on January 13th 1873 Its first headmaster, a Mr Granger, reported his first pupils, 24 in all, as being noisy and unpunctual It was 13 years later in 1886 that my Dad was first enrolled
The church would have been already standing there up on the hill when that traveller came through, dating back to the 13th or 14th Century, keeping sentinel over the village below - a beautiful church - it would have seen much of the joys and, I suspect, even more of the sorrows of its people over the years The Rector would have been assured of good congregations I guess, for at one time, people could be fined for non-attendance! Whether this was for the good of their souls, or to ensure the clergy’s stipend, is debatable!
No organ for many years later; the hymn and psalm singing being led by choir and orchestra - often with home made instruments! We have often been told that in their time, our Huxtable forebears took a leading part in the music of the church One, Richard, was leader and trainer of the choir in and around 1827 (we have also found this in church records), he playing the double bass which he had made himself I remember seeing this instrument at the Southcombe’s home - Richard’s son John playing violin, son William - clarinet, and John (son of John) playing the flute - all could read music
Richard was a carpenter, and the story goes that he would take his children with him while working in the woods and, before leaving for home, would line them up and have them sing in preparation for the Sunday services Also Richard would call a choir practice for 6 o’clock on Sunday mornings - such dedication
I am inclined to slip in here a mention of a dear man with a powerful voice - leader of the singing of another village church (Challacombe) - who, should he be stopped from singing for any reason, say a bout of coughing, would not then join in where the congregation had reached, but would go back to the place in the hymn he had left off - thereby causing chaos until the other folk learned to stop
when he stopped and start again with him!
There were no chapels in Brayford at the time that traveller came through Methodism was in its early days, and some excitement was stirring with the visits of these itinerant preachers (at intervals of about six to seven weeks) and rough treatment was often meted out to them - encouraged at times I fear by the local clergy
Incidentally, the first Methodist chapel in Brayford was built in 1813, and the Baptist there a few years later in about 1820 Interesting details of the building of these chapels have been written about very fully ere this
The population in and around Brayford would, I think, have been in general larger than now, with bigger families the norm, and including the many homes in Braytown I believe my grandfather was living in Braytown at the time of his marriage, coming to Brayford later
Most, if not all the village would have been part of the Ackland estate with the main house at Little Bray
And what of the homes in the village at the end of the 18th Century? There were some cottages of course; we do not know just how old some of these were, but we do know that there were two cottages in what is now the garden of Rock Villa There was George Huxtable’s (no relation) house next to the blacksmith’s shop - pretty old I think - and since starting to write this, we have heard, through our friend, Mr Smallridge, of another small cottage that once stood in the small plot of land opposite the old post office My Dad told Mr Smallridge that he remembered sleeping in that cottage!
All these, including the blacksmith’s shop, now gone, but some others still there: “Jenny’s” cottage (two there), the centre houses, possibly the shoemaker’s house “Mildmay”, and I think too, our great grandmother Hill’s house by the shop All these now modernised and lived in!
There were at least two or three farm-houses in Brayford which would have been already there in the late 1700s and which I am sure we would now consider beautiful and full of character (two indeed still there) I am thinking of “North” and “South Bray Mill” farms, also of the farm now known as “Hillside”, formerly Higher Brayford Hill
“South Bray” still retains much of its character and charm, I think, a long house, with its enclosed cobbled yard, with
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the well there in the corner “Hillside” too, at the other end of the village, a lovely house, maybe not quite as old: but large and gracious set in its attractive grounds overlooking the Bray valley Sadly, however, the “North Bray Mills” farmhouse has been demolished and - to my mind - a rather ugly modern home built in its place
Had “North Bray” farm-house been standing today, it would, I feel sure, have been classed a listed building with a preservation order imposed I remember it as a fascinating old building, there in its cobbled courtyard overlooking the village Another long house with thatched roof, Welsh slate floors everywhere, its passages and even the staircases were of slate or stone, real black oak beams and doors - not exactly labour saving by modern standards; but something of the past which I feel would have been cherished today Although I do not know the exact age of that old house, I’ve heard that it was built at the same time as the church at High Bray!
And then too there was “The Mill” which, from an early age, was my Father’s home, and home to four previous generations of his family - millers, carpenters, wheelwrights, craftsmen all!
As yet, I have no idea at what date the old water-mill was installed in Brayford, but although I do remember my Dad saying that he had threshed corn with a ‘flayle’ - that is beating the corn out by hand - I think surely the water-wheel was there long before his time, seeing that water power had been in general use since way back in history The picture I have in my mind of “The Mills” in Brayford as I grew up there is beautiful - almost “Constable” in effect
About a quarter mile upstream of the river Bray, the river could be divided, and a small stream controlled by a ‘fender’ allowed to flow down past the Mill house and dropping down to turn the water-wheel; the waste water then cascading down the slope to level ground below and on to join the main river down by the bridge - again lovely trees overhanging the stream
I can still hear the music of that Mill stream and the swish of the water-wheel turning, as when we were with our grandparents at the Mill, so many years ago!
My father was a preacher, and it may be that some of his sermons were prepared while he monitored the grinding corn, as indeed was the case of his Uncle Anthony, a miller and farmer at Arlington A deeply Christian man, Anthony
could often be found reading his Bible while waiting for the corn going through his mill Incidentally, following two or three disastrous years for sheep farming owing to extremely wet summers, Anthony, with his wife and seven children, moved to a farm in Surrey
It is interesting to note that, even at the time of that lone traveller’s visit to Brayford, there was already the fourth generation of Radleys living and farming at Ovis
We have only ever heard of one public house in Brayford, and that was “The Plough Inn” situated at The Higher Brayford Hill farmstead This, no doubt, would have been Brayford’s village ‘local’ at the time, while offering services to travellers passing through Mr Cotsford, in his local ‘History of Charles’ says “The Plough Inn was closed as a Public House in the late 19th Century or early 20th, and in 1850 the landlord was William Hill ”
Now, while we hear of The Ackland Arms at Moles Chamber on the eastern border of High Bray parish, as being rather a rough house, with its reputation of implication with smuggling activities, one might assume, I think, that the good people living west of the bridge in Charles parish were extremely law abiding, for the last local policeman - one P C Button (or Budden) in his 17 years ‘on the beat’ at Charles, made only one arrest, and that was a man poaching salmon at Newtown in the Bray Valley “Why didden ee rin away” says Budden “now I’ve got to arrest ee cause Sergeant be watching up on the bridge” (my father and Mr Cotsford)
Another little story about P C Budden:Mr Bowen was losing some wood, so the policeman warned a certain man “You leave farmer Bowen’s ‘hued’ (wood) alone, cause if I catch, well, I catch thee” Whatever that traveller thought of Brayford when he visited, as time moved on I am sure, the village became very much alive and active
The Huxtables and many other craftsmen were there, locally practising their skills Carpenters, usually also wheelwrights, millers, blacksmiths, shoemakers and cobblers in and near the village A tailor was there stitching away in his shed workshop at ‘Jenny’s’ cottage, sewing garments made to last, often to be passed down I remember my Dad telling me “My clothes were all made there”
I can just remember Mr George Thorne making shoes (and let no-one call him a cobbler!) in Mildmay Cottage,
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and it was a joy for me to meet his daughter Emily - aged 98, in May 1991, and to reminisce with her over our early memories of growing up in Brayford
How well we remembered dear grandfather Frank Huxtable in his Carpenter’s shop there by the Mill, and the fragrant wood-shavings carpeting the floor of - also dear - George Huxtable’s workshop there by the bridge Then there was Mr Henry Comer - and for Emily, the earlier Mr Fred Dallyn - blacksmith, whose hammers on anvil wakened us on many a morning
Brayford was far from being a “pore” village by then
At this point our dear Carol has suggested - or should I say “requested”? - that I include a little more about the people who lived in Brayford at the time of my earliest memory! It will have to be brief! But, starting at the West end, slightly down the Bray valley, at what was Lower Brayford Hill now Bray Vale, there lived Gerald and Mabel (nee Venn) Huxtable - no relation to us - with sons Gordon, Raymond and Clifford There was also a little girl who died in the flu epidemic of 1918 or 1921 - both terrible times I have memory of Mabel presiding over an infant school Christmas party (before her marriage, she was a teacher there) - a very sweet person I could only have been about three then Before the Huxtables was I believe a family called “Lemon”
Higher Brayford Hill (now Hillside) changed hands a few times, but I remember William Tucker, wife, and two daughters - Mabel who married John Robins of Wallover, and Vida who married John’s brother Arthur Here I understand the pub “The Plough Inn” was situated
Coming down the hill and on the right was where my paternal great-grandmother Hill once lived I’ve heard my mother say she died when I was two weeks old in June 1908 I best remember the Henry Hollands living there Ruby was my best friend, a pretty dark curly haired lass Later the Syd Harris’s with son Arthur for some years lived in that house
In part of that house too, and much more recently, Mr & Mrs Henry Comer came to live (Henry, the son of Henry Comer - the renowned Exmoor preacher) I liked to visit Mrs Comer when I could, and she really taught me many lessons - in living simply, and without many of the possessions we now think of as necessities, yet I’m sure in great contentment, and envying no one
On my asking her one day “Do you sleep well?”, Mrs Comer told me “Yes I do, you see, I never take my troubles to bed with me But there, you see, I haven’t got many troubles” I thought, how lovely
After his retirement, Mr Comer spent his time very cleverly fashioning things like garden trugs, potato, or log baskets, and doing many helpful jobs for friends and neighbours I believe Henry went to school at Challacombe with our mother, long ago
Under the same roof and just along was our very happy home and busy general village stores With my Mum and
Dad were my sisters Muriel, Meta and Molly (Winifred Mary) and our brother Francis Richard Also a little brother Sydney Raymond who lived only to 15 months Our great-uncle Fred Dallyn and great-aunt Ann Mildred kept the shop here, as well as the Blacksmiths forge until their retirement, when our parents took over in about 1905 or so!
It was Uncle Fred Dallyn who had the lovely house Rock Villa just down the road built for his, and Auntie’s retirement Dear Rock Villa - truly a haven to our family ever since it was built Rather large and imposing, with its big productive gardens, standing high and looking down over the village
It was Emily Mogford - already mentioned - that told of her great-uncle George as saying of uncle Fred “He’s too proud! He should have built his house down in the valley like me!”
It was true Our Uncle Fred Dallyn - a very upright and devout citizen - had, I think, a strong personality! and lived for his Methodist Church It was his beckoning finger and his habit of strolling up to our house just before service time, that largely ensured that we children missed very few of the many services on Sundays and he who would sternly enquire of any absentees “and where were you yesterday?” on a Monday morning!
Sunday School at 9 45am, service at 10 30am, service again at 2 30pm, and prayer meeting at 7pm was the usual Sunday pattern and which no doubt instilled in us the habit and desire of attending Sunday Services, which we have loved all our days (although I suppose it could have had the opposite effect!)
Uncle Fred Dallyn lived to 88 years and in that time he attended 88 Sunday School Anniversaries and 80 Watch night services, until the midnight vigils in Chapel ended, after which he would sit up alone to watch the New Year in - what a record!
I’ve been told that Uncle Fred Dallyn’s father William, also a blacksmith, was a rather ‘rough diamond’ - be that as it may - the young Fred must have had a good mother! Also I think his maternal grandfather would have had an influence on his young life, for his grandfather was John Dyer, one of the earliest Methodists in Brayford, married to a Miss Gould of ‘Grasspark’ - daughter of one of the three families of that name, founders of Methodism in Brayford and very well known in the history of our chapel
Auntie Mildred (our Grandmother’s sister), was a kindly, gentle soul, who was a tremendous help and support to our mother and to all our family
It was Great-uncle Fred Dallyn who gave the site for our present Methodist Chapel and, to his joy, saw it built
Going back for the moment and to those two cottages which faced our home, but on a higher level, often now referred to as ‘Jenny’s’ (because of Jenny Holland) These were perhaps quite picturesque? Reached by a flight of wide stone steps, flanked by their two gardens The path
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to the left leading to their communal pump, and on the right to the shed already mentioned as the Tailor’s workshop of my father’s day, and to further gardens at the back
My early memories here are of a family of Frank Jones with son William and daughter Elizabeth, but mainly Mr Henry Comer - daughter Cissy on the left, with the William Hollands with daughters Jane (Jenny) and Emily and son also William (Bill), next door
Near to our home was Mr Dallyn - later Mr Comer’s blacksmiths shop and forge, and then Mr George Huxtable’s (no relation) small garden and house, opposite to Rock Villa
So much has already been told and written about Uncle George, as everyone knew him, that I think I can only write of him here as that lovely man who probably hardly ever moved out of his village surroundings, could not have lived more simply, and yet was a Roman as well as a Greek scholar! and still always had time for children’s chatter, and we loved him!
Until the time of the opening of our Chapel in 1927, George had never looked into a mirror and had never seen a photograph of himself - on being shown a photograph of himself with a friend on that occasion, George said “That is William Norman, Mister” but the other gentleman I’ve never seen”!!
George was carpenter, local preacher, and Sunday School teacher Emily tells of how she used to try to overhear Uncle George as he taught his class while reading her Bible with Mr Dallyn, until the time he sadly walked out of his class never to teach again, because of their seeming inattention George Huxtable passed away in February 1933
Beside George’s house - the gate to our meadow - a small cattle shed; then the long spacious shed which, I understand, was an earlier Richard Huxtable’s carpenters shop Then a hedged space, and over the ‘little’ river to the Baptist Church, and the adjoining Old Manse No doubt the resident Baptist Ministers and family lived here before the New Manse on the Little Bray road was built I can only remember however our friends Mr & Mrs William Bond and son Bill, as living here, before Mr & Mrs Henry Hobbs and family - now only son Fred
I have already mentioned Mr George Thorne whose
shoemaker’s workshop was the house directly opposite to the Baptist Chapel - the house now called Mildmay Our friend Emily (Mrs Mogford) tells of her childhood spent there, with brother’s Will and Harold, and Sister Vera - her memories of growing up in Brayford much as my own Emily’s grandmother was George Huxtable’s sister
All the buildings from our home to the Baptist Church now demolished and a bungalow and garage business there in their stead
Along the village and beyond the old Methodist Chapel 1813/1927, is the home which we have known as the Centre House - sometime Brunhill, and now Purbrook - in which our sister Muriel Bowen spent her later years
My early memory is of Mr George Huxtable’s brother John with his wife Louisa and family as living here Like George, John was quite a personality, though in a somewhat different way from his brother Tall, with a long white beard, John could have been an imposing figure were it not that he unfortunately had a drink problem! Dear John would point down his throat and tell you “There is a horse and cart, and two houses gone down there” as a warning to others!
John kept a small grocery shop in the large shed by his house, and would deliver his goods with his sugarbox on wheels and, I may say, it was not unknown for John to be brought home by some kind persons - tucked into that same sugarbox!
However, when a little “under the influence” John could - and would - preach a very good sermon, often in the open air, to anyone who would listen Yet, like George, John Huxtable was very kind to, and loved by the children around the village
John’s wife we knew as ‘Nurse’ Huxtable - a tall, rather elegant lady, when dressed in her starched white uniform Whether she had nursing training or not I couldn’t say! There were three daughters - Miriam, Elmina and Ada, also a son John who needed care There was also a Granny Carter living there; a little old lady in black bonnet and shawl She had a high cackling voice, I remember, as she would open our door and call out “Shop”!
Mr & Mrs William, Martha Hobbs and daughter Ada lived in part of this house also as we were growing up, Ada being one of our friends in the village Tragically Martha died in a fire in her home in 1962 - a terrible shock to everyone Mr Hobbs was yet another victim of the ‘flu epidemic
Somehow, you know, I cannot help feeling that something of the richness has gone out of our village life with the passing of those individual characters due, no doubt, to the present day uniform education, and better travel facilities? I may be wrong So many names come to mind here
Surely, there is nothing that adds to the charm of a place be it cottage, farm, or village, quite like the attraction or charm of a stream or river running near by, and Brayford has two such! And just along from Centre House/Purbrook, is the bridge over the ‘Bray’ Mr George Huxtable’s workshop
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was by here before it was swept away in the Lynmouth floods of 1952 - two council houses near there now
Meadows by a river! Surely a paradise for children, as it was for us!
Over the then narrow humped-back bridge to where the road divides and that Beech tree once stood - to the right, as now, the old Post Office - to the left, the road up to the Mills and beyond
The former Post Office, where for many years Mrs Norman (second marriage Trigger) reigned supreme! Mr Norman sadly was killed in World War One
Adjoining the Post Office and house is the long well preserved shed, which was once the workplace of the Blacksmith/Wrestler John Huxtable, who came to Brayford from Challacombe to set up business here, near to his brother Richard There are still the two attractive houses which link the roads beyond the bridge The earliest people I remember there were the family John Hobbs shoe repairer in one, and the White family in the other The White family still well represented in Brayford and the district around Latterly Mr Smallridge and his late wife Brenda
A very short distance up the road, left of the bridge, with such special meaning to all our family while growing up in the village, was our Dad’s working Mill with the waterwheel splashing away in the mill stream, which I’ve already written about, with nostalgia Our very kind grandparents’ nice, comforting home was here, happily still with the family, and grandfather’s busy carpenter’s shop, with all its delights for children - these all silent now of course But with our cousins Frank and Joyce (Prideaux) still living in the old home, and carrying on their farming business at The Mill - all is well Also, this would be, I think, a good place in which to pay very sincere tribute to Kenneth Prideaux - Frank’s father - who, both in the pulpit as local preacher, and in his years as Sunday School Superintendent and teacher, had an unforgettable influence on us who were privileged to have had his teaching
Here at The Mill, our Dad, Aunties Mary, Elizabeth, Flo and Maud, and our Uncle Will were brought up, making them the fifth generation of our Huxtables here since the first Richard 1770-1855 married to Elizabeth Parkin came in from Challacombe so long ago
Grandfather Frank was a skilled carpenter and wheelwright, who made much of his own furniture and those lovely Church chairs beautifully put together with wooden pegs, as well as the usual carpentry requirements - carts, butts, wheelbarrows etc Where are those country skills now-a-days?
Grandad was also a one time local preacher, a valued tenor singer in the choir and a very lovable person Grandma Lucy (nee Hill) I remember as a kindly, busy person, a born nurse, always ready to go to the aid of any sick neighbour and I’m sure loving it!
It was a fact that Lucy’s death in 1925 in her early 60’s was indirectly due to lifting heavy patients during the terrible ‘flu epidemic of 1921 Sadly, too, Grandad died tragically on January 18th 1938 aged 82(?) through accidentally stumbling into the swollen Mill stream, one dark stormy night It was a tribute to him that his memorial service was the largest gathering of friends ever known in Brayford
Just beyond The Mills, are the two farms I mentioned earlier i e North and South Bray Mills So it only remains for me to think back to the folk whom I first remember as living there In North Bray, as I’ve said the old house no longer there, were living a family named Legg - two daughters Lorna and lvy, and I believe three sons, one was Harry If I remember correctly two of this family succumbed to the ‘flu epidemic in 1918/19
Later to North Bray came the Johns family, with the Southcotts Bob and Kathleen and their family following, until they moved across the road to South Bray
At South Bray, I vaguely remember ‘Daddy’ and ‘Mammy’, as people called them, John Burge, both tall very genteel - she with piled up snowy white hair - he with long flowing white beard, is my picture of them There were two daughters here - Marie who married Rev John Robins, Baptist Minister of Gratton, and Lilian, who married Mr Humphrey Lerwill of Maldram & Jones Agricultural Merchants, Barnstaple Later came the William Smythes and then the Southcotts to South Bray Mills Beyond these farms there was only the school at that time
The school - where we had all our formal education to the age of fourteen From my early school days, right through to 1947 when Miss Broadley retired, the school at High Bray had mainly the same teachers: Miss Kate Broadley, and a little later Miss Edith Sear, who came together from Yorkshire in 1915; they followed a Mr Watson, whom I
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can just remember I think, although I was only about six or seven years old I seem to remember singing in his room I feel I must be mistaken, for the hymns that come to mind are ‘Oft in Danger, Oft in Woe’ and ‘Fight the Good Fight’! - not particularly suitable for young children, I would have thought, but perhaps a useful preparation for school life?
Miss Broadley I think of with the greatest respect and affection - I feel she taught my generation well Towards the end of her career, however, came the Second World War when teaching at the school became overstretched to an unbelievable degree - due partly to the influx of evacuee children - and the children’s education then undoubtedly suffered
As our young people now enjoy their rock concerts and their discos etc , I think often about the really splendid concerts the school put on from time to time, in the Old Tythe Barn when we were there Miss Broadley, and especially perhaps Miss Sear, were very good in the arts I can still sing some of the songs we learnt then, and remember the quite spectacular set dances we did on the stage
The singing items gave no offence, but at that time, oh dear! The thought of nonconformist children being taught to dance caused quite a stir in a few rather narrow circles But that was sorted out largely by our Dad’s strong attitude and support How ‘thinking’ has changed, and I’m sure for the better At those concerts, I was a young and very inadequate violinist, and I shudder to think now how those audiences must have suffered!
Going back to the children’s education, with the ending of the war and the coming of new, young teachers, including Mrs Bond who was our Head for, I think, 36 years, also the elder pupils being transferred to senior school - things soon were just fine! Long may our school prosper
Very full research has been done by F R Huxtable (late of the Yorkshire Post), Mr Wybrow, and Joseph Webber, into the Huxtable family history, but just for this record, the first of the family to move into Brayford was I understand a Richard, 1770-1855, who came in from Challacombe, where he was formerly licensee of The New Inn at Challacombe Mill Also he was carpenter His eldest son, also Richard, married to Rebecca Dallyn, was my father’s great-grandfather at The Mills, Brayford This Richard’s brother William, married to Ann Dyer Dallyn - a Brayford West Buckland girl - also lived at Challacombe Mill, where he was carpenter, wheelwright, also miller and
later a farmer, renting at first a few fields at Swincombe, later renting the whole farm from Lord Fortescue, thus starting the long association of Huxtables at Swincombe This William was our mother’s grandfather and obviously a very enterprising man Per favour of our young friend Stuart Windsor we have a newspaper photograph of William and Ann
Early on there was a William Huxtable, miller at Brayford, who I rather think was the first Richard (the carpenter’s) brother! We have the history of the Huxtables dating back to 1610, with an earlier mention of them in a subsidy roll of 1330
Later on, Richard and William’s younger brother John (born 1817), came to Brayford as a blacksmith - his workshop was by the old Post Office - already noted John was a well known wrestler, both locally and further afield into Cornwall, I believe, who was so proud of his skill in the art, that he would wear his stockings turned well down, to show his unblemished legs, and would display the 17 silver spoons won by his wrestling, arranged around his hat-band for all to see
But there was much more to John’s family than this John married Elizabeth Thorne, who incidentally kept the Post Office close by her Husband’s smithy, and it was their son, John, who was the inventor of the widely known and used ‘Huxtable Plough’ and expanding horse rake, also patenting several other smaller implements Starting his business, I understand, in his father’s workshop, and calling it ‘The Eclipse Plough Works’ John then moved the Huxtable Plough Works to a site near Filleigh, and subsequently founding the Alexander Plough Works, Barnstaple, carried on later by his son - also John - whose brother Michael was Mayor of Barnstaple for 1960 and for some time ‘Lord Lieutenant of Devon’ Now in 1992, only a small building in Alexander Road remains of the Huxtable Plough works, the rest being incorporated into a car park
Although it has been pleasant to sit back for a while, and to ponder over the way Brayford once was, and perhaps the more leisurely way of life may have a certain appeal? I think there is no way we would wish for the return of the conditions as found by that lone traveller’s late 18th century visit (and by the way I still think that traveller was one John Leland)
Brayford now has its good roads It has its street lighting, its Chapels, as well as its Church It has its laid on water supply, and its electricity It has its school with opportunity for education to the highest level It has its village hall, and means to travel It has many more homes now, which enhance the life of the village
There is now no need for those wonderful women like my grandmother to be called out at any time, day or night, to tend with great skills a sick neighbour, for the best medical attention is only a ‘phone call away’, or for the dear soul who would do one’s washing on a Monday morning for a very small return and who could also be relied upon to deliver the babies of the village when needed But I am sure the same spirit of loving and caring is still there, and God grant that it ever will be so
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Gladys Barrow March 2011
I first moved to Lower Hall when I got married, but lived at Slade - I was born at grandmother’s home at East Buckland I went to Instow as housekeeper to look after a crippled lady for 18 months and then went to try nursing When war broke out had just left school so worked on farm, and when John left school (he was 1 year younger) he worked on farm
I then went dress making which I loved, but had dreadful back trouble, and doctor said sitting all day was not good so I had to get a job where I wasn’t sitting all day Then had a go at nursing and loved it, but unfortunately I was unable to retain things (although can remember recitations at school) so they advised it was best to give up as couldn’t remember for exams I went home and did dressmaking at home - wedding trousseaus etc
John and I met though the chapel (brought up in Baptist chapel) and later joined the Wesley Guild (Charles and High Bray didn’t mix much in those days) Had Jubilee celebrations with bonfires, and always much competition at school Every year we had a revel at Charles church It was all Charles people up there - didn’t really see any High Bray people then, very much local community
We got married in February 1954 and from then on lived in farm and had a family, and later moved up to Whitebeam When we got married, we lived with John’s mum and dad for a few weeks, but Fred and Edna moved to Withypool and then we moved into the farmhouse
I used to help with milking etc Mr Tucker used to do milk round and came to us one day and said he wanted to give it up, and asked if John and I would take it on John always wanted to do this as he did one out at Anstey before the Barrows moved into Lower Hall, and that put us on our feet It was not hard work, but a tie as we had to do it every day
SomanycountrysightsandsoundsIfindImissthesedaysItreallymakesmequiteforlornAsIthinkaboutoldways.
These‘flashing’cars-they’regoodI’msureRacingupanddownourstreet,ButIrememberlonginglyTheclopofhorses’feet.
Theblacksmith’shammerringingoutWasmusictoourearsTheroaringbellows,redhotfireWasmagicinthoseyears
DearGeorge-hewasacarpenterAsaintlymanwelovedHemadethechildrenwelcome(aslongastheyweregood)
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Theshoemaker’staponleatherHismouthallfullofnailsNo‘cobbler’hebutquitea‘pro’Ashewouldhaveyouknow
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ButofallthecountrysightsandsoundsThatIwishcouldeverbeItwouldbethemillstreamandthewaterwheelWhichsofascinatedme
ThebeechtreeshangingoverThesunbeamsshiningthroughThatissomethingIrememberThatwillalwaysstaywithme
Evelyn Radley 9 007
REMEMBERING
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To start with it was all metal crates and they used to be such a noise with the bottles as they rattled against the crates in the van We did all filling by hand, but then we got a bottling machine and gradually moved to a bigger bottler and bottle washer Esther when 4 yrs old used to come with me - she had a little crate with two bottles and helped me We only did Brayford and High Bray, and then as time went on, a lot of people began giving up dairy (there was a subsidy for rearing calves), so business spread and we did Charles By then people had fridges and so then started delivering alternate days High Bray one day and village Then Newtown and Wallscott and Beara Hill Then did Lydcott Cross and down back road to village Then Charles and Charles Bottom and East Buckland and came back by Kimberland Cross
I carried on with the milk round until Esther was 17 yrs, and she took it on when my father died and I had mother to look after Esther bought the milk from us and carried on with the round until she got married Then Shirley took it on for a while, but the government brought in health regulations that pregnant mothers had to have pasteurised milk etc, so gave up We also did cream and provided individual cream dishes Miss Julie de Tray started us on that as she asked if we would provide cream and gave us a separator We used to do raw cream and also clotted cream
I was on Parish Council for a while and also Village Hall Committee, but there comes a time when you have to say no, but I am always willing to help if needed
I did not remember the chapel being built - John was brought here as babe in arms - he is 84 now He was born at Mount Pleasant and lived at Exford, but his father’s father used to live at Whitefield Common and there was a connection
Mother’s father had horse and trap and went to South Molton every Saturday to bring home groceries to sell in the village shop at Withypool, and also used to take people around
When I was a girl Baptist and Methodist did not mix then, but times have changed and it is nice that everyone is working together now
There was a bad winter in 1947 - that was when I was in Barnstaple dress-making I was lodging with my aunt in Barnstaple and no telephone then, but used to meet the postman and he used to give me news about the snow (he had a motor bike and side car) I can remember when I was a little girl, that Sammy Lee and Jimmy Coins, the two regular postmen, if they came up Barnstpale Hill, they used to give me a lift in their side car
My brother and I used to walk to school and on one occasion during snow we walked over 5-bar gates
After we got married, we had a bad winter and I walked home one night to Slade and dad said that he had lambs frozen to the ground It was a hard walk The last lot of bad snow when we were doing the milk round, we had to put the crates of milk on plastic bags and drag them
over ground to High Bray On another occasion heavy snow was forecast, so we took the tractor and when we got to Charles it started snowing By the time we had nearly finished the Charles delivery, it was coming down really fast but we went on and got to Sandy Park and couldn’t get any further We got through one drift and over the hill to Orstone but couldn’t get through the next drift so we reversed back and met Seymour Husband with his horse and cart and he put the bottles in his cart and said he would deliver milk to Charles bottom
Norman, our son, reversed the tractor and we got to the road just above Slade and kept going but couldn’t see to get any further We got stuck we so left the tractor and milk bottles and ran down to Faulkners at Welcombe Farm I had duffle coat on and it was frozen inside! We walked down Charles Hill and when got down to Brayford it was hardly snowing However tractor and milk stayed there for 10 days and when we collected it, the milk was still okay But it was a frightening experience
I went to school at Brayford until evacuees came during the war I went to South Molton for 18 months - used to walk to catch bus at Charles Cross We always had to take letter to school teacher if we wanted to go out during the day - to get groceries, etc Unfortunately I left my purse on a window ledge and when I went back it was gone
So I went to headmaster who asked why did I leave it there? I said it always okay to do that at Brayford So teacher went round the whole school and said he would punish the whole school if purse wasn’t put back - and it was put back
Scholars with shield:JohnSkinner,GladysSkinner(Barrow),JoanElsieShapland,GordonDockings
ElsieBrownandMissAndrews(Tutor)
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I remember the butcher used to deliver our order every Friday and left it at the top of lane - hanging on a holly bush (away from the dogs) On coming home one day I saw the sausages hanging out through the bag - probably due to birds pecking bag
We had two evacuees - two sisters - one went to Brayford and Vera to South Molton Mother got the girls to write to mother to say they had arrived safely They gradually settled in well, but had to get used to walking to school and when wet they had no wellingtons so mother bought them some They had married sisters that lived at Tottenham and when the War was bad, they wanted to come down So they came and stayed - one had baby of 4 weeks old and little girl of 3 yrs They didn’t settle very well, as there were no shops etc, but they were glad to be with us Pamela, the little girl, wouldn’t sleep at night when she was put to bed, so mother said to put her to bed and leave her and let her cry The first night she cried herself to sleep and the next night she went straight off to sleep They did thrive in the end The girls went back after a while after husbands visited After a while the younger girls’ father came down and he was a real cockney and he thought it was awful the way they were kept But mother reminded him she had looked after them and bought them clothes Their mother never wrote, but we found out later that she couldn’t write
The school: Mrs Bond came during the War - she was a war bride who lost first husband and it was quite a thing when she married Bill Bond
I remember the old forge - Mr Vanstone It was right on the road and very narrow there (the shop sat back a bit) Bill Bond’s house was right on the road Andy and Marion Wright’s bungalow was Mr Huxtable’s meadow There were petrol pumps right outside shop and when it was sold, the petrol pumps were moved to where the bungalow is now Unfortunately the shop eventually closed
The Old Post Office house (the other side of the bridge) used to be the old post office - Mrs Trigger lived there, and she was a tartar!
Chatterbury Cottage which was opposite the shop, used to have steps up to two cottages Miss Hulland lived one side and Mr & Mrs Webber and daughter Mary on the other side
When we did the milk round people got to know us and would at times ask “Gladys how can I do this and how can I do that” I remember Mrs Beer had a pet cat and she asked me to arrange to have it put to sleep I got a box from vet and managed to catch the cat - it was very wild Unfortunately it cost rather a bit and I didn’t have the nerve to go back and tell her how much it was She was in house next door to where Fred Bawden now lives The Floods of 1952 - I was at a cousin’s house making a wedding dress when floods occurred Grannie Yeo lived in Fred’s house when the floods came - it tipped a glass cabinet over in the house and not one glass was broken! The Carpenters shop was washed away and all carpenters tools spread down meadow And Mrs Martha Hobbs was
most upset as she lost her new garden gate, but it was later found and replaced Mrs Smythe who lived at Orswell was coming home that night and was just about to cross the bridge at Newtown when it was washed away
Mrs Scoines lived in bungalow at Newtown and it was up to her neck She walked across the road up to Mr & Mrs Kingdon Fortunately the flood water went down as fast as it came up
The Robbins family - lived at Lydcott and upwards Mary and mother bought house in Landkey, next door to their son
They lived at Wallover, Gratton and Lydcott Mr Robbins at Gratton was a cousin and Mr Robbins at Wallover, and Mr Tom Robbins was another cousin Reg, Fred and Jack played in band, and Bert was the younger one I never went to dances as I wasn’t allowed to
Mains electricity came in 1956 at the time when Norman was born (I was in Highfield) When I came home we were given a kettle so I could make a cup of tea in the bedroom! It was a real treat to have electric as we previously had tilley lamps (much better than oil lamps) When I was away working at Instow I would cycle home at night and my parents would leave the lamp burning - a welcome sight
I remember churning butter in a butter churn Mother used to take butter and eggs to market so could then buy her groceries But things have changed since then as nowadays would be difficult to buy groceries from butter and egg money
Mains water came through just before we started milk round We had well water and it had passed the test, but as mains was available, we couldn’t use well water We used to have carriage gutter to bring water to the farm - there is no water on the farm above the Whitefield road There was a waterwheel at Lower Hall, but that is now at Hudleigh Mill
Mrs Stockleigh had it down there, years ago, not long after we were married, but I can’t remember who moved it - it wasn’t used in John’s time
There was a waterwheel at The Mill which was used for the sawmill There was a thatched cottage just above, where Grannie Johns lived She used to clean the school and was such a lovely lady - she always wore a hat She used to throw tealeaves over the floor to keep the dust down when sweeping the floor
Kath, her daughter and Bob son-in-law, lived in the cottage some while after, and then moved across to the other side of the road Kath was a dear and always ready to help anyone, but Bob was a quiet man - he was in the war and when he came back he worked at the quarries and then for Dick Huxtable
The War put the quarries on its feet as most of Chivenor
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Ruth Edwards March 2011
I went to school when I was 5 years old Mother only went for a little while when she first came here to live as then went to Bratton Bill and they were the first to start in South Molton Bill is 9 years older than me and Vera three years older than Bill Vera born in 1926
Mike started work in the Quarry in 1956 in Mortchard Bishop and came down here on his 21st birthday
Every year Notts Quarries organised a bus outing trip The Quarries used to employ 50-60 people, and they would keep the shop going with their orders The Shop would make £12 a day
They used to have church fetes at Little Bray - Mr & Mrs Dean owned the house The Prisoners of War were there too - they used to march to church singing One man would interpret for them They used to make us some
Christmas presents - monkeys on sticks - they were very clever There have been many changes in village and new houses built over the years Many of the big houses built had monkey puzzle trees in the garden
The new Brayford bridge was built in 1925 Electrics were brought into village in 1960 (before the village hall was built) Village Hall built in 1961 - Mrs Nott opened it as the Quarry provided a lot of the materials When the skittle alley was built, Notts provided much of the materials as well In 1962 Elsie and Clifford Willmetts was the first wedding in the village hall
The old thatched house - Grannie Helena Johns lived there Ruby Southcott and family lived there Shame it was knocked down as it only needed a new roof Grannie Johns took in the quarry workers - they had the lower room They used to live in a wooden shack at Woodbine Villa where they used to stay the week
The houses at Bray Town on the left side were rebuilt in 1891, the largest one for the Martin family The second house at the bottom of the church yard was the school and library and band steps went up from the church yard to a large room upstairs They had to pay 1d
There was a cobblers shop in the corner of the top garden of Bray Town cottages (in 2010 they have found two pairs of shoes) A carpenters shop was in the corner of the splat in Geoff Dunsford’s field
The Roman Cistern at the bottom was where the people washed and did their washing The water used to come out of a pipe (before they had the pump) A TV company came out to film the pump and I had to pump it to show them how it worked
The Martin family came from London to build Lydcott Hall and went on to build the red brick houses, South Lydcott was finished 1901
Tom Robins lived at South Lydcott and was known as the Emperor of Exmoor for all the work he did for the Hill Farmers on Exmoor, travelling up to London to fight their cause He also, with George Tucker and Bill Bond, brought water and electric to the village
Oliver Robins had the bungalow built when Olive got married (1960) - they stayed in the farmhouse until the bungalow was built
The Robins family farmed the valley up through Gratton
airdrome was built from the stone taken from them The ground belonged to the Bowens
The big house at Little Bray - original owner was Mr Strick, and Mr Shapland was the gardener The army commandeered it during the war, and later German prisoners of war were there They formed a choir and used to go up to church and sang beautifully They also
sang at chapel and Baptist
We knew so many people in the village because of our milk round, and made so many good friends I loved Christmas morning as the children would want me to see what they had from Father Christmas However when fridges became popular we did the round every other day, and not Sundays or Christmas
Myfather,GeorgeMaddoxwithmybrotherandsister,BillandVeraonabusoutingtoCheddar
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Mike Thorne January 2012
Brayford MemoriesI was born opposite the present bus shelter in Brayford, in the house with the veranda and steps called Rock Villa The house was built in about 1920 by Mr Frederick Dallyn, the then village blacksmith, as a home to which he and his wife Mildred retired Mildred was a crippled lady and it always seemed odd she should be living in a large house with so many steps For much of my childhood Aunt Mildred seemed frail and crippled, confined to her room which was downstairs facing the main road
Mr Dallyn was obviously a man of means and gave generously to the village He donated the site on which the present Methodist Church now stands Also the surrounding land for many a year was let as allotments to provide some income for the Chapel I remember vividly the ground being tilled The late Mr Fred Friendship, who lived with his large family near the Church at High Bray, regularly walked down to his allotment at the Chapel in the early morning put in some hard work and then set off to his place of work climbing up steep hills to Gratton farm no doubt via the Lydcotts
My mother, Mrs Meta Thorne spent her childhood waking to the ringing anvil of Mr Dallyn busy in the Smithy next to the Huxtable home at the shop next door
Mr Fred Dallyn was such an influential man in and around Brayford that, as he is not commemorated elsewhere, I named the house I built in his garden in 1990 “Dallyns” (next to rock Villa) Mr Dallyn died in 1936, so I barely remember him, but what a legacy he left the village He was totally dedicated to Methodism, having held high office for many, many years as Circuit Steward, Sunday School Superintendent, Society Steward, and Chapel Steward But perhaps to our generation his legacy is the ground and site he gave us for our present Methodist Chapel
SchoolsMy Primary school days were at Brayford school during
and Wallover One of them married Albert’s auntie - a Heale There was Jack, Fred and Reg Arthur Robins had Muxworthy in 1920s His wife was Violet Tucker related to Mr Tucker at Bray Town
The Mothers Union started in 1930 and in 1933 they gave us vases for the alter Three candlesticks were given to 3 girls called Ivy - Legg, Martin and someone else (can’t remember the name) Money was collected round the parish and the candlesticks were made with ivy round them
Chrissie Leaworthy’s family One got killed in the quarry Mike was working with him at the time He was up on the hill releasing dangerous rocks and should have taken a rope to one side, but unfortunately he didn’t do so The whole rock face came down
Mr Harding used to work at the quarry - he lost his arm He built the bungalow where Clifford Kingdon lives at Newtown Bridge
The Brayford Carnival was started by Mrs Bond to celebrate the Festival of Britain in 1951 We sold 1d a square on postcards: 10/- on each card Who sold the most was Queen For the first carnival we had a Festival of Britain vase It started in 1951 Mrs Bond asked the children what could they do to celebrate the Festival of Britain and Billy Yeo suggested a carnival The Football team chose a Queen and the Youth Team did so √Raising monies went to their organisation We used to have a dance in evening on the playground, and then once a month had square dancing
There were also the Dances at Blackmoor Gate, at the old pub on the right hand side The Robbins brothers played a band - they were called The Three ‘Rs’
Meascarnivalqueen,withMaureenSouthcott,SallyHuxtableandShirleyKingdonatthethirdBrayfordcarnival
JaneRadley,SylviaVanstoneandJulieKingdoninthefirstBrayfordcarnival
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the war I cannot remember ever being taught to read and write and really look back to a period of chaos High Bray School, as it was then known, was a two teacher school and for most of my time, education was from 5 to 14 years age wise
Chaos is a strong word to use, but it was wartime, the coming of the evacuees and, with one teacher falling sick during my final years, it was a recipe for classroom chaos There was a rope from the sick bedroom attached to a bell and when the bell rang, the teacher dropped tools and disappeared It is no condemnation of the staff, just a statement of the times During this time the numbers grew and at times one of the older pupils would act as teacher
We arrived each day complete with gas masks Many came with a large potato, scrubbed, with their initials carved We placed them on the hot coke stove top ready to eat at lunch Sometimes we would have to go to Ham Wood, opposite the school, to dig air raid shelters, I think! I went on to South Molton for a short period and then on to West Buckland until National Service with the R A F Then on again to St Lukes, Exeter, and later to Birmingham University as a mature student Nearly all my teaching was spent in Special Education
The Day War Broke Out(ForpartsofthisIamindebtedtoBrianDownandourVillageV-ECelebrationCommittee)
Rob Wilton was a famous comedian during and after the war He made his name with the catch phrase “The day War broke out ”
I remember clearly the day war broke out, Brayford was waking up on a sleepy Sunday morning The first major shock was the village had been burgled, an almost unique happening in the days of 1939 Notts Quarries, the Methodist Chapel and The Mill were broken into In addition, the burglar had entered Rock Villa through a sash window on the ground floor and searched a room in which an old and bed ridden lady (Mildred Dallyn) slept soundly through the whole incident
Police Constable Pine eventually arrested this man (Mr Harding by name), down by the Quarries and appearing on the Monday before the magistrates at South Molton, he was most apologetic for his crime
The Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain, broadcast to the nation on the WIRELESS (accumulators and all) at 11 am However, war was actually declared at 5 o’clock People came off the Ilfracombe to South Molton road to listen to this broadcast in peoples’ houses Harry Hobbs, who lived next to the then Baptist Chapel cottage, for once missed the church service to listen to the broadcast He greeted Mr Kenneth Prideaux outside the chapel with a grave face saying “I’m afraid ’tis war Kenneth”
All men between the ages of 18 and 41 were “called up” for compulsory military service Some of the names from this village I recall were:
Bob Southcott who experienced war in France & Europe;
Mervyn Martin who experienced war in North Africa, Sicily and Italy;
Joe Prideaux who experienced war in Burma;Rowland Hobb who experienced war in Italy;Molly Hobbs who experienced war in Taunton;Audrey Trigger who experienced war in England;Harry Moule who experienced war in Europe
Chrissie Friendship, as she was then called, came down to say goodbye to her brother Bill who was at High Bray School Bill returned to the class sobbing and tearful declaring “Tis abroad, her’s gwain to Shropshire”
The Army at Little BrayLittle Bray quickly became established as the centre of focus in the village for the duration of the war Originally it was taken over by the Ministry of Defence and became the Headquarters controlling 25 searchlight batteries in the area - Kings Nympton, Bishops Nympton and our Parish at 5 Cross-Way are names that spring to mind
Little Bray became the centre of our village social life Old and young tripped up to the barn to enjoy whist drives, dances and concerts They all danced to the Soldiers dance band, called the “SILVER STARS” whose signature tune was “You are my sunshine” (a popular wartime hit)
The soldiers spent their off duty hours in the homes of people and many a sing-song around the piano is remembered at Rock Villa and The Mill and no doubt other places A group of sergeants were particularly gifted in their ability to sing and were termed “The Singing Sergeants” (what else!) These and others combined to perform Stainer’s oratorio “The Crucifixion” in the Methodist Chapel
One of the sergeants, Sgt Hickman, now deceased was the father of Martin Hickman now resident at North Molton Martin and his mother came to live at The Mill during the war Sgt Hickman sang tenor and with other soldiers often sang in the Methodist Church with the strong Choir
At this period, the local people made their contribution to boosting morale by putting on their own concerts to entertain the troops and others These were staged in the barn at Little Bray and High Bray and took the form of musical items and sketches
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Recently speaking to Sheila Robins, as she was, of South Lydcott (now Mrs Norman Cheek) the subject of High Bray Barn came up - she told me she was one of the chorus girls aged 11years The Barn at High Bray next to the Rectory where Dick Raymond lives was always the Village Hall If only walls could talk!
One such play included Mr Gonvil Parminter, who lived at Fullover Cottage In real life he was a dapper country squire - in the sketch he had a similar part When he made his entrance, dressed superbly, Major Sweetescott’s wife from Whitefield was unable to restrain herself saying out loud for all to hear “My God Parminter, I could really fall for you!”
Searchlight at Five Cross WayJack Orchard was born in Wiltshire, enlisted in Exeter and was posted to Five Cross Way He and a small group erected the first Nissen Huts and made ready for the search light Their water supply came from the stream at the bottom of the field He remembers Farmer Will Robins of Gratton riding over on his pony supplying them with milk
Their recreation was kicking a ball around and attempting a rodeo act with the bullocks in the field Once a week a lorry from Little Bray collected them and took them to the workhouse at South Molton (now the Honey Farm, then Beech House) to have a bath Longer time off he spent at the Y M C A In the High Street in Barnstaple
Later Jack served in the North African campaign, returning to Mary, a Bratton Fleming girl he met whilst at Five Cross Way For many years he ran the White Hart Garage and lived happily in retirement at Bratton Fleming until his recent death
Interview with Ernie Broom field - 10 April 1995On being enlisted, Ernie was soon posted to the Coast on searchlight battery duty Initially, they were drilled performing all the manoeuvres needed in manning the light but had no searchlight available Similarly, they marched up and down the beach with only pick axe handles to repel the enemy
In 1941, absolutely exhausted from constant duty and looking “like a ghost” he was ordered to Dovercourt to recoup for a couple of weeks He was then posted to Devon and Little Bray Camp to be rested awhile This was 1942 The camp at Little Bray housed soldiers of the Royal Artillery The Sergeants’ Mess was the bungalow above Little Bray and the main house the Officers’ Mess Little Bray was the Headquarters for 24 searchlight batteries in the area
Little Bray as indeed Kings Nympton had radar installed Radar, you recall was the best kept secret of the war, and enabled Little Bray HQ to keep in touch with all the batteries in the area Ernie told us that the role of the searchlight was two fold:
1 To home in on enemy aircraft if spotted on radar;
2 To act as a homing beacon for our own allied aircraft
returning from combat mission Ernie was of the opinion we acted as a beacon to home aircraft on course to Middle Wallop (Hampshire)
He thought there were about 12 men at Five Cross Ways
At least there was sufficient people at the battery for Mr George Radley to call every day to pick up the swill for his pigs at Ovis!
Ernie formed a friendship with the Radleys at Ovis Farm and his wife Marion came to stay whilst he was at Little Bray Mr & Mrs Radley regularly walked to Little Bray, crossing the River Bray on a tree trunk through Wart Wood, to play cards, dance or attend concerts Mrs Radley and Mrs Down would walk home though Wart Wood at night feeling perfectly safe in the dark This crossing place was washed away in 1952 at the time of the Lynmouth flood
Ernie left Little Bray at some point to man a battery at Exmouth at a place he called Jaw Bone Hill The weather was appallingly hot and the troops suffered enormously with flies The site was close to an abattoir which attracted millions of flies He said, time after time you would receive your meal on a plate and before you reached your seat to eat it, it would be covered with flies and you just had to throw it out The tea suffered a similar fate Urns of water were boiled, then tea bags inserted and the lid returned Always a third of the urn was filled with flies
He recalls being posted to the South coast to install anti-aircraft guns to take on the Doodlebugs He reckoned 90% never got through the guns However, the installation of the guns was a really arduous task and he remembers falling asleep, utterly exhausted, beneath the barrel of a 3 4 gun, even though the gunner was firing away, he never heard a shot! Similarly, he remembers men falling off their gun stations totally exhausted and fast asleep
Ernie finished the war in the parachute regiment and on being demobbed eventually worked in the House of Commons until his retirement in 1977 Ernie continued to visit the area until his Passing
Prisoner of War CampEventually, the camp at Little Bray was disbanded and used as a German Prisoner of War Camp The prisoners went off each day in lorries and they were dropped off on individual farms to work and were collected at night
I remember cycling home from West Buckland School along 40 Beeches in the pitch dark and the German Prisoners were slouched in the beeches with only their cigarettes glowing After all the horror stories concerning the Germans, I fair flew past them on my bike! The late Vera Martin also remembered working alongside them whilst digging potatoes
The prisoners did their best to make good the damage of war and made toys for the children in the village International matches, England versus Germany, took place in the field opposite Little Bray (now owned by the Leys and the one below owned by Clive Faulkner
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In 1966 a prisoner returned with his family to stay for B & B in the village It was a difficult Saturday when he insisted on sharing my mobile home TV to watch the football World Cup, when you remember England won the World Cup beating Germany for the one and only time His favourite comment throughout the afternoon was “zis Bobby Charlton, he is good” His English was non existent
At least one prisoner married a local girl and others in the area never returned to Germany The vast majority, of course, eventually returned home, lost in history
Little Bray, it is believed, became a “holiday camp”, “rest camp” or something similar after the prisoners moved out
BlackoutLighting on all vehicles was restricted and headlights were masked Even lanterns used for outdoor lambing were masked The blackout was a major cause of concern for the ARP Wardens and the Special Constables, whose duty it was to ensure that the blackout was strictly observed
All signposts were removed so that if the enemy landed they would not be able to find their way around the country
The Mounted PatrolDuring the month of May 1940, Mrs Evelyn Radley of Ovis Farm was in Barnstaple expecting the birth of her fourth child, Jane Her husband George visited her and announced he and his workman, William Down, were going to sign up for the Local Defence Volunteers (L D V s), little knowing they would soon be part of a newly introduced Mounted Patrol
The Mounted Patrol was formed to patrol, on horseback, the high ground on Exmoor “to note and report anything suspicious and in particular to watch out for enemy parachutists landing” On a rota basis they patrolled everyday in twos, covering the dawn and 2 hours thereafter, before returning to their farms This routine was followed through Summer and Winter The troop (North Molton and High Bray together) had about 40 horsemen and the High Bray Patrol are remembered as:
Capt Bear (Little Bray) the Officer in ChargeJohn Robins (Wallover)2 Balments from West BucklandPercy Dallyn (Challacombe)Mr Ridder (West Buckland)George Radley and Bill Down (Ovis Farm)
Initially, they were armed with substantial riding crops and nothing else to repel the enemy, but eventually were equipped with Sten Guns (303 rifles would be impossible to ride with) The initial training consisted of one exercise, on how to mount and dismount a horse - good training for men brought up in the saddle all of their days The sequence of commands was: “Stand to your horses” “Prepare to mount” “Mount” The main training time was Sunday afternoons, meeting at Lydcott Hall
Another remembered exercise was when a single rider would hide up somewhere with his horse and was known
as “The Art of Hiding” In the wooded valleys, there was no problem, but high on the moor with no trees, it was a different matter Farmer John from Wallover was a big man who rode a big horse, some 16 hands high Invariably, he found it difficult to hide and on being discovered so quickly yet again, he was heard to remark “Ah well, I’ll have to find a bigger quarry or get a smaller hoss”
Weapon training was important and firing live ammo on the range at Filleigh was taken with extreme seriousness One member who shall remain nameless, seldom had a bullet ending up in the same field as the rest After several visits, one of his bullets hit the huge target stand, not the target itself mind you! A bit later this feat was repeated The trooper was ecstatic and analysing his success he told everyone “I tell ee what’s bin wrong all along: today I shut t’other eye!
A Spy in the Camp The Reverend William Joyce was the Rector of Charles during the war The late Mr Oliver Robins, of Lydcott Hall, was ordered to keep an eye on him, in case he was sending signals to Germany It was alleged that his brother was the famous German propagandist “Lord Haw Haw” whose broadcast always started with “Germany calling, Germany calling”
Petrol Rationing
Life in Brayford revolved around the petrol pump (the base is still visible on the pavement outside the old shop) Petrol arrived by sea at Watermouth Cove and was transported by tankers to RAF Chivenor, Winkleigh aerodrome and other depots Smoking was not allowed in the cabs of the lorries, but the drivers were often seen
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passing Brayford with their heads hung out of the cabs happily having a cigarette
Petrol was rationed and could only be exchanged for coupons Journeys were strictly controlled and had to be related to farm activities, i e markets and farm related business Farm petrol was coloured red and it was an offence to use this for any other purpose Farmers were known to drive around with a sack of potatoes in case they were checked, which they were quite regularly It is said that a Combe Martin policeman stopped a farmer, looked in the boot of the car and said “Farmer, your spuds be growing out through your bag”
The control was so tight that when Mrs Radley’s daughter Jane (2 years old) was taken to the isolation ward in Bideford with scarlet fever, they had to fight extremely hard to get petrol to visit her for the six weeks she was there A small allowance of petrol was allowed for church attendance How times have changed!
The Home Guard
On 22 June 1940, France surrendered to the German troops The German armies pushed ever onward trapping the British Army against the sea The story of Dunkirk and the rescue of the allied soldiers is legendary, but with the fall of Dunkirk in June 1940, the possibility, even the probability of the invasion of our own island was expected almost any day In this atmosphere, the Local Defence Volunteers (L D V s) were formed Winston Churchill changed this name two months later to Home Guard He felt Defence Volunteers was very negative - Home Guard was powerful and positive
Coloured by TVs “Dads Army”, our image today is very different than reality in 1940 when everything was undertaken with great seriousness of purpose The Home Guard at Brayford were known as No 5 Platoon “C” Company - 4th Battalion of Devon Home Guard They numbered about 40 men at full strength
The crossroads at the west end of the village, where the South Molton/Blackmoor Gate Road and Barnstaple Hill met was manned day and night by guards on a rota basis The ammunition was stored in a Nissen hut in the meadow opposite Hillside and only recently has it fallen to the ground The guardroom was in the building adjacent to the bottom of Barnstaple Hill (now Maurice Tucker’s yard) Barricades of barbed wire on high wooden frames stood on the bank and when needed were placed across the road so that each vehicle stopped and was checked by the duty guard
The late Fred Hobbs (a member of the Home Guard) remembered how in the pitch dark, heavy footsteps were heard approaching the barricade, guarded by Sgt George Maddox No lights were allowed, of course, and nearer came the footsteps Rifle at the ready, Sgt Maddox yells “Halt who goes there?” “Me” came the reply out of the dark “Advance me and be recognised by me” replied George
Fred Hobbs manned the old Methodist Chapel as a club for the Home Guard, known as Guard Room (The new houses opposite the present Methodist Chapel, Hobbs Row, are named after him)
Lt Eli Trigger was the officer in charge - a veteran of World War I - who was then the village postmaster, but every inch an officer Parades were held on Sundays and Farmer Jack Bowen of Grange Farm, Charles, preferred to attend chapel rather than parade After one service Trigger was waiting at the door of the chapel and tore Mr Bowen off a strip At the end of it all, Mr Bowen was heard to say “Don’t you worry Eli, when Hitler comes in this village, I’ll be ready for him”
Lectures were held in the Old Methodist Church, later in uniform at the Club known as Guard Room, now a storeroom, when such edifying talks were given on stripping the 303 rifle and how to throw a grenade
Manoeuvres were a regular part of their training and on one occasion youngsters were laid out all over the village with labels attached “broken leg and ankle”, “shrapnel wound in the head” They lay still for hours until a stretcher party carried them off Vera Martin remembered being a “casualty” in Rowland Ley’s doorstep (i e Mild May in the village) and Pat Simmonds (my sister) was a “casualty” behind Fred Hobbs’ door This exercise was supervised by a Doctor Mortimore of Barnstaple
Air Raid WardensMy mother, Mrs Meta Thorne, and her father, Mr Dick Huxtable, Rev George Hackett, Mr Jim Harding, Mr Jack Browen are people I remember were members of this band of workers All the Wardens had black greatcoats and the men wore badged berets
EvacueesOn 6 September, 1939, Britain received its first enemy raid, but by then the Government had implemented its evacuation scheme for England and Wales Some
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1,200,000 persons were moved out of cities and other vulnerable locations
Some of these mainly from Tottenham London found their way to Brayford A party would arrive and muster in the Methodist Schoolroom (no village hall then) and Mr Kenneth Prideaux, the billeting officer, would be responsible for their placement with various families Practically every house accommodated such children and sometimes mother as well
The Penfolds at Bray Vale - now Vale House (see “The 2 Sids”);The Burgesses at Lane House;The Bully family at the shop;The Kennys and Bergmans at Rock Villa;Mrs May and Brian Hackman at Lydcott;Sheila and Renee Hudson at Bray Cross (Renee later returned to London and was killed in an air raid);Frank O’Brian at Lydcott;Leslie Reaves and Peter Wood (BBC newsreader) with Kathleen Southcott;Derek Wyngate at Grange Farm; Stella and Martin Hickman at the Prideaux’s at The Mill
I believe Ron Jemmison and Bill Houghton came to this area at about this time from Bristol and it was so good they decided to stay Now in 2012 I believe only Joe Prideaux still survives, living in Bexhill on Sea - Joe was born at the Mill, Brayford
Obviously at this time evacuees suddenly began arriving in our village and they established their own school which was situated in the present Methodist Schoolroom Madam Smith, I remember, as the stern teacher in charge
I recall in particular the two Sids who left Brayford and returned to London, each going their separate ways Sidney Penfold was evacuated to Newtown with Mr James Harding, and Sidney Townsend was billeted opposite in the present bungalow ‘Old Turnpike House‘ with Mrs & Mrs Bert Scoines Having returned to London, Sidney Penfold went to Canada and Sidney Townsend went North 50 years later they arranged to meet back at Brayford and I happened to be in the village when they arrived The first time they had set eyes on each other in 54 years What a reunion!
The next day both were keen to go to the Methodist Schoolroom and immediately sat down on chairs where they originally sat in their school days At once they went across to the piano to see if there was a hole in the back because when originally there they remembered clearly what had happened A bomber had crashed nearby and they had raided it and took with them some ammunition During class one day they fired one of the bullets and it went straight through the piano
Some fifty odd years later on their return trip this was the Journal headline: “The Day I shot the Piano” Both Sids are still doing well in 2012 Our Newsletter seems to reach Canada and Sid Penfold is always updating me on Brayford News
AircraftDuring the war Exmoor was ever a place of constant activity day and night From time to time bombs were dropped causing us to sight-see and sadly view crashed aircraft One foggy winters day around Christmas, there was a ‘Rabbiting’ party at Welcombe Farm, where Malcolm and Margaret Faulkner now live, and life seemed normal enough But suddenly I am told by an inhabitant of Grange Farm, near Welcombe, (where Alan Boddington lives), there came a thunderous noise as though the roof was being torn off Sadly this was when a huge Liberator bomber, which skimmed the trees and narrowly missed the farmhouse, ploughed into the nearby field through a bank coming, eventually, to rest Seven crew were killed
Sheila Robins, as she was, recalls how a Douglas Dakota crashed into a field overlooking Leworthy Cleaves This was crewed by Americans, who stayed with the aircraft until it was able to be repaired and take off from the field about a month after Nobody was injured Interestingly the pilot of the Dakota told how his mother was the chief of the Red Cross in New York
Of course, the end of hostilities came with huge rejoicings, but for many a year to come life would continue to be a struggle living with Rationing and so on
Methodist PreachingMethodist preaching services were first introduced into the neighbourhood of Brayford by the Gould Family of Charles in the year 1774 The Goulds were an influential family in and around Brayford for many years Mrs Gould actually wrote to Rev John Wesley asking him if he would visit Charles when he next came to Devon Regular Methodist preaching began at Brayford in 1777 and was much resented at that time, in particular by the clergy who began calling for tithes at the most inconvenient time, sometimes demanding them in kind, seizing their horses at Harvest for instance The Wesleyans steadily grew in numbers and transferred their meetings from Charles to Little Bray, meeting in the cottages, and then building their own chapel
The first Methodist Chapel was built in Brayford in 1813 It was a great undertaking - Mr Joseph Gould gave the land and it was built for £221-7s The stewards then included the names of:- John Dyer of Braytown Farm, John Gould of Little Bray Farm, Nicholas Chamings of Withygate
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Farm, George Radley of Ovis Farm and Frederick Dallyn, Brayford blacksmith The present Methodist Chapel was built in 1927, and on completion over 600 people sat down to tea in the meadow behind the old chapel
At the time the first Methodist chapel was built, a Mr Dyer from Braunton took Braytown Farm He had four sons, and being an Anglican he attended High Bray Church with his family, but instructed them that “They must not go near the Methodist” This of course led them to find out more for themselves, and they soon became converted One of the sons, John Dyer, married the daughter of William Gould of Grasspark, and eventually became (on the death of his father) a Methodist Class Leader He was said to have been ‘a really useful man’ His family consisted of one son and four daughters
The eldest daughter, Edith Gould Dyer, married William Dallyn of Brayford and their ten children were brought up in the ‘Connection’ and worshipped at the original Methodist Chapel situated opposite the present chapel in the village A descendant of this family, a Mr Frederick Dallyn, was the donor of the site on which the present chapel is built, and was a powerful worker in establishing the Wesley cause in the old church and up until his death in 1934
The Goulds, the Dyers and the Dallyns were all associated with the early development of Methodism in the village
In 1830 Mr Nicholas Chamings, a farmer and cattle dealer from Beaford, took Withygate Farm and four years later became tenant at Braytown Farm He was a churchman and attended the church at High Bray He was a physically strong man with an iron will and whatever he set his mind to, he did it leaving no stone unturned
After he was ‘awakened’ by a sermon from the Rector, he was for sometime troubled about his soul but found peace one Sunday on his way to church Soon after he saw the Rector and stated that after this experience he felt that he must find some work to do for God “Can you give me some work - if not, then I fear I must go and join the people down at Brayford” he said The Rector was unable to meet Mr Chamings’ request but advised him that should he go to those down below “I would join the Baptists rather than the Wesleyans”!
The Baptists convened two meetings to decide whether
or not to accept Mr Chamings into their fold He was examined by two Deacons, but when they decided eventually to accept him for baptism, Mr Chamings had tired of waiting He felt strongly he was in the wrong place and went and joined the Wesleyans This was about 1834, and he went on to become a Class Leader The details of Mr Chamings influence is fascinating and tells how a revival in the neighbourhood led to people going to Braytown Farm at night and getting him out of bed that he might tell them how they might be saved!
Mr Chamings had five sons and four daughters and they all assisted in carrying on the work which duly prospered Sadly the family at Braytown Farm experienced great sickness with a son and three daughters dying Mr William Chamings’ eldest son was killed in an accident which happened on his way to market in 1856
After his father’s death, Mr Richard Chamings took over Braytown Farm He was a faithful worker in the Methodist Chapel at Brayford and served as a Methodist Lay Preacher for many years His services were recognized by the chapel, who gave him a three-piece silver set with the date inscribed Somewhere in the years that followed, this set found its way into a second-hand shop where it was spotted, and subsequently rescued by Mr Richard Huxtable (died 1976) On his death, Mrs Meta Thorne inherited the set and subsequently passed it to me - her son Mike Thorne (formerly at Rock Villa) Using the Chamings’ genealogist based in Teignmouth, I have now finally tracked down the rightful owner, a delighted Berkshire farmer who has a number of sons who will be thrilled to receive the silver shortly
Prior to Geoff Dunford purchasing Braytown Farm in 1977, another Methodist stalwart, Mr George Tucker farmed it as a dairy farm He was also a Lay or Local Preacher and held many a meeting at the farmhouse
In the neighbouring village of Charles is the Church of St John the Baptist restored in 1891, and replacing the old chapel dedicated to St Petrock in 1424 which was later converted to become the rectory
Chapel Stewards since the erection of the Old Chapel in 1813:
George Beer John DyerJohn Dyer Nicholas Chamings SnrEdwin Widlake R ChamingsJohn Gould G RadleyMichael Stevens Frederick Dallyn
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Julie Parkin February 2011
The Moule FamilyI have brought along some very old account books lent to me by my cousin It is the work done by James Moule, my great grandfather in 1897, age 23 years and later on with his two sons, Jack and Jim Moule of Holewater (one son farmed at Withygate)
Great grandfather was a stonemason and contractor Also did lots of farm work for farmers Worked for the District Council: all stone dug by hand Lots of local men worked for him
They did their own blasting - they dug wells, repaired roads, hand-breaking of stones, sinking a well at Muxworthy in 1896 - 12ft deep at 7/- per foot
My great grandfather died in 1923 aged 67 yrs, leaving his two sons a house each at No 1 and No 2 Bray Cross (they fell out in those days because one had more than the other)
Memories of Brayford as a ChildI lived at High Bray (Bray Town) - one of six children Times were hard then I was born during the war but we were happy because there were lots of us children with other big families Father was always in work with the quarries We couldn’t get free meals or school uniform because we got a little more than the farm workers, but we always had clean clothes to wear, food to eat and were kept warm
We always kept chickens and a pig with a large garden with plenty of vegetables There was no water indoors or toilet just the pump to share There was no electric, no
car - just bikes Mr Tucker provided us with milk There was no butcher, baker, coalman - just the village shop and post office
Every Saturday I would go to the shop and PO, and also pick up the papers (which I did every day) I would go to the PO with my savings from the paper round 1/6 per week I would save to buy P/Bs I won £25 when the draw started - that was a lot of money back then The jackpot was £1000 in those days My holidays were staying with Stan & Joan on their farm at North Molton and going to the pictures on the Saturday night What a treat They also took me on lots of trips with them What happy memories
We went to church 3 times every Sunday and sometimes would walk to Charles church for afternoon service It was always Sunday best and no work, just walks
The church Christmas party was held in the church barn at High Bray where we were each given a book for a Sunday School prize There was also a trip to the Christmas pantomime and a church outing to the seaside
Another trip we children always looked forward to was the Barnstaple Fair once a year in September I remember once getting lost one year at the fair - we had only just got there Someone took me to the police station where I sat, looking out of the window until I saw someone I knew I remember it was one of the Friendship girls
Each year we looked forward to picking worts for pocket money We walked miles We also loved helping out on farms Mr Tucker and Jim Venn were kind to us children
I remember once as a child when cutting corn and helping to get a rabbit, a rat bit my hand Mrs Bond had told us about someone dying from a rat bite (so Pam reminded me) Mr Tucker put me in his van and took me to the farm house where I almost passed out Then it was off to hospital where I stayed for a week, but I came back to tell the story
In the winter it was sledging in the fields; getting a jar full of tadpoles in the Spring, and in Summer we had fun in the river There was the hay and corn making, trying to get a rabbit to take home Whortleberry picking on the moor to get pocket money and mushroom picking Walking and playing in the woods, gathering sticks and making play houses - it was great fun There was also picking up potatoes and sorting them out Picking bluebells, getting conkers, picking up nuts We looked forward to every year Mr Tucker and Jim Venn were very kind to us children, we would help out on their farms, and we loved Jim’s horse Violet I did the mole round with brother John sometimes and would walk miles I remember Mr Barrow giving him his first cheque and he bought himself a pair of boots
Bonfire night was a good time too, with brother John in charge with a large fire in Jim’s field for all to see from Brayford I remember it would always end up in the village with the Police coming
Carol singing each Christmas was always great fun Again
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with brother John in charge going around to the farms to be given sweets and with a tin the vicar gave us to collect for charity
Jim Venn was Joan Richards’ father, the local carpenter at the Bray Mill He always had a lot of time for the children He would make stools and sledges for us and show us how the waterwheel worked and also collect apples for us
When I was about 7yrs I remember a lady sitting in the garden at Hillside We were out for our Sunday walk I was told it was our new teacher, Mrs Prigg, later to become Mrs Bond Miss Cobley and Miss Standly were my teachers at the time I remember having baked potatoes cooked on the tall stove, and bread, butter and cheese in the afternoon with bottles of milk in the morning
I always remember Christmas - we always had a small present and stocking filled I couldn’t make out why Mary next door had a bike and Pat and Jo had a watch Then I got told why - because Father Christmas didn’t come We were never bored like we hear the children say today “I’m bored”
We would go to the village and I remember people would keep shouting at us from Bray Town At the PO it was “shut that door” - I would think, give me time to get in At the Shop it was “What do you want” In the middle of the village there was a tap - then again it was “Turn that tap off” We’d stop to watch Mr Vanstone the blacksmith and it was then “On your way” Walking up across the fields back to home - “You didn’t shut the gate” - waving his stick But it was open when I went through (I think now maybe they were ill)
At school we would sit around the big stove which got hot Mrs Bond, teacher, said I smell something not good - John had a mole in his pocket Another time John had a bite from a Mars bar in class and Mrs Bond opened the stove and in went John’s Mars bar We all thought this was terrible as we didn’t get chocolate often If you used a swear word or swore, Mrs Bond would put a bar of soap in their mouth and turn it around to wash out their mouth It was awful to watch but it never stopped the swearing
We were a big family - there was John and 5 girls Our mother lost her first two children Life was hard but we never knew father as he was out at work He was a quarryman just across the fields from where we lived, which was a rented cottage where other large families lived
Their first home was a small cottage way up on Exmoor All of us have always lived in North Devon, not many miles apart Father always said give and take and stay with each other They were married over 60 years I think big families stay together longer than small families because times were harder for them and when they got older they appreciate life more There was very little money in our younger days but there was always food and clothes for us, not many toys We made our own fun and we got used to the hard way of living
Mother worked hard and never looked to go anywhere,
never any holidays because again there was very little money Everything we needed was brought to the door Father used to catch rabbits and fish until it was a crime to do so He worked hard getting logs for the range for heat and cooking, plus hot water from iron kettles to wash and bath There was no electric, only oil lamps The toilet was in the back garden which at night we had to take candles There was just one pump for all the 10 families to share - we carried water in buckets
Mondays washing day was hard again for mother We children had to fetch the cold water to fill up the furnace in the back house which mother used to light to get hot water This we did again for Friday bath night which was in the only one downstairs room The bath was put in front of the fire which our mother topped up from the kettle The girls first then John because he was always so dirty Then it was clean clothes once a week
All our vegetables were from our garden which father did with pride and mother was a very hard working person indoor - always cooking, washing and mending for us - a very clean person We had three bedrooms plus a larder for the food
We always kept a pig, had chickens plus a cat to keep the mice away I don’t know why but our door which opened right into our living room was left open morning to night all day and all weathers Maybe it was to let the light in, but again it was our way of life Mother and father’s day off was the local football match on Saturdays Again within walking distance - we never had family cars in those days, only bikes Sundays we always went to church (3 times) Sunday people didn’t work at all - it was church, a nice cooked Sunday dinner, a long walk, and then tea, followed by church again Things we looked forward to were the church Christmas party and the Sunday School Outing beside the sea by bus which was great
Our life was playing in the countryside in the summer - it was always down to the river which was great fun Also playing in the nearby woods We grew up with all the wild life Our neighbours were friends and the farmers loved us children The farm was great fun - hay making, milking of cows, sheep shearing We always looked forward to all these things The farmers wife at the end of the day had us all in and gave us a boiled egg for supper around this big table - lovely!
November 5th another great event John always made a big bonfire on the hillside where everyone from the village could see it
Christmas was always fun - cooked chicken and mother made a Christmas pudding and cake Very little presents but we didn’t mind John took us around to all the local farms carol singing The vicar gave us a collecting box, the farmers’ wives gave us sweets and asked us into their warm home They loved to see us We could never work it out why some children had bikes for Christmas (from Father Christmas) and we had little gifts - we thought we were good children too The only enjoyment each family had was wireless
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Easter we always had a little chocolate egg each One year John lost his egg and he said we took it! Mother said you must have eaten it A few days later when mother went to wind the high wall clock, there inside was John’s egg where he had hidden it!
We walked to school down in the village on our own because mother always had other children to look after It was hard but we knew no other
We made money from the gypsies who called on us each week They bought our rags and made clothes pegs for us Some one called for our rabbit skins Again we got paid John sold mole skins to make money Every year we looked forward to wortle-picking - up on the moors Again people in the village would give us pocket money for them
When we look back, life was very hard, but we were very happy (not “I’m bored” as so many say today!)
Now we have all grown up and have done very well for ourselves, thanks to our parents who taught us what was right and wrong Life is faster now but much easier
Another thing was potato picking in the farmer’s field once a year Families had so many rows - hard work filling up buckets then the sack, then bringing them home and put them under the stairs Also help ourselves to people’s apples which we know now was wrong!
John and I went fishing together and mole catching Up the church tower steps to get jackdaw eggs out because Mr Roper said clear them out because of the mess
Grannie Slader would chase us out - fire the gun in the air to make us go!
Conker fighting and marble games was also great fun
The school ‘Church School’ was opened January 13th 1873 (Bray Town) The first headmaster Mr Granger I remember my mother talking about Miss Sear and Miss Broadley who came together from Yorkshire
The first Methodist Chapel in Brayford was built 1813 and the Baptist a few years later about 1820 The new chapel in 1927
Most if not all the village would have been part of the Ackland Estate with the main house at Little Bray A huge beech tree divided the roads near the bridge There were two cottages in the garden of Rock Villa plus an old cottage next to the Blacksmith’s shop - The Nook! Another small cottage in the plot of land opposite the old Post Office This was Jennys Cottage (the Hulland family) Two there up the steps opposite the shop and petrol pump The end cottage had the village pump that I remember The tailor had his workshop in the shed by the road Mr George Thorne the shoemaker opposite the Baptist Chapel where Mr Hobbs lived
I remember Mr Cannon who repaired our shoes there A Mr Gammon had Braytown Farm Three farmhouses in
the village had been there since the late 1700 - North and South Bray, and Hillside (I remember Mr Skinner and Miss Smyth at South Bray)
Brayford’s local at the time - “The Plough Inn” - was at Higher Brayford hill In 1850 the landlord was William Hill
There was also the “Ackland Arms” at Moles Chamber on the eastern border of High Bray Parish, which was rather a rough house Last local policeman was P C Button - he was 17 years on the beat
Frank Huxtable carpenters shop was by “The Mill”
Mr Fred Dallyn, the blacksmith lived opposite Rock Villa and Mr Henry Comer I remember Mr Comer II, he made garden trugs, potato and log baskets And Mr Ern Vanstone at the blacksmiths
At Brayvale lived Gerald and Mabel Huxtable (Jim Venn’s sister), Joan Richard’s father Four generations of the Radleys were living and farming at ‘Ovis’
The two houses which link the roads beyond the bridge were the family of John Hobbs the shoe repairer and the White family
A short distance up the road left to the bridge was the working Mill with the waterwheel owned by the Huxtable family, making them the fifth generation Also grandfather Frank Huxtable’s busy carpenters shop also a wheelwright, made his own furniture Also those lovely church chairs put together with wooden pegs He also made carts, butts and wheelbarrows
The Prideaux family live there now Richard Huxtable’s sister Maud married Kenneth My mother worked there looking after the twins David and Frank Now a little story Mother had to be in by 9 00pm She got into trouble one night because the twins altered the clock by one hour Grandfather Huxtable was also the local preacher
I remember Jim Venn, Joan Richard’s father having the carpenters shop Grandad Frank Huxtable died tragically in 1938 aged 82 through accidentally stumbling into the swollen millstream one dark and stormy night I remember my mother telling me this
About a quarter mile up stream of the river Bray the river could be divided and a small stream controlled by a ‘fender’ allowed the water to flow down past the Mill House and down to turn the waterwheel
One house on the High Bray side was supposed to have been built at the same time as the church I remember the Davey family living there, also the Johns and Southcott families there (before that the Legg family) With cobbled courtyard and thatched roof Welsh slate floors everywhere, passages even the staircases were slate or stone Real black oak beams and doors How lovely if it was still there now
Years ago Frank Dallyn kept the shop as well as the
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blacksmiths and forge He had Rock Villa built Then in 1905 the Huxtable family took over
Along the village was the Methodist Chapel (1813-1927) known as the centre house George Huxtable’s brother John with his wife Louisa lived there John kept a small grocery shop in the large shed by his house and he would deliver goods with his sugar box on wheels Unfortunately he had a drink problem, but he could still preach a very good sermon It was not unknown for John to be brought home by kind persons tucked into the same sugar box John’s wife was known as nurse Huxtable
Next door was Mr & Mrs William Hobbs Tragically Martha died in a fire in 1962 I remember this
Along from there was George Huxtable’s workshop I remember the Daveys from W Buckland there The workshop got swept away in the Lynmouth floods 1952
Over the bridge was the former Post Office where for
many years Mrs Norman (second marriage - Trigger lived) Mr Norman was killed in World War One
Adjoining the Post Office was a long shed which was the workplace of blacksmith/wrestler John Huxtable, born 1817 He would display the 17 silver spoons in his hat won by his wrestling He came to Brayford from Challacombe to set up near his brother Richard
John Huxtable (II) was born at Brayford, the son of John Huxtable the blacksmith and his wife Elizabeth Thorne (they kept the PO) He started the plough works first at Brayford, possibly in his father’s shop (called the Eclipse Plough Works) He later moved to West Buckland where he started a larger works The works had a waterwheel at Leary The final straw came when John’s son (also called John) was playing around the waterwheel, when his friend got trapped between the wheel and the wall and was killed Following this John moved to Barnstaple and started the Alexandra Ironworks
Joan Greenwood February 2011
We came down to this area in 1960 - the year electric was installed Old Mr Will Robbins had died so the farm was sold At that time Mrs Robbins was still using a flat iron Four or five of the Robbins family were farming up the valley - they had Lydcott, South Lydcott, Gratton, and two Wallovers There were lovely hunting stories about the staghounds coming through and picking up a ‘flurry’ of Robbins
There was a big waterwheel in the farm buildings at Gratton which was used for power in the big barn - thrashing, grinding, and the sawbench It was fed by water from the pond at the back of the house The farm had been very well looked after and all drains from the top land (up to Five Cross Ways) had been directed into the pond In the big barn the grindstone was up one layer and the saw bench down one layer However it was no good for shearing so it was just as well we got on to the mains
My husband, when he came out army, went in with his family at the cotton mill, but it did not work out He used
to come down to this area on holiday before the war, and stayed at Exford for hunting in August He soon got to know a lot of people, and heard of a nice place for sale, but by time we got down here it was sold However the auctioneer said he knew someone who wanted to sell - so he arranged for us to look at the farm and it was exactly what we wanted, (that was in July 1960) and we moved in during September 1960
We were greeted by acquaintances and although advice was given, it was always put so nicely They saw exactly what you were trying to do John used to help his father with milking etc when he came back from war, but we went into sheep and cattle down here We went into showing (tried Closewools, but then Exmoor horns) and did very well with the showing of Exmoor Horns, and had championships at all the big shows, Devon County, Bath & West, and Exford
Pat Watts whose father lived at Simonsbath, was our shepherd, and his passion was showing sheep He joined us the second or third year we came down We struggled the first winter with a chap that was here Sarah Watts was 2 yrs old when they arrived and we made part of the house into a cottage for the Watts family We did apply for planning for a house, but they wanted it in a place where the water would have had to go uphill!
John was not too good in health - he had asthma as a child, and the winter of 1963 was very hard Fred Bawden and Mr Friendship used to help us Fred Bawden used to come up on a motorcycle, but it wasn’t strong enough to bring up both Clifford Wilmotts then came to help - he used to live at Woolhanger, but moved to Bratton Fleming (Elsie his wife also came from Brayford) He did all the wonderful fencing and gateposts with white crowns We left Gratton in 1977 with regret
Electrics arrived the summer of year we arrived in 1960 There were some new houses in Brayford, but people I remember:
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There was Michael Thorne’s family (his father was uncrowned mayor of Brayford!) He had four sisters - Mrs Radley at Ovis, Mrs Bowen, Mrs Neta Thorne, Mrs Molly Hobbs Michael was the only boy
Mrs Phyllis Bond was school mistress
We did not have a vicar - the last one had left and they had been managing with visiting vicars Fred Bawden insisted we came to a church meeting, and it landed up with John becoming chairman and I became secretary I have been on various committees over the years
The Maddox family - old mother ran the Mother’s Union - there was Vera, Bill and Ruth
Stan and Joan Richards lived at High Bray farm - he took over from Joan’s father when married
Julie Parkin was a Moule - they lived at High Bray Whites lived there and then moved to Newtown Bridge - 9 of those, and 11 Leeworthys
The families used the water pump in High Bray until they did eventually get mains water I remember going round village with Mrs Heggaton from Braytown, and had to ask all the people what they had for water Very few had any indoor water - all the taps outside were off an old supply which had been classed as not too good to use Eventually the High Bray Women’s Institute got the survey together and sent it to the Council to get mains water to Brayford The water used to come from Little Bray and was channelled to a settling tank Later on the mains water at High Bray came up to church gate and then went into Braytown cottages There was no water in the church so unfortunately they couldn’t have social gatherings in church if there were no toilets!
One bus used to take the children to school to South Molton, and if there were any spare seats, we could go to South Molton, but then had to wait until end of day to come back The WI pushed and got 15 people willing to use the bus and we got a bus to come through to Barnstaple (from South Molton/ North Molton/ Brayford/ Barnstaple) Shortly after getting this organised, several of the older generation died and numbers went down, and we didn’t get younger ‘replacements’, but it is still going once a week on Fridays!
The Village Hall was built after we came In 1960 we still had WI meetings in the old school at High Bray Meetings were in the infant classroom The Village Hall was built very quickly as all the plans were ready The old barn at High Bray was used for Whist Drives and skittles But there was no water there!
Church still had oil lamps even after electric came, but I cannot remember when electric was actually installed
Mr George Tucker lived at Bray Town and did the milk round (he built the new house where Pete Raymond now lives)
Joan and Stan lived in the Old Rectory (where the vicars
used to live)
When up at Gratton with mist in the valley, you would be able to see High Bray church on the hill and hear the bells Unfortunately the floor became unsafe so we were unable to ring the bells
Gratton means ‘big top’ and Barton meant ‘big farm’ It used to be part of the Ackland estate Ackland houses always had brick windows and monkey puzzle trees
There were two cottages between Gratton and Lydcott (down by the stream) called Hazlebear They were not used when we were there, but the story was that the last chap that lived there committed suicide The slates had been taken off the roof, so it was eventually knocked down It used to be two storeys with a small cellar, a room on the ground floor with wash room at back, and then stairs outside to two bedrooms with only stable doors - no door at the top!
When we had the big snow in 1947 I am told that Gratton and other farms that end of the parish were put on the Bratton Fleming postal route as it was easier to get to from Bratton Fleming side
In the weather of 1963 all the roads were blocked Snow started on Boxing Day and we never got the car out of the garage until April I came out of hospital with David and arrived home by tractor The snow got so compacted that they had to dig it out and throw it over the hedge and this broke all the beech hedges Fortunately we had all the sheep home around the house We had a tractor we could get across the field and fortunately gates were open (as snow up to top of hedges) and over the gates
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Ruth Boyles March 2011
The Village Hall was opened in May 1963 by Mrs Nott - I remember this date as Peter was born on 9th May and I had just brought him home from hospital
There was bad flooding in the village in the 1970s - the water was up past the Old Post Office Frank Prideau ferried the children in his link box to catch the bus (Alan was about 12 yrs old)
There have been very sad times:
Sid & Marilyn Street lost their son aged 21;
Matthew Bawden died 7-8 yrs old;
Andrew Kingdom died following a motor bike accident at Charles - 17 yrs old;
Ivan Kelland killed in farm accident at Withygate - 17 yrs old;
Bawden family - eldest boy of Yarde Gate killed in car accident - 18 yrs old;
Stephen Williams - killed at quarry - Chrissie Leeworthy eldest son - had two families (first few Williams) She never let the other children work at the quarry afterwards;
And there was the cement mixer death at shop hill
The petrol pumps closed approx 20 years ago - and Post Office/ Shop also closed
The horse forge closed in approx 1960 (located beyond the Nook) When I came they were still taking their horses there to be shod The farrier at time was Mr Vanstone
There were three pair of twins attended school at the same time - Bawden, Radley, Baments
The school raised money and installed a swimming pool in late 1970/ early 1980 I was Chairman of the school
governors at that time
Brayford and Holewater bridge were widened since we came here There is a plaque on Brayford bridge saying when it was done
We moved to Brayford in 1960 (Spring)
Matha Hobbs burnt to death in cottage opposite chapel About 1961 - just after we came
Meta Thorne helped at the school - she was the caretaker/ dinner lady As she passed by to walk to the school, she saw smoke coming under the door Martha had a really old fashioned look - black skirt and blouse
Electricity came to village in 1960 and it was connected on the 17th June 1960 - Alan’s first birthday
The Water Board brought water to village in 1962 Alan used to like to watch the men working - the waterline came right behind the house I used to put him in the pushchair in the doorway of one of the buildings where he could watch
The sewage plant was later
There was a thatched house (where Alan Childs lives now) above Joyce Prideaux Ruby White was living there then with family and had very old thatch It was demolished and a bungalow built
The postal services became motorised in 1960/70 Before then it was delivered by walking/bicycle by Eli Trigger
The Football team closed in the late 1960s They used to play at Bray Town in one of Farmer Tucker’s field and it is still known as the ‘football field’
The extension on village hall was in 1980s - four teams of skittlers played there
I remember the time the Police hunted a burglar by helicopter in the Bray Valley and he was caught in the field by Beech Tree
1963 was when the big snow and freeze paralysed the countryside
It was 21 yrs ago when the Brayford Shoot was formed
The saw mill above where the Childs live, closed in the late 1950s Ray was here then, but not there when we came to live at Higher Hall
I remember a helicopter alighted at Withygate - the pilot went to turn up a sheep cast on its back He then climbed back in the helicopter and went on his way (cannot do anything without someone watching!)
The W I went into the Library 3-4 yrs ago and only a couple of farms mentioned in the records - our farm was called Higher Hole (Mrs Haggett didn’t like the name so changed it)
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John Thorne April 2011
The German prisoners of war came to the village - they were very pleasant fellows though they couldn’t speak any English There was a bit of unhappiness amongst the home guard because farmers were good with hospitality
to German prisoners when they called - they actually sang in the Baptist chapel - but of course we were engaged in war
The school - not sure if I started school early, but on a Friday I can remember being in the big class and Mrs Broadley had an aged sister or mother who called for help and she would go off and class was in bedlam while she was away - standing on top of desks etc Then the door would rattle indicating she was coming back and everyone dived back to their seats We used to have a general knowledge test and everyone would put their hands up But when the teacher sprung on an individual, invariably they didn’t have a clue
I remember a time when I was in the small room, and the door burst open and in came Mrs Broadley with my sister Ena - she was shaking her as she hadn’t been able to answer a simple question I also recall when Bill Radley turned up late after lunch break dripping wet - he had been down to the river with Brian Southcott catching trout! There were always lots of pranks I couldn’t drink
Lydcott was one and Higher Hall another - old established farms
Braytown and Higher Hall was all one at one time - there were gates from Braytown to Higher Hall (all one)
We didn’t have mains in 1960s The water came from Bray Town spring which fed Higher Hall (and still used - but latterly put on mains) No one had mains water before 1960s
When we first went to Higher Hall we only had a Baxi fireplace, and it was so cold! Until electricity came, used to have a type of tilley light stove We were brought up with oil lamps and candles and were one of the last to have television in the village When we did have it, it was wonderful for children
Ruth Edwards was born at Holewater Bill Dockings lived in the house down there and had a small holding - he was the local rabbit catcher Ruth’s mother told me how delicate a child she was and that she couldn’t wash her for the first six months except in olive oil (but very well now) There was Vera, Bill and Ruth - they lived at Braytown for a while (Ruth is 10 yrs younger than Bill)
We farmed cattle and sheep and have many memories of farming - it was hard going When we came to Brayford Ray had just had a bad tractor accident and he had his leg broken in three places (happened before we came here) We took the farm - a County Council farm- and four days after taking farm, he had this accident He was in plaster for six months and when we came to Higher Hall, he was still on crutches It was very difficult but people were so very kind to us especially the Prideaux boys - Dave and Frank The first year we were hay making and Ray was unable to help Dave and Frank had land at Sherracombe and on the way back on tractors and trailers going home to milk, instead of going straight home, they came in and
helped carrying the hay
John Thorne’s father was very kind too - he could see us from over the valley and rang up one day to say ‘I see you doing so and so - would it help if I sent over John’ It is still the same today in the village - everyone is so very kind Years ago people didn’t travel very far, but nowadays it is very different
Fred Hobbs used to live along from to us - his mother was caretaker for the Baptist Chapel The chapel next door was Methodist
Quarrying - we got the repercussions of the blasting a lot at one time The effects of the blasting sometimes came right under the house (possibly a seam)
Jean Pyne lived at Charles - she came from Bratton and I remember her saying how very old fashioned the house was when they were first married and moved there It had no facilities and they had to live with the inlaws Washing was done out in a shed (in those days she was a very smart girl and used to work in a bank so it was quite a culture shock for her) Old Mr Pyne sold the farm to the County Council quarries, but they didn’t want the farm so they took what they wanted and let the rest (When the Council took over, they did the whole place up and they made a lovely job with restructure etc)
Ray remembers the Lynmouth floods in 1950s His brother Dennis and he were in Minehead cinema - they went on their motorbike When they came home, they couldn’t get through Exford However the water soon went down again It was a real shock There was a terrific roar in the river when the water went through but it was gone the next day Vera Maddox said they were living in a caravan at Lynmouth and she always remembers how suddenly black everything went during the day when the rain started
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milk and used to tip it down drain when the teacher went round the corner Also on another occasion when Mrs Bond rang the bell for children to come in, I was on top of the roof - retrieving a ball I indicated to the children not to look at me and give me away, and as last child went in, I scaled down and went in behind
Nowadays not the mischief and bullying that went on then, but children turned out well
One occasion there was a race from the back gate to Lydcott Cross and back I was pretty competitive, and I won it - I beat Raymond White and Bill Radley who were a bit older than me But you cannot do that on the roads nowadays My parents were very protective, but I used to go down to the village after school to play around and then catch the school bus back as it went up to Yarde Down
I remember Jim Venn’s shop - he had a reputation of having cigarettes for the older lads Everyone was very fond of him and he was a loveable and great character He had a huge heap of oak sticks which the farmers wanted him to work on - but it never got done! The sawmill was run by a waterwheel He would be making a coffin - it didn’t bother us - and on the other side would be a half-finished dog kennel We used to take our reports to him (David White, John Kingdon etc) and he used to make some tongue in cheek remarks, but it was always nice to share them with him
My Margaret used to say that I am an expert on quite a lot of things, but not everyone wanted to hear! Eli Trigger used to go down Beara Crook and used to make a noise like a klaxton horn On a good day he was a wonderful chap, but watch out otherwise
A rather amusing episode concerning his wife and the gift Eli was an officer in the home guard and there was a chap running the home guard called Major Sweet Escott He was going to make some presentation and had bought a lovely Brannam Pottery vase Unfortunately Eli and his wife had a row, and she chucked it at him and it broke!
Recollections of the HomeguardSid Ridd lived in the cottage and his boots were always very shiny I remember the kids at school used to say they would put a dung fork into any Jerry coming over a hedge! And the majority of pictures at school would be of airplanes and guns
The village shopDick Huxtable lived at the shop with his wife Ethel, and he was a wonderful character They were parents of Mrs Radley and Mrs Bowen Dick had a great sense of humour He had been a lay preacher but very down to earth and liked his sport Vanstone the blacksmith was well known for being bad tempered After the blacksmith shop was knocked down, he had a place by Tuckers I met him at Cart Lane cross to have the pony shod as he was doing a hunter there Unfortunately only had a night halter and when the pony jumped around he got very cross
I remember the time when there was some salmon poaching going on and the water bailiffs came one night and jumped on the lads but they quickly disappeared Johnny Kingdon ran through brambles and didn’t think he had better go to High Bray so he banged on the door of Bill White Bill came to door and asked what was going on and Johnny told him the water bailiffs were chasing him, so he said get your wet clothes off and jump in bed with the boys Johnny was always interested in wildlife as a boy and his books are very interesting
Bill Maddox March 2011 The thatched house above Joyce was one big house When gran lived there, it was parted off, but not permanently as the doors were always still there When Kathleen Southcott and Bob went to live there (before they had a council house) when Bob came out of war, he worked for Dick Huxtable Grannie Johns lived in one side but then it was opened up so they could look after Grannie Johns The house was practically the whole length of the boundary of current house
I was born down at Holewater - now part of the big house I’m not sure if it was one building or two It was a one up and down with larder and upstairs
I went to the local school - we used to walk from Holewater, a short walk compared to those walking from Wallover or Muxworthy Jemmisons used to walk but they did sometimes get a lift in the school car if there was room
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After Holewater, we moved to High Bray in 1939 Electricity didn’t come until 1959/60 but we had electric because I worked for George Tucker and he took a line to our house and up to the church His electric came from his own plant - a 110 volt with engine and he had 50 odd batteries He used to take them into South Molton if he had a problem with them and they would recharge them, but it was not a good thing to take them in a van! The electric was used for general farm use - he had a milking parlour We lived in the cottage looking down to the pump, the second one up
I started the haulage business in 1970 I was working for Tom Comer at the time, and used to haul lime from Beer and chap offered me a lorry, but I didn’t take that then However Tom offered me one of his lorries and I started then - it was only a 7 5 tonner
The Quarry is much the same as then When I worked with George Tucker I used to look right into quarry and saw the men coming in down over the top of the quarry with charges They used a charger and blasting was three or four times a day Plasters were used on the rock and then they’d have cordite fixed to some fuse and used to light by hand and run like hell! Sometimes it went up quite quick but cannot remember any accidents
However Harry Harding who lived at Grass Park (he was the foreman) - he had an accident up on the face and blew his arm off He was a marvellous chap with one arm I have been sacking up corn, and he used to be able to do it faster with one arm than me with two arms
The Broomhill houses were built about 1946/47 All were occupied by 1948 However the first council houses to be built were the two by the bridge - before the War I was about 6-7 yrs old
The other houses at Beech Tree were built in 1951/52
I remember two or three carnivals with Mrs Bond Also the Flower Show was very popular - I remember different ones going back twenty years - practically everyone had a vegetable garden then
The Floods of 1952I never went down as far as Newtown Bridge but we were pulling sticks out by the cross end bridge Apparently Walt Kingdon was coming back in the car when the road at Newtown bridge went It was a Friday and I was cutting with a scythe with George Tucker It was 9 00pm when they had the storms - at that particular time a group of us used to go out on Fridays but on that particular week we were going to Lynton and went on Thursday night instead Barbrook was pretty bad
The Carpenter shop down by the bridge washed away We went down afterwards to see if we could find any tools, and there was a wooden plane hanging up in the tree approx 12ft high - thus showing how high the water was! Someone did find more tools down below the other council houses
We used to travel with a thrasher 5-6 winters and a number of times when we came to ricks where they some used faggots; we did not think there was a rat there as corn hadn’t been touched However when we got to the bottom, there were hundreds of rats - they must have travelled in droves and only just arrived
Another time we were thrashing in Berrynarbor - it was very narrow and only enough room for a thrasher between the shed and stream We were working at one end and when went down to other end, they had caught a barrow of rats
I remember George Tucker had wool bag, and thought it might have rats in it There was a cat behind the thresher, and as he turned the bag up, the cat would dash out and catch one and dash back again, but it kept coming back She had 5-6 rats there
I remember the Village Hall being built During the war the village held fetes at High Bray Rectory (on three lawns), and raised monies for the airforce and army For two or three years Little Bray House was a prisoner of war camp and they were given a piano and money After the war, the monies collected for the forces and piano all came back and that was how fund raising for the village hall started When they discussed what to do with money it was decided to build a memorial hall I think they wanted £2000 to be able to build it Back then that was a lot of money (farmworkers wages £2 50 week) We collected monies for approx 15-20 yrs and I believe it was built in 1962 However, when building started, it then cost £6000 Inflation!
Me,FredBawden,Mr.Yeo,BillWhite,BillMoule,DennisBawden,ErnSawyerandAudreySturgessatBrayfordcarnival Fete,raisingmoneyforthevillagehall
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Spencer Kingdon February 2011
I used to live with T H Moor at the long bungalow on the hill overlooking Newtown Bridge Living in Newtown there were no other children to play with The White children were not there (mother and youngest lived there later on) At one time Mother and father lived next door to Ruby and Raymond
T H Moore’s house started out as a chicken house! Later they built a bit on the end, and then another bit It was a lovely spot
Two rivers meet at Newtown, and that was what caused all the flooding in the valley It damned up all the way to
Brayford and only cleared when the road gave way It was said that Newtown bridge was washed away, but it wasn’t - it was the road that was washed away
The bungalow at Newtown - Mrs Harding lived there (Foxy and her husband) They kept cows as everyone did Mr Harding had his arm blown off in a quarry accident - his right arm but he could still drive a car He had a Lancaster and could adjust the throttle on the steering wheel He used to ride a bike to work
When the Floods occurred, father had gone fishing and was on his way home when he hit flood water and the car stopped He got out to see what it was, and just then there was a tremendous ‘wosh’ and the water broke through the road He stayed there all night and stopped traffic driving into the hole He also stopped a bus load
Clifford and Elsie were fist to use the hall for their wedding I also went to the first dance there (we have been married for 48 yrs - married in 1962)
Years ago you could manage on a small amount, but consumables nowadays are so costly Years ago always seemed happy times - everyone helped everyone else - haymaking, harvesting, etc You would be out baling (with a stationary baler) and then out would come the food
Little Bray House - Captain Beale was living in the house during the war It was used as an Army HQ and had a searchlight there - for D-Day After the prisoners of war left, it was used as a working holiday camp Mainly girls would come down from Midlands and stay (after working in factories) Dance Band used to go up there three nights a week The three Robins’: Kevin’s father, Jack, Fred from Wallover, and Reg - who is still living (think there were four of them) They had a 650 motorbike and the three of them used to travel to dances on the bike
I remember the Forge down the back of old shop There was a little yard at end and the forge was there And cottage against the road belonged to Bill Bond They used to have a petrol pump outside the door by the shop and it was ‘help yourself ’ - you would have to pump the pump yourself There have been quite a few changes in village since then and increase in the number of houses now here
I cannot remember the headteacher(s) before Mrs Bond I was there until 1943 and when the children started going to South Molton, I left school - I was 14 yrs
There used to be school at High Bray - they used the barn there (old tythe barn) while the school here was being prepared
I remember when the mains water came - again in 1960s - it went on up to Bampton It went through under us (Riverside) through the meadow - when we were living down there (or was that the sewer) The houses used to be fed by the water at the back of us (Broomhill) - the tank was fed via a ramp The main went up to feed Little Bray and Stock
Bad snowfalls - February 1978 1963 was another bad year, and 1947 was a bad year George Tucker and I went out to get the cows in and it started to rain and ice and I stood under hedge and in 15 minutes or less everything was one mass of lumps of ice
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of tourists - they had to turn round and go all way back up through Barnstaple
We came down in the night to see what was happening and realised all the water had gone We then saw father’s car, but no dad We only had torches and couldn’t see far and thought the worst However Mum went home and made sandwiches and tea and put it in a bag She then came back down and swung the bag across to the other side hoping father was there and could collect it And he did later in the night, but at the time we did not know whether he was there or not
T H Moore lived where he did because of the fishing - he owned all the fishing on the River Bray and also the River Hole and River Mole So it used to attract the top executives from London who came down to fish on the River Bray - hence the postcards
Lady Shenton from Rockshead lived in London (he was a solicitor or doctor) - they had a big Rolls Royce and they were the ‘nobs’ who came down for the fishing Dad was very keen on fishing - like a gamekeeper
Dad used to work on the farm for T H Moore After working on the farm, used to assist the Shentons - i e gut the fish etc Dad used to gut the salmon, with instructions to ‘take a piece for yourself ’ I had so much salmon that I now do not like it
I believe Lady Shenton was an artist and Rockshead was a second home for them (you used to think second homes were a new thing, but this was 1950’s)
I went to Brayford School very briefly but did not like
school so did not settle well I then went to South Molton school(s)
Down in the valley the quarry was always of interest for myself as a kid with the stone rollers coming up the road The Council owned the bottom quarry, and they produced all the curbs, slabs and everything they needed for the county All the concrete kit was there and it was interesting that lorries had wind-up tipping gear So after the floods, the council lorries came round to fill in holes Then it was very hard work - there were always two men in the lorries so one could use the wind-up to tip the lorry
The Flower Show was very keenly contested There no electric, no TV, etc We did have a car but as dad had to be at home for animals, we didn’t have a holiday So the show was the interest for the year, with the preparation beforehand (and the inquest afterwards!) My dad’s brother was also keen, so between them there were many discussions regarding selection of seed, etc Mother had to get the jam right and as the time for the show became closer, the quality of her rock cakes changed because she would be experimenting Likewise with her sponge cakes There were also many discussions on the quality of the judges - what did they know!!
They used the old Baptist Church for the Flower Show to display the vegetables etc And also used the field at the back On show day they used to do cream teas at the Methodist chapel Not - scones, always chuddlies, or cut rounds as they were called
The Carnival was another exciting event - always intense as the float was at our place and everyone came down to dress it It was a major event
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James Tyson (Aged 7) April 2011
Brayford Primary SchoolSpring Term topic - Tudors and Victorians
IntroductionAt School we have been finding out about family life in Tudor & Victorian times We have also been finding out more about High Bray Church and its bells I decided to try and find out more about the font
I took some photos of the font and sent them to a lady called Ruth Spires at the North Devon Museum and met her and asked her questions I also asked Jonathan Brownell what he knew about the font and we went to the Library at South Molton to look for things I have also
found out things from the North Devon Records Office from Tim Wormleighton
Some of the things I have found out:
1. How old is the font?Ruth Spires of North Devon Museum thinks it would have been made between 1200-1600 in Norman times
2. How do we know this?Because of the triangle saw tooth design at the top which was an early Norman design Also it would have been much plainer in design if it had been earlier than this I went to look at the Anglo-Saxon font (700-900AD) at South Molton Museum; and this is not at all like ours; because it is plain and rough
3. Has any of the font been rebuilt?The lower part of the bowl has had a shell decoration added by chisel in the early 1600’s
4. When was the first baptism in this font?Tim Wormleighton from the North Devon Records office found out that the first recorded baptism was in 1598 on the 11th May - Edmund son of John & Joanna Slowly
ConclusionOur font at High Bray Church is Norman and has had some shell decoration added afterwards The first baby to be baptised was a baby boy called Eduund Sloley in 1598 I have enjoyed finding out these things
There were the Sunday school outings - Methodist were big in Brayford and Spencer used to join them and go to Combe Martin or Ilfracombe
Charles Hill wasn’t as wide as it was now we and used to go out to see the cars and check whether they could get up the hill I also had fun on a soap box until it went down the hill and crashed into the wall at Grass Park But you didn’t think about crashing into a car as there was very little traffic then If you ever did hear a car, you’d know who it was because there were so few cars
My lifespan in the area was not that long Dad worked down the county quarry It was hard work and quite scary, and he also worked on the farm When T H Moor died, dad did not have job so went to work at quarry The manager at the quarry was Mr Wade He was very friendly with us and bought our eggs Because of father’s knowledge of stone walling on the farm, Mr Wade said to father he would put him on sorting stone (but this was hard work - perhaps harder than ‘going to Dartmoor’) He was 53 when he started and had to break up stone, and all hand done
The Quarry was always an interesting place We ran our life around it, i e blasting at 11 00am (our elevenses!) when the whole house used to shake!
There was one other house just a bit further on A green corrugated iron bungalow - by Riverside in a little bit of
woodland up beside the road It has all grown over now and I expect it has now been removed, but the foreman lived in there
I used to help on the farm with the sheep, cattle and pigs I would do the chores before going to school and then afterwards when I returned I used to play and roam in woods and see all the wild life, and went to school with Johnny Kingdon In the fishing season I would help with the nets etc I also remember having the most wonderful picnics (adopted father was a second cousin)
Captains of industry came down in big cars with chauffeurs to stay at Rockshead I was always interested in cars as a child, and I used to have a ride in the smart cars What a thrill The head man of a tyre company came once and he had a very big car, and one year brought me a chauffeur hat!
They were interesting times In the early days I never had a bicycle, and when I did have one, it was my prized possession I had a brand new bike which cost £25, and kept it in our garage with the cars, half-way up the hill One day a horse that used the pull out the timber, bolted down Charles Hill and ran through the garage as the door was open the other end On the way he picked up my bike with the chains and it was smashed to pieces! Dad (being a horse man), put a coat over the horse’s head to calm him down It took ages to sort out the problem of buying me a new bike!
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ReferencesSouth Molton LibraryRef:GRE/SHI/94-144HighBrayNorth Devon Records OfficeBaptismrecordsforHighBray
Thanks toRuthSpires:NorthDevonMuseumSouthMoltonMuseumTimWormleighton:NorthDevonRecordsOfficeJonathanBrownell:Whitefield
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High Bray Census - 1891Address Ho Surname Forename Relation Age Occupation
Brayford School CARTER John Head M 32 y Elem Teacher (employee)
Brayford School CARTER Amelia Wife M 32 y Elem Teacher (employee)
Brayford School CARTER May Dau 7 y Scholar
Brayford School CARTER Harry E Son 6 y Scholar
Brayford School CARTER Daisy Dau 4 y Scholar
Brayford School CARTER Arthur Son 2 y
South Bray Mill BURGE John Head M 58 y Farmer (not-Empr/empee)
South Bray Mill BURGE Mary A Wife M 48 y
South Bray Mill BURGE Eva M Dau 7 y Scholar
South Bray Mill BURGE Lilian Dau 4 y Scholar
South Bray Mill SHAPLAND Bessie Serv S 16 y Gen Serv Dom
North Bray Mill SKINNER Eliza Head S 45 y Farmer
North Bray Mill SKINNER Sarah A Sis S 40 y Asst Dom Serv
North Bray Mill SKINNER Ada E Niec 13 y Scholar
Bray Mill SKINNER William Head M 47 y Miller/Farmer (Employer)
Bray Mill SKINNER Mary Wife M 43 y
Bray Mill SKINNER William H Son S 18 y (employee)
Bray Mill SKINNER Herbert J Son S 16 y (employee)
Bray Mill SKINNER Mary A Dau 13 y
Bray Mill SKINNER Eliza J Dau 10 y Scholar
Bray Mill SKINNER Frederick S Son 8 y Scholar
Brayford Post Office HUXTABLE Elizabeth Head W 74 y Postmistress (employee)
Brayford Post Office HUXTABLE Francis
Brayford Post Office THORNE Henrietta
0 Vacant Premises
Bray Town 1 COMER Betsy Head W 85 y on Parish Relief
Bray Town 2 COCKINGS Elizabeth P Head W 84 y on Parish Relief
Bray Town 2 SAUNDERS Emily GDau 14 y
Bray Town 3 MARTIN William Head M 62 y Mstr Mason (Employer)
Bray Town 3 MARTIN Elizabeth Wife M 61 y
Bray Town 3 MARTIN Frederick Son M 20 y Mason (employee)
Bray Town 3 MARTIN Eliza DiL M 22 y
Bray Town 3 MARTIN Mary DiL M 17 y
Bray Town 3 MARTIN Fred GSon 1 m
Bray Town 4 THORNE Richard Head W 56 y Ag Lab (employee)
Bray Town 4 THORNE George Son S 20 y Appr Shoemaker (employee)
Bray Town 4 HOWARD Elizabeth Serv W 63 y Housekeeper Domestic
Bray Town 5 VENN Samuel Head M 31 y Gen Lab (employee)
Bray Town 5 VENN Ellen Wife M 22 y
Bray Town 5 VENN James W Son 1 y
Bray Town 5 VENN Mabel S Dau 1 m
Bray Town 5 WHITE John BiL S 28 y Carpenter (employee)
Bray Town 6 Vacant Premises
Bray Town 7 Vacant Premises
Bray Town 8 HOBBS David Head M 33 y Ag Lab (employee)
Bray Town 8 HOBBS Sara J Wife M 30 y
Bray Town 8 HOBBS Frederick J Son 8 y Scholar
Bray Town 8 HOBBS David J Son 5 y Scholar
Bray Town 8 HOBBS William A Son 4 y Scholar
Bray Town 8 HOBBS Henry Son 2 y
Bray Town 9 MARTIN George Head M 31 y Coachman Dom Serv (employee)
47
Address Ho Surname Forename Relation Age Occupation
Bray Town 9 MARTIN Bessie Wife M 28 y
Bray Town 9 MARTIN Francis Son 10 y Scholar
Bray Town 9 MARTIN Eva B Dau 9 y Scholar
Bray Town 9 MARTIN Sydney Son 7 y
Bray Town 9 MARTIN Gilbert Son 5 y Scholar
Bray Town 9 MARTIN Ned Son 3 y Scholar
Bray Town 9 MARTIN Percival Son 2 y
Bray Town 9 MARTIN Flossie B Dau 5 m
Bray Town 10 HARDING William Head M 31 y Ag Lab (employee)
Bray Town 10 HARDING Elizabeth Wife M 33 y
Bray Town 10 HARDING Mary A Dau 10 y Scholar
Bray Town 10 HARDING George Son 9 y Scholar
Bray Town 10 HARDING John G Son 8 y Scholar
Bray Town 10 HARDING William Son 6 y Scholar
Bray Town 10 HARDING James G Son 5 y Scholar
Bray Town 10 HARDING Jane Dau 4 y Scholar
Bray Town 10 HARDING Bessie Dau 2 y
Bray Town 11 COOKINGS Thomas Head M 56 y Ag Lab (employee)
Bray Town 11 COOKINGS Mary Wife M 62 y
Bray Town 11 COCKINGS Margaret B Dau S 20 y Dressmaker (not-Empr/empee)
Bray Town 12 MARTIN Thomas Head M 38 y Mason (employee)
Bray Town 12 MARTIN William T Son S 15 y Appr Carpenter (employee)
Bray Town 12 MARTIN Elizabeth A Dau 10 y Scholar
Bray Town 12 MARTIN Mabel D Dau 8 y Scholar
Bray Town 12 MARTIN Ethel L Dau 6 y Scholar
Bray Town 12 MARTIN Leslie F Son 4 y Scholar
Parsonage Farm CHAMING Richard Head M 49 y Farmer (Employer)
Parsonage Farm CHAMING Rebecca Wife M 52 y
Parsonage Farm CHAMING Mary S 35 y Gen Serv Dom
Parsonage Farm CHAMING Henry Serv S 23 y Farm Serv (employee)
High Bray Rectory WHITAKER Charles P Head M 33 y Rector of High Bray (Employer)
High Bray Rectory WHITAKER Flossie Wife M 28 y
High Bray Rectory WHITAKER Margaret R Dau 5 y
High Bray Rectory WHITAKER Arthut C Son 4 y
High Bray Rectory WHITAKER Christopher Son 8 m
High Bray Rectory DARBYSHIRE Charles BiL M 11 y Scholar
High Bray Rectory DARBYSHIRE John Pupl 14 y Scholar
High Bray Rectory BAXTER Mary E Serv S 30 y Cook Domestic
High Bray Rectory VAVASOR Kate Serv S 30 y Nurse Domestic
High Bray Rectory BROOKS Emily Serv S 14 y Housemaid Dom Serv
Rockshead SKINNER John Head M 39 y Farmer (Employer)
Rockshead SKINNER Susan Wife M 43 y
Rockshead SKINNER Frederick Son S 16 y (employee)
Rockshead SKINNER Eliza A Dau 14 y
Rockshead HUTCHINGS George FiL W 73 y Carpenter (not-Empr/empee)
Higher Hall SLADER William W Head M 49 y Farmer (Employer)
Higher Hall SLADER Mary A Wife M 47 y
Higher Hall SLADER William B Son S 23 y
Higher Hall SLADER Mary J Dau S 21 y
Higher Hall SLADER Ann Dau S 17 y
Higher Hall SLADER Charles Son 11 y Scholar
Higher Hall SLADER William FiL W 75 y Living on Own Means
48
Address Ho Surname Forename Relation Age Occupation
Higher Hall SLADER Frederick Serv 14 y Farm Serv (employee)
Lower Hall THORNE Jacob Head M 25 y Farmer (Employer)
Lower Hall THORNE Margaret A Wife M 23 y
Lower Hall LYNCH Annie Serv S 19 y Gen Serv Dom
Lower Hall HOBBS George Serv 12 y Farm Serv (employee)
Allwater 1 BEER William Head M 57 y Ag Lab (employee)
Allwater BEER Elizabeth Wife M 55 y
Allwater BEER Charles E GSon 8 y Scholar
Allwater PARKER James Lodg 89 y Living on Own Means
Allwater 2 MOULE James Head M 34 y Gen Lab (employee)
Allwater MOULE Elizabeth Wife M 33 y
Allwater MOULE John H Son 12 y Scholar
Allwater MOULE James A Son 6 y Scholar
Allwater MOULE Ada L Dau 1 m
Allwater 3 SAMPSON John Head M 20 y Ag Lab (employee)
Allwater SAMPSON Bessie Wife M 22 y
East Whitefield MOULE George Head M 48 y Farmer (Employer)
East Whitefield MOULE Ann L L Dau 9 y Scholar
East Whitefield MOULE Charlotte Moth W 70 y Housekeeper Domestic
West Whitefield BROOKS John Head M 55 y Farmer (Employer)
West Whitefield BROOKS Susan Wife M 44 y
West Whitefield PHILLIPS Charles Neph 8 y Scholar
West Whitefield PHILLIPS William Neph S 21 y (employee)
Weest Whitefield LEWORTHY Ann Vstr W 66 y on Parish Relief
West Whitefield LEWORTHY Grace Serv S 38 y Gen Serv Dom (employee)
- u Vacant Premises
E Whitefield Cottage LEWORTHY Noah Head M 21 y Ag Lab
E Whitefield Cottage LEWORTHY Mary J Wife M 22 y
Winsley BARROW James Head M 70 y Living on Own Means
Winsley BARROW Ann Wife M 70 y
Winsley BARROW Elizabeth Cous M 71 y Living on Own Means
Winsley GRANT Ellen Serv S 22 y Gen Serv Dom
Kidry Farm BARROW Henry Head M 31 y Farmer (Employer)
Kidry Farm BARROW Ann Wife M 32 y
Kidry Farm BARROW James Son 10 y Scholar
Kidry Farm BARROW Francis J Son 8 y Scholar
Kidry Farm BARROW Mildred A Dau 7 y Scholar
Kidry Farm BARROW Alfred E Son 5 y
Kidry Farm BARROW Jeanetta Dau 2 m
Kidry Farm ROBERTSON William Serv S 22 y Farm Serv (employee)
Kidry Farm ROBERTSON Mary A Serv S 23 y Gen Serv Dom
Muxworthy Cottage JONES William Head M 33 y Ag Lab (employee)
Muxworthy Cottage JONES Louisa Wife M 34 y
Muxworthy Cottage JONES John Son 10 y Scholar
Muxworthy Cottage JONES Francis D Son 9 y Scholar
Muxworthy Farm BURNELL Mary J Head W 44 y Living on Own Means
Muxworthy Farm BURNELL Elizabeth Dau 12 y Scholar
Muxworthy Farm BURNELL Nelly Dau 10 y Scholar
- u Vacant Premises
Rockley RATTENBURY William head M 25 y Farmer (not-Empr/empee)
Rockley RATTENBURY Eva J wife M 22 y
Rockley ROBERTSON Charles Lodg M M 62 y Ag Lab (employee)
Rockley ROBERTSON Ann Lodg M M 61 y
Natsley Farm SMYTH Jeremiah Head M 61 y (Employer)
49
Address Ho Surname Forename Relation Age Occupation
Natsley Farm SMYTH Susanna Wife M 55 y
Natsley Farm SMYTH Charles Son S 20 y (employee)
Natsley Farm SMYTH Margaret Dau S 28 y
Natsley Farm SMYTH Francis G Son S 24 y (employee)
Natsley Farm SMYTH Edwin J Son s 22 y (employee)
Natsley Farm SMYTH Mary J Dau s 20 y
Natsley Farm SMYTH Frederick Son s 19 y (employee)
Natsley Farm SMYTH Milly Dau s 18 y Scholar
Natsley Farm SMYTH William H Son 15 y Scholar
Natsley Farm SMYTH Elizabeth Dau 10 y Scholar
Fullaford Cottage RIDD George Head M 33 y Ag Lab (employee)
Fullaford Cottage RIDD Mary A Wife M 32 y
Fullaford Cottage RIDD LouisA Dau 6 y
Fullaford Cottage RIDD Mary M Dau 3 y
Fullaford Cottage RIDD Rosa J Dau 7 m
Fullaford Farm PARMINTER Mary Head M 67 y Farmer (Employer)
Fullaford Farm PARMINTER Mary Dau S 27 y
Fullaford Farm PARMINTER Richard Son S 25 y (employee)
Fullaford Farm LANGFORD Fred Serv 14 y Farm Serv (employee)
Fullaford Farm PEAGAM Eliza Serv 14 y Gen Serv Dom
Ovis Farm RADLEY George Head M 36 y Farmer (Employer)
Ovis Farm RADLEY Mary E Wife M 35 y
Ovis Farm WEBBER Alfred W Serv S 27 y Farm Serv (employee)
Ovis Farm WORTH Frederick Serv S 20 y Farm Serv (employee)
Ovis Cottage FRY John Head M 38 y Ag Lab (employee)
Ovis Cottage FRY Elizabeth Wife M 39 y
Ovis Cottage FRY Alfred Son 12 y Scholar
Ovis Cottage FRY Mary A Dau 10 y Scholar
Ovis Cottage COCKS John Brdr S 27 y Ag Lab (employee)
Gratton Farm ROCK Philip Head M 68 y Farmer (Employer)
Gratton Farm ROCK Elizabeth Wife M 53 y
Gratton Farm ROCK Charles Son S 27 y (employee)
Gratton Farm ROCK Alfred Son S 25 y (employee)
Gratton Farm STREET Ellen Serv S 17 y Gen Serv Dom
Gratton Farm HOLMES Laura Serv S 17 y Gen Serv Dom
Gratton Farm MARTIN William Serv s 16 y Farm Serv (employee)
Gratton Farm BRAY George Serv s 16 y Farm Serv (employee)
Gratton Cottage 1 HARRIS John Head M 31 y Ag Lab (employee)
Gratton Cottage HARRIS Jeanetta Wife M 24 y Dressmaker (not-Empr/empee)
Gratton Cottage 2 WITHERIDGE William Head M 46 y Ag Lab (employee)
Gratton Cottage WITHERIDGE Elizabeth Wife M 30 y
Gratton Cottage WITHERIDGE Mary E Dau 10 y Scholar
Gratton Cottage WITHERIDGE William J Son 6 y Scholar
Lydcot Hall ROBINS John Head M 38 y Farmer (Employer)
Lydcot Hall ROBINS Mary A Wife M 30 y
Lydcot Hall ROBINS John Son 4 y
Lydcot Hall ROBINS Oliver T Son 1 y
Lydcot Hall ROBINS Thomas Fath W 85 y Living on Own Means
Lydcot Hall RASHLEY John Serv S 24 y Farm Serv (employee)
Lydcot Hall RASHLEY William Serv s 22 y Farm Serv (employee)
Lydcot Hall WILLIS Elizabeth Serv s 19 y Gen Serv Dom
Lydcot Hall RASHLEY Mary A Serv 14 y Gen Serv Dom
b Vacant Premises
Lwr Lydacott Cottage MARTIN John Head M 41 y Mason (employee)
50
Address Ho Surname Forename Relation Age Occupation
Lwr Lydacott Cottage MARTIN Mary J Wife M 42 y
Lwr Lydacott Cottage MARTIN Mary A Dau S 17 y
Lwr Lydacott Cottage MARTIN Charles Son 10 y Scholar
Higher Lydacott Farm SQUIRE John Head S 70 y Farmer (Employer)
Higher Lydacott Farm SQUIRE Mary Sis s 56 y Housekeeper Domestic
Higher Lydacott Farm SQUIRE Ellenor Moth w 96 y Living on Own Means
Higher Lydacott Farm LEACH Edwin Neph s 45 y Ag Lab (employee)
Higher Lydacott Farm LEACH James Neph s 35 y Farm Serv (employee)
Higher Lydacott Farm LEACH Emma Niec s 25 y Dressmaker (not-Empr/empee)
Higher Lydacott Cottage STREET William Head M 32 y Ag Lab (employee)
Higher Lydacott Cottage STREET Mary J Wife M 30 y
Higher Lydacott Cottage STREET Elizabeth H Dau 5 y
Bray Cross 1 SELDON William Head M 27 y Carpenter (employee)
Bray Cross SELDON Clara Wife M 28 y
Bray Cross SELDON Bessie Dau 6 y Scholar
Bray Cross SELDON Thomas Son 4 y
Bray Cross SELDON Elizabeth A Dau 2 y
Bray Cross 2 DOWDLE William Head M 35 y Ag Lab (employee)
Bray Cross DOWDLE Lucy Wife M 27 y
Bray Cross DOWDLE George H Son 2 y
Bray Cross DOWDLE Albert W Son 1 y
Natsley Farm SMYTH Jeremiah Head M 61 y (Employer)
Natsley Farm SMYTH Susanna Wife M 55 y
Natsley Farm SMYTH Charles Son S 20 y (employee)
Natsley Farm SMYTH Margaret Dau S 28 y
Natsley Farm SMYTH Francis G Son S 24 y (employee)
Natsley Farm SMYTH Edwin J Son s 22 y (employee)
Natsley Farm SMYTH Mary J Dau s 20 y
Natsley Farm SMYTH Frederick Son s 19 y (employee)
Natsley Farm SMYTH Milly Dau s 18 y Scholar
Natsley Farm SMYTH William H Son 15 y Scholar
Natsley Farm SMYTH Elizabeth Dau 10 y Scholar
Fullaford Cottage RIDD George Head M 33 y Ag Lab (employee)
Fullaford Cottage RIDD Mary A Wife M 32 y
Fullaford Cottage RIDD LouisA Dau 6 y
Fullaford Cottage RIDD Mary M Dau 3 y
Fullaford Cottage RIDD Rosa J Dau 7 m
Fullaford Farm PARMINTER Mary Head M 67 y Farmer (Employer)
Fullaford Farm PARMINTER Mary Dau S 27 y
Fullaford Farm PARMINTER Richard Son S 25 y (employee)
Fullaford Farm LANGFORD Fred Serv 14 y Farm Serv (employee)
Fullaford Farm PEAGAM Eliza Serv 14 y Gen Serv Dom
Ovis Farm RADLEY George Head M 36 y Farmer (Employer)
Ovis Farm RADLEY Mary E Wife M 35 y
Ovis Farm WEBBER Alfred W Serv S 27 y Farm Serv (employee)
Ovis Farm WORTH Frederick Serv S 20 y Farm Serv (employee)
Ovis Cottage FRY John Head M 38 y Ag Lab (employee)
Ovis Cottage FRY Elizabeth Wife M 39 y
Ovis Cottage FRY Alfred Son 12 y Scholar
Ovis Cottage FRY Mary A Dau 10 y Scholar
Ovis Cottage COCKS John Brdr S 27 y Ag Lab (employee)
Gratton Farm ROCK Philip Head M 68 y Farmer (Employer)
Gratton Farm ROCK Elizabeth Wife M 53 y
Gratton Farm ROCK Charles Son S 27 y (employee)
51
Address Ho Surname Forename Relation Age Occupation
Gratton Farm ROCK Alfred Son S 25 y (employee)
Gratton Farm STREET Ellen Serv S 17 y Gen Serv Dom
Gratton Farm HOLMES Laura Serv S 17 y Gen Serv Dom
Gratton Farm MARTIN William Serv s 16 y Farm Serv (employee)
Gratton Farm BRAY George Serv s 16 y Farm Serv (employee)
Gratton Cottage 1 HARRIS John Head M 31 y Ag Lab (employee)
Gratton Cottage HARRIS Jeanetta Wife M 24 y Dressmaker (not-Empr/empee)
Gratton Cottage 2 WITHERIDGE William Head M 46 y Ag Lab (employee)
Gratton Cottage WITHERIDGE Elizabeth Wife M 30 y
Gratton Cottage WITHERIDGE Mary E Dau 10 y Scholar
Gratton Cottage WITHERIDGE William J Son 6 y Scholar
Lydcot Hall ROBINS John Head M 38 y Farmer (Employer)
Lydcot Hall ROBINS Mary A Wife M 30 y
Lydcot Hall ROBINS John Son 4 y
Lydcot Hall ROBINS Oliver T Son 1 y
Lydcot Hall ROBINS Thomas Fath W 85 y Living on Own Means
Lydcot Hall RASHLEY John Serv S 24 y Farm Serv (employee)
Lydcot Hall RASHLEY William Serv s 22 y Farm Serv (employee)
Lydcot Hall WILLIS Elizabeth Serv s 19 y Gen Serv Dom
Lydcot Hall RASHLEY Mary A Serv 14 y Gen Serv Dom
b Vacant Premises
Lwr Lydacott Cottage MARTIN John Head M 41 y Mason (employee)
Lwr Lydacott Cottage MARTIN Mary J Wife M 42 y
Lwr Lydacott Cottage MARTIN Mary A Dau S 17 y
Lwr Lydacott Cottage MARTIN Charles Son 10 y Scholar
Higher Lydacott Farm SQUIRE John Head S 70 y Farmer (Employer)
Higher Lydacott Farm SQUIRE Mary Sis s 56 y Housekeeper Domestic
Higher Lydacott Farm SQUIRE Ellenor Moth w 96 y Living on Own Means
Higher Lydacott Farm LEACH Edwin Neph s 45 y Ag Lab (employee)
Higher Lydacott Farm LEACH James Neph s 35 y Farm Serv (employee)
Higher Lydacott Farm LEACH Emma Niec s 25 y Dressmaker (not-Empr/empee)
Higher Lydacott Cottage STREET William Head M 32 y Ag Lab (employee)
Higher Lydacott Cottage STREET Mary J Wife M 30 y
Higher Lydacott Cottage STREET Elizabeth H Dau 5 y
Bray Cross 1 SELDON William Head M 27 y Carpenter (employee)
Bray Cross SELDON Clara Wife M 28 y
Bray Cross SELDON Bessie Dau 6 y Scholar
Bray Cross SELDON Thomas Son 4 y
Bray Cross SELDON Elizabeth A Dau 2 y
Bray Cross 2 DOWDLE William Head M 35 y Ag Lab (employee)
Bray Cross DOWDLE Lucy Wife M 27 y
Bray Cross DOWDLE George H Son 2 y
Bray Cross DOWDLE Albert W Son 1 y
52
Particulars of Bray Estate sale - 1919
By order of tht Bepresentatives of the late SI R C T. D. ACLAND, Bart.
Particulars and Conditions of Sale
VERY VALUABLE
F R E E H O L D
Agricultural and Sporting EstateCALLED
"THE BRAY ESTATE,"
North Devonshire,
Which will be offered for SALE BY AUCTION (in Lots enumerated herein)
BY
MESSRS BLACKFORD & SON,
AT THE
'GEORGE HOTEL, SOUTH MOLTON,
On THURSDAY. 3rd JULY. 1919.
At 2.30 p.m. precisely.
For Viewing on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, applications should be made to the respective Tenants,
who will kindly show the Lots.
--------------------------------------
Plans may be seen at or further information may be obtained of Mr. T. CARNELL,
Little Bray House, Charles; of the AUCTIONEERS, South Molton and Barnstaple; or
M e s s r s . H O U L D I T C H , A N S T E Y & T H O M P S O N ,
Solicitors, Southemhay, EXETER
2
53
R E M A R K S .
The Farms, occupied by long-standing, highly responsible, capable Tenants at moderate
Rentals, are mostly of a Southern Aspect, extremely healthy, Prolific and well watered,
approached and intersected by excellent Roads. The greater part of the Estate is from about
five to seven Miles equi-distant from the Market Towns of Barnstaple and South
Molton, while those in the Parishes of South Molton and Nymet St. George are practically
close to South Molton Town.
The Property is in the midst of one of the most charming District;.
" Little Bray House." at an altitude of 600 feet, occupies an unique position commanding
unrivalled and extensive Landscape Views, thus forming an ideal Residence.
Hunting, Fishing (the noted Trout Streams. " River Bray " and " Hole Water." running
through the Properties with the "River Mole" at "Little Hele " and Sport of every
description abound.
One of the chief characteristics is the well-conditioned, substantially-built. comfortably-
arranged Homestead in the construction of which due regard to sanitation was a marked
feature, all being thoroughly 'up-to-date” with modern improvements and all in “first
class” repair.
The description of the Arable and Pasture Lands is not guaranteed, neither are the Areas,
but the latter are taken from the Ordnance Map.
The price to be paid for the Timber by the Purchasers in excess of the bidding is set out
where such has to be paid.
The Tithe as commuted, and Land Tax (most of which is redeemed), etc., paid by the
Vendors, in respect of the several Lots will be announced at time of Sale.
The Purchaser of each Lot shall be deemed to have notice of all Tenancies and Tenant
Rights affecting that Lot, whether mentioned in the Particulars or not, and the Lots are sold
subject to all Tenancies and Tenant Rights, Right of Way, and Passage of Soil and Water,
Tithe Rent Charge, Land Tax, Drainage Rates, Chief and other Rents, Incidents of Tenure,
Rights and Easements (if any), and without any obligation on the part of the Vendors to
define the same respectively.
Any appointment of Rent, Tithe. Rate, Tax,. or other Outgoing that may be necessary or
desired shall be made by Messrs. BLACKFORD & SON at the expense of the Purchasers
requiring such, but no legal apportionment thereof shall be required, and the consent or
concurrence of any Tenant or other Person, except the Vendors, to such apportionment shall
not be required.
All the Tenants are under notice to quit at Lady-day, 1920, except Messrs. J. G. Harding,
W. B. Slader and J. H. Moule.
3
54
LOT VALUE
1 SOUTH FORD 3500.00
2 STONE
3 COMBREW 292.00
4 FIELD IN HONITON LANE
5 FIELD IN HONITON LANE
6 OLD NEW ROAD TURNPIKE GATE HOUSE 430.00 FORD
7 THE CEMETERY ALLOTMENT 405.00
8 LITTLE HELE FARM 3350.00
8A STRETCH 1 1/2 MILES RIVER MOLE 200.00 PURCHASE
9 HACCHE FARM 2850.00 JONES
10 THE OLD TURNPIKE HOUSE 240.00 FORD
11 GRASS PARK 1800.00 HARDING
12 REAPHAM WOOD
13 DEER PARK A CAPITAL FARM 1600.00 PASSMORE
14 FOUR USEFUL CLOSES OF LAND 800.00 PASSMORE
15 PASTURE FIELD AND TWO GARDENS 350.00 BURGESS
16 THE CAPITAL FARM WELCOMBE AND SHUTESCOMBE WOOD
BOWEN
17 SMALL HOLDING CHORNCLEAVE 800.00 BOWEN
18 LITTLE BRAY 3700.00 COOPER
19 EXCELLENT FISHING FROM SHUTESCOMBE WOOD TO REAPHAM WOOD
CHAMPION
20 COTTAGES, GARDENS AND PREMISES 500.00 COOPER
21 CLOSES OF LAND 1200.00 TUCKER
22 TWO VALUABLE PASTURE FIELDS & WOOD 710.00 THORNE
23 TWO RICH PASTURE FIELDS 550.00 THORNE
24 THREE EXCELLENT FIELDS 860.00 HUXTABLE
25 STONE-BUILT AND SLATED COTTAGE 415.00
26 THE ALLOTMENT GARDEN CALLED BROOMHILL 100.00 NORMAN
27 A GARDEN
28 STONE & COB-BUILT & THATCHED COTTAGE 80.00 NORMAN
29 NORTH BRAY MILL 1900.00
30 SOUTH BRAY MILL 1800.00 SMYTH
31 BRAY MILL FULLY EQUIPPED FLOUR AND GIRST STONE 1800.00 HUXTABLE
32 STOCK 2700.00 THORNE
33 DOWN 2425.00 TUCKER
34 HIGHER HOLE 1400.00
55
LOT VALUE
35 THREE RICH FIELDS 720.00 SMYTH
36 LOWER HOLE 2000.00
37 TWO RICH FIELDS THORNE
38 HOLE WATER 500.00 THORNE
39 LYDCOTT HALL 5000.00 ROBINS
40 SOUTH LYDCOTT 800.00 ROBINS
41 LODGE 3350.00 ROBINS
42 GRATTON 6648.00 ROBINS
43 NEWTOWN OR ROCK HEAD NOT SOLD
44 BRAYTOWN FARM
45 TWO BLOCKS OF EIGHT STONE-BUILT AND SLATED WELL-ARRANGED AND COMFORTABLE COTTAGES - BRAYTOWN COTTAGES (ONE OF THE LIKE BUILDINGS KNOWN AS THE POOR HOUSE)
46 BRAY CROSS COTTAGES 225.00 MOULE
47 RECENTLY ERECTED STONE & SLATED DWELLING HOUSE BRAYFORD POST OFFICE GARDEN AND PREMISES
455.00 NORMAN
48 A RANGE OF STONE BUILT AND SLATED BUILDINGS 50.00 NORMAN
49 TWO PRACTICALLY NEW BRICK-BUILT AND TILED COTTAGES, GARDENS, YARDS, AND PREMISES 450.00
50 BEARA 3200.00 THORNE
51 WEST YARD 3500.00 NOT SOLD
52 THREE USEFUL FIELDS BY BEARA CROSS 250.00 THORNE
53 EAST YARD 3800.00 THORNE
54 SIX PRODUCTIVE FIELDS FORMING PART OF EAST YARD 240.00 THORNE
55 YARDE WELLS COTTAGES
56 WITHYGATE 3400.00 J MOULE
57 MIXWORTHY 3000.00
58 KEDWORTHY 975.00 J MOULE
59 WINSLEY 325.00 G RADLEY
60 CASTLE COMMON 200.00 PURCHASE
61 BRAY COMMON 550.00 G THORNE
62 MOLES CHAMBER 200.00 MARSH
63 ACLAND ALLOTMENT 1600.00 J MAY
Full particulars of the Lot details are available separately (see www brayford org )
56
Brayford School Head Teachers
Name of Teacher Date of Taking Charge Date of Leaving Years in Office
John Carter 27 April 1885 27 February 1895 10
Herbert J Wedlake 4 March 1895 3 August 1896 1 5
Wm A Passmore 7 September 1896 6 September 1903 7
Wm A H Watson 6 October 1896 27 August 1915 12
E K Broadley 4 October 1915 31 March 1947 32
P M Prigg (Bond) 1 July 1947 29 March 1983 36
57
Brayford School Register - 1879 to 1979
Admit No.
Date of Admission
Readmitted Child name Surname Date of Birth
Parent Address
1879
168 05/05/79 27/04/85 Bessie SLADER 26/11/75 William W Slader High Bray
172 02/06/79 22/06/85 William MARTIN 20/03/75 John Martin Lydcott
192 26/10/80 Edwin TUCKER 15/10/74 James Tucker Bratton Fleming
194 11/04/81 Wm Thos MARTIN 17/09/75 Thomas Martin Bray Town
196 25/04/81 Annie COCKINGS 03/07/74 Elizth Cockings Bray Town
215 04/06/83 Thomas MOULE 28/10/76 George Moule Molland Cross
217 21/08/83 George HOBBS 29/05/78 John Hobbs Molland
218 27/08/83 Emily Maria THORNE 14/02/77 Wm Thorne Brayford
219 17/09/83 Charles SLADER 05/12/79 Wm Slader Higher
228 01/04/84 Hilbert HUNT 25/07/78 Chas Ridd Brayford
229 01/04/84 Prudence K SMALLRIDGE 02/10/78 Wm Smallridge Whitefield
230 28/04/84 John MOULE 24/08/78 James Moule Holewater
241 06/04/85 Charles BAWDEN 24/01/79 Geo Bawden Molland Cross
244 04/05/85 William JOHNS 06/02/80 Edward Johns Thorne Park
247 04/05/85 James TUCKER 18/10/78 James Tucker Bratton Fleming
249 18/05/85 John Raymond BURGE 25/05/77 Wm Burge Stoke Farm
250 18/05/85 22/01/94 Wm Hy BURGE 29/07/79 Wm Burge Stoke Farm
251 25/05/85 John Hosea SMYTH 17/06/79 John Smyth Lane Farm
252 01/06/85 Elizbth Ann MARTIN 08/07/80 Thomas Martin Bray Town
253 22/06/85 Frank MARTIN 12/10/80 George Martin Bray Town
256 22/06/85 Chas MARTIN 10/05/80 John Martin Lydcott
257 22/06/85 Mary A SKINNER 13/03/78 Wm Skinner Bray Mill
262 01/02/86 Anna Maria COOK 23/09/76 Nicolas Cook Molland Cross
264 22/02/86 Richard HUXTABLE 28/01/81 Frances Huxtable Brayford
265 22/03/86 22/09/90 Mary A RASHLEY 07/09/76 John Rashley Lower Molland
266 24/05/86 Bessie SMYTH 17/03/73 Jeremiah Smyth Nattsley
267 24/05/86 Wm H SMYTH 07/02/77 Jeremiah Smyth Nattsley
269 10/06/86 Wm John RIDD 22/05/83 Chas Ridd Brayford
271 24/10/86 Milly SMYTH 07/02/77 Jeremiah Smyth Nattsley
274 17/01/87 Frank VICARY 03/03/75 Wm Vicary Withygate
276 30/01/87 Ada Jane VICARY 20/10/77 Wm Vicary Withygate
277 07/02/87 01/04/89 Mary Eliz HOBBS 10/03/80 John Hobbs Molland
278 17/04/87 Eva Blanch MARTIN 04/12/81 George Martin Bray
279 17/04/87 22/08/92 Flora HUXTABLE 06/06/83 Frances Huxtable Brayford
280 17/04/87 Fred HOBBS 05/03/83 David Hobbs Bray Town
281 19/04/87 20/08/88 Frances APLIN 12/02/83 Humphrey Aplin Bray Town
282 10/05/87 Charles COOK 20/03/81 Nicholas Cook Molland Cross
283 28/04/87 Wm P R SMALLRIDGE 20/12/81 Wm Smallridge Whitefield
284 16/05/87 Fred SKINNER 26/08/82 Wm Skinner Bray Mill
285 16/05/87 04/07/88 Eliza SKINNER 02/03/81 Wm Skinner Bray Mill
286 23/05/87 Charles BEER 15/05/82 Wm Beeer Holewater
287 23/05/87 Charles PHILIPS 24/07/81 John Brooks Holewater
288 13/06/87 19/08/89 Mary Elizbth WITHERIDGE 07/05/80 Wm Witheridge Gratton
290 13/06/87 Wmily JOHNS 26/04/82 Edward Johns Thorne Park
291 22/08/87 25/10/92 George RASHLEY 26/08/79 John Rashley Lower Molland
292 12/09/87 02/12/89 Richard WATTS 19/05/78 John Watts Yard Down
293 12/09/87 22/09/90 Bessie WATTS 17/02/80 John Watts Yard Down
294 12/09/87 Emily Jane COOK 15/03/79 Nicholas Cook Molland Cross
296 11/10/87 Clement Jas SKINNER 13/12/79 Alexr Skinner Bratton Fleming
297 24/10/87 Bessie Rhoda VICARY 07/06/80 Wm Vicary Withygate
58
Admit No.
Date of Admission
Readmitted Child name Surname Date of Birth
Parent Address
300 09/04/88 Sophia STREET 11/02/78 John Street Sherracombe
301 09/04/88 Wm John STREET 01/08/81 John Street Sherracombe
302 09/04/88 22/03/97 Mary J HUXTABLE 10/11/84 Frances Huxtable Brayford
303 23/04/88 James Hy BARROW 27/09/80 Henry Barrow Kedworthy
304 23/04/88 Frances John BARROW 20/06/82 Henry Barrow Kedworthy
305 30/04/88 Elizabeth Ann BAWDEN 06/10/81 Geo Bawden Molland Cross
306 30/04/88 Mabel Dorcas MARTIN 01/01/83 Thos Martin Bray Town
307 30/04/88 28/08/93 Eva Blanch BURGE 15/04/82 Wm Burge Stoke Farm
308 30/04/88 Beatrice Mary RIDD 26/02/85 Chas Ridd Brayford
309 07/05/88 15/04/89 Arthur Wm ROOK 29/07/84 Wm Rook Brayford
310 02/05/88 John Hy JONES 09/07/80 Wm Jones Muxworthy
311 07/05/88 04/11/91 Wm John JONES 03/12/82 John Jones Whitefield
312 08/05/88 Matilda A R SMALLRIDGE 26/03/83 Wm Smallridge Whitefield
313 25/06/88 John HOBBS (A) 14/11/82 John Hobbs Molland
314 25/06/88 Beatrice SPURRIER 20/08/78 Wm Spurrier Barnacott
315 20/08/88 Francis APLIN 12/02/83 Humphrey Aplin Brayford
316 05/11/88 09/11/91 Elizabeth JONES 14/04/81 John Jones Whitefield
317 12/11/88 May CARTER 08/03/84 John Carter School
318 12/11/88 Harry Egerton CARTER 25/02/85 John Carter School
319 01/04/89 Annie Mary HARDING 13/07/80 William Harding Bray Town
320 01/04/89 George HARDING 20/09/81 William Harding Bray Town
321 01/04/89 John G HARDING 14/01/83 William Harding Bray Town
322 01/04/89 William HARDING 07/05/84 William Harding Bray Town
323 08/04/89 Francis David JONES 22/05/82 Wm Jones Muxworthy
324 08/04/89 09/11/91 Ellen JONES 31/10/85 John Jones Whitefield
325 15/04/89 Charles Edw JOHNS 15/10/83 Edward Johns Thorne Park
326 15/04/89 James Arthur MOULE 28/07/84 James Moule Holewater
327 22/04/89 David John HOBBS 17/08/85 David Hobbs Bray Town
328 29/04/89 Gilbert MARTIN 17/11/85 Geo Martin Bray Town
329 23/04/89 Elizabeth E SMYTH 06/07/81 Jeremiah Smyth Nattsley
330 21/05/89 Fredk Jas BURGE 27/08/83 William Burge Stock
331 26/08/89 Marie BURGE 01/01/84 John Burge Brayford
332 08/04/90 James Greenslade
HARDING 20/10/85 William Harding Bray Town
333 14/04/90 Minnie Elizabeth TUCKER 02/01/77 Richard Tucker Withygate
334 14/04/90 Florence Matilda TUCKER 03/10/79 Richard Tucker Withygate
335 14/04/90 Lilian BURGE 08/07/86 John Burge Brayford
336 28/04/90 Edith Phoebe MORGAN 03/05/84 Caleb Morgan Brayford
337 28/04/90 Elizabeth HUXTABLE 26/12/85 Francis Huxtable Brayford (carpenter)
338 05/05/90 Wm John WITHERIDGE 23/11/84 Wm Witheridge Gratton
339 05/05/90 Ethel Lilian MARTIN 24/12/84 Thos Martin Bray Town
340 06/05/90 William Geo HOBBS 28/04/87 David Hobbs Bray Town
341 19/05/90 Elizabeth BURNELL 27/09/78 Mrs Burnell Muxworthy
342 19/05/90 Nellie BURNELL 14/01/81 Mrs Burnell Muxworthy
343 19/05/90 19/05/91 Elizabeth STREET 25/01/86 Wm Street Lydcott
344 26/05/90 Walter RIDD 09/04/87 Charles Ridd Brayford
345 10/06/90 Mildred Ann BARROW 10/04/84 Henry Barrow Kedworthy
346 10/06/90 Sidney George BURGE 05/10/85 William Burge Stock
347 16/06/90 Bessie SELDON 27/12/84 Wm Seldon Bray Cross
348 16/06/90 David James HOBBS 11/04/85 John Hobbs Molland Cross
349 17/06/90 Edward MARTIN 22/07/87 George Martin Bray Town
350 14/07/90 Frank MARTIN 29/06/80 PC William Martin Branscombe
351 14/07/90 02/03/90 William CAREY 12/12/85 Harry Carey Mount Whi
352 14/07/90 Jane HARDING 13/04/87 William Harding Bray Town
59
Admit No.
Date of Admission
Readmitted Child name Surname Date of Birth
Parent Address
353 16/07/90 Leslie Frank MARTIN 08/01/87 Thos Martin Bray Town
354 22/09/90 Henry RASHLEY 08/02/84 John Rashley Lower Molland
355 09/02/91 02/04/94 Edith Thornton SMYTH 03/10/85 John Smyth Lane Farm
356 19/05/91 William NORMAN 21/03/86 John Norman Brayford
357 30/06/91 Ann Lily Louisa MOULE 07/02/82 George Moule Whitefield
358 30/06/91 Daisy CARTER 16/01/87 John Carter School
359 31/08/91 26/06/93 Alfred FRY 04/08/78 John Fry Ovis
360 31/08/91 Mary FRY 26/05/80 John Fry Ovis
361 17/08/91 Thomas SELDON 03/12/86 William Seldon Bray
362 05/10/91 12/12/92 Elizabeth SKINNER 01/03/80 Thomas Skinner Knackershole
363 05/10/91 Florence SKINNER 05/03/82 Thomas Skinner Knackershole
364 05/10/91 Alexander SKINNER 16/07/84 Thomas Skinner Knackershole
365 12/10/91 20/01/96 Maud Mary WINTER 10/04/85 William Winsor Thorne Park
366 04/04/92 12/03/94 Charles WATTS 01/11/84 John Watts Yard Down
367 25/04/92 Ellen Maria RICHARDS 24/10/86 Joseph Richards Bray
368 02/05/92 Percival MARTIN 05/04/89 George Martin Bray Town
369 02/05/92 John RIDD 01/05/87 Hy Ridd
370 03/05/92 Miriam HUXTABLE 20/02/89 John Huxtable
371 06/05/92 Alfred Ernest BARROW 20/02/86 Henry Barrow Kedworthy
372 16/05/92 20/01/96 May WINSOR 08/04/87 William Winsor Thorne Park
373 30/05/92 Ellen SKINNER 06/11/86 Thomas Skinner Knackershole
374 13/06/92 Harry HOBBS 12/06/89 David Hobbs Bray Town
375 20/06/92 Bessie HARDING 14/10/88 William Harding Bray Town
376 20/06/92 Esther WATTS Wm Watts
377 29/06/92 Wilfred Brownscombe
RIDD 24/06/89 Chas Ridd
378 04/07/92 John ROBINS 05/02/87 John Robins
379 22/08/92 Arthur CARTER 07/08/88 John Carter School
380 03/10/92 Richard JONES 23/09/86 John Jones Whitefield
381 10/10/92 Florence JUTSUM 04/02/85 Richard Cham
382 13/03/93 John Wm COCKINGS 04/02/89 Wm Cockings
383 27/03/93 Margaret Eleanor THORNE 16/06/82 Edwin Thorne
384 27/03/93 John THORNE 01/04/84 Edwin Thorne
385 04/04/93 Eva THORNE 12/04/86 Edwin Thorne
386 26/06/93 Elizabeth Ann SELDON 24/06/88 Wm Seldon
387 29/08/93 James White VENN 07/06/89 Samuel Venn Brayford
388 25/09/93 05/04/97 Oliver Thomas ROBINS 16/05/89 John Robins
389 22/01/94 John THORNE 25/01/86 Wm Thorne
390 12/03/94 Ada HUXTABLE 19/02/91 John Huxtable
391 02/04/94 10/07/98 Bessie Ellen PRIDEAUX 08/06/83 Wm Prideaux
392 02/04/94 Eliza PRIDEAUX 13/12/81 Wm Prideaux
393 03/04/94 Ellen BURGE 03/01/88 William Burge Stock
394 03/04/94 Wm Robert ROBINS 04/04/86 Thos Robins
395 16/04/94 Thos ROBINS 15/07/81 Thos Robins
396 16/04/94 Elsie SHEPHERD Geo Thorne
397 16/04/94 Blanche ROBINS 10/04/89 Thos Robins
398 15/04/94 02/11/96 Elizabeth Ellen PRIDEAUX 26/10/84 Wm Prideaux
399 14/06/94 Wm Hill HUXTABLE 17/04/91 Francis Huxtable
400 18/06/94 Minnie WILKIE Joseph Richards
401 18/06/94 Ernest TIDBALL 24/10/84 Henry Tidball
402 18/06/94 Henry TIDBALL 28/05/86 Henry Tidball
403 25/06/94 Bertie MOULE John Moule
404 20/08/94 Walter Thos WEBB Wm Beer
405 20/08/94 Beatrice DALLYN Fred Dallyn
406 21/01/95 28/11/98 Eva THORNE 25/12/87 Wm Thorne
60
Admit No.
Date of Admission
Readmitted Child name Surname Date of Birth
Parent Address
407 22/10/94 30/08/00 Chas HOBBS 16/06/91 David Hobbs
408 11/03/95 25/07/01 Annie Catherine HOBBS 04/06/89 John Hobbs
409 18/03/95 William Quarthy SMYTH 23/12/90 Lane Farm
410 18/03/95 Flossie Burrow MARTIN 22/10/90 High Bray
411 01/04/95 Ethel Elizabeth HARDING 25/06/91 William Harding Bray Town
412 08/04/95 Sidney George WATTS 01/01/88 John Watts Yard
413 21/04/95 Mabel Stuckey VENN 26/02/91 Samuel Venn Brayford
414 09/04/95 Ernest Thos WATTS 01/01/88 John Watts Yard
415 29/04/95 01/11/97 Martha SKINNER 17/06/89 Thomas Skinner Knackershole
416 08/07/95 Fred James MARTIN 03/04/91 Thomas Martin
417 28/08/95 Mable Annie SAMPSON 28/10/91 John Sampson
418 10/09/95 Reginald W WEDLAKE 09/03/85 Herbert J Wedlake
419 04/11/95 Beatrice BRAILEY 12/10/87 James Brailey
420 04/11/95 Mabel BRAILEY 22/06/90 James Brailey
421 09/12/95 Francis Wm MARTIN 05/03/92 Fred Martin
422 06/01/96 01/02/97 Jeannetta M COCKINGS 01/07/92 Wm Cockings
423 20/01/96 Alfred WINSOR 21/02/89 Wm Winsor Thorne Park
424 17/02/96 08/03/97 Emily Louisa THORNE 29/01/93 George Thorne
425 20/04/96 Melina Grace THORNE 01/02/93 Edwin Thorne
426 04/05/96 Harper Cornish BRAILEY 03/09/92 James Brailey
427 11/05/96 Marjorie K MARTIN 22/02/93 George Martin
428 11/05/96 Frederic HARDING 31/03/93 William Harding Bray Town
429 29/06/96 28/02/98 Ernest Edwin SAMPSON 23/02/93 John Sampson
430 13/07/96 Fred TUCKER 12/09/90 Richard Rucker Withygate
431 08/09/96 24/02/97 Emmie Naomi MARTIN 24/12/93 Fred Martin
432 12/10/96 Annie Leigh WATSON 14/06/89 Watson
433 29/03/97 Evelyn Nellie ROBINS 08/09/91 Thos Robins Gratton
434 29/03/97 Ernest CAREY 20/04/89 Henry Carey Sherracombe
435 12/04/97 26/06/00 Sidney Frank CAREY 12/11/91 Henry Carey Sherracombe
436 26/04/97 Winifred THORNE 16/03/94 George Thorne
437 03/05/97 Wm Thomas WATKINS 27/03/93 G Watkins
438 12/05/97 Sidney Robert MARTIN 03/03/93 Thomas Martin
439 24/05/97 Alfred BURGE 11/02/92 William Burge Stock
440 14/06/97 Catherine Ellen HOBBS 09/08/93 David Hobbs
441 23/08/97 Kate WINSOR 13/01/91 Wm Winsor Thorne Park
442 01/11/97 Hilda BURGE 25/12/91 William Burge Stock
443 10/01/97 Elmira HUXTABLE 29/12/94 John Huxtable
444 23/03/98 Jennetta BARROW 21/01/91 Henry Barrow Kedworthy
445 31/03/98 George GIBBS 0 3 92 George Gibbs
446 13/04/98 William Harding THORNE 12/01/90 Wm Thorne
447 18/04/98 William Henry LEWORTHY 01/11/91 Noah Leworthy Thorne Park
448 01/07/98 John WINSOR 18/10/92 Wm Winsor Thorne Park
449 20/06/98 William PRIDEAUX 15/11/93 Wm Prideaux
450 01/07/98 Charles DYMOND 30/12/88 Eli Dymond
451 05/07/98 Arthur HARDING 25/06/94 William Harding Bray Town
452 09/11/98 Frank BRAUNTON 06/03/90 J White
453 09/11/98 Wm Geo THORNE 22/11/95 G Thorne
454 17/01/99 Annie LAVERCOMBE 29/10/91 Wm Lavercombe
455 30/01/99 Eliz Catherine LAVERCOMBE 16/03/93 Wm Lavercombe
456 13/02/99 Amelia GIBBS 14/05/93 G Gibbs
457 03/03/99 Eliz Ann HOBBS 17/02/96 D Hobbs
458 27/03/99 Herbert Victor ROBINS 30/10/93 J Robins
459 17/04/99 Edith BRAY 14/02/89 W Bray
460 17/04/99 Annie KIFF 25/02/88 Wm Kiff
61
Admit No.
Date of Admission
Readmitted Child name Surname Date of Birth
Parent Address
461 17/04/99 Elizabeth KIFF 21/09/91 Wm Kiff
462 17/04/99 Richard ROTTENBURY 18/01/93 W Rottenbury Whitefield
463 01/05/99 Henry HARDING 22/01/96 William Harding Bray Town
464 26/06/99 Fredk James LEWORTHY 19/07/95 Noah Leworthy Thorne Park
465 26/06/99 Herbert MARTIN 0/12/95 Fredk Martin
1900
466 08/01/00 Mary Louise HOSEGOOD 14/04/90 B Stenner
467 17/01/00 John RASHLEY 09/01/85 John Rashley
468 15/03/00 Maude HUXTABLE 02/03/97 Francis Huxtable
469 02/04/00 George Henry JOYCE 25/06/93 George Joyce
470 02/04/00 John HUXTABLE 01/04/97 John Huxtable
471 14/05/00 Blanche ROTTENBURY 15/05/96 W Rottenbury Whitefield
472 05/06/00 Ellen Marion THORNE 11/05/94 Geo Thorne
473 12/06/00 29/04/02 John PRIDEAUX 07/02/95 Wm Prideaux
474 12/06/00 Winifred Mary WHITE 09/07/95 John White Brayford
475 18/06/00 27/05/02 Eva Ruth JOCE 28/12/94 George Joce Thorne Park
476 11/07/00 Emily Mary WATTS 06/10/93 John Watts
477 27/08/00 21/05/07 Hilda MARTIN 13/04/95 Thomas Martin
478 03/09/00 Wm John TREBLE 22/07/96 Wm Treble
479 10/09/00 Francis HARDING 24/03/97 William Harding Bray Town
480 12/11/00 William JONES 15/07/89 Richard Jones
481 26/11/00 Maggie JONES 07/09/93 Richard Jones
482 27/03/01 William JONES 18/08/93 John Jones
483 28/03/01 Jessie JONES 06/12/91 John Jones
484 01/04/01 Herbert R A JONES 02/12/95 John Jones
485 06/05/01 29/03/09 Bessie Jane HOBBS 16/03/97 John Hobbs
486 20/05/01 Gladys MARTIN 25/06/96 Thomas Martin
487 03/06/01 John GAMMIN 27/05/95 John Gammin Bray
488 03/06/01 Reginald GAMMIN 01/11/96 John Gammin Bray
489 15/07/01 Harold THORNE 04/05/98 George Thorne Bray
490 15/07/01 Gilbert WINSOR 22/02/95 Wm Winsor Thorne Park
491 28/10/01 Mary Edith HOBBS 10/09/98 David Hobbs Bray Town
492 28/10/01 Lily WHITE 17/10/97 John White Brayford
493 17/02/02 Clifford COX 26/10/89 M W Cox Brayford
494 10/03/02 Jane Wilcox LOOSMORE 24/09/95 W Loosmore Shutescombe
495 07/04/02 William SQUIRES 21/09/90 James Squires Kedworthy
496 07/04/02 Henry SQUIRES 10/09/94 James Squires Kedworthy
497 21/04/02 William Henry BROOKS 21/03/96 John Brooks Fernham
498 21/04/02 Richard William TUCKER 25/10/96 James Tucker Muxworthy
499 28/04/02 Thos John William
DADDS 01/09/94 George Dadds Fullaford
500 28/04/02 John Stoneman THORNE 08/10/97 Wm Thorne Stoke
501 05/05/02 Florence May BRAY 01/05/97 Wm Bray Rockleigh
502 12/05/02 Elsie Jubilee TREBLE 05/11/96 Wm Treble Bray Cross
503 12/05/02 Ada LEWORTHY 23/12/96 Noah Leworthy Thorne Park
504 12/05/02 Daisy ROTTENBURY 23/05/98 W Rottenbury Whitefield
505 07/07/02 Gladys Lansdowne
COX 27/08/92 M W Cox (G) Brayford
506 22/09/02 09/03/03 Charles SMITH 28/04/95 K Smith Whitefield
507 30/03/03 Frederick John JOCE 21/05/98 George Joce Thorne Park
508 30/03/03 Florence Elizabeth
ROBINS 18/09/96 Thomas Robins Gratton
509 20/04/03 Arthur Frank ROBINS 21/10/97 John Robins Lydcott
510 20/04/03 John ROTTENBURY 01/06/99 Wm Rottenbury Whitefield
62
Admit No.
Date of Admission
Readmitted Child name Surname Date of Birth
Parent Address
511 20/04/03 William WINSOR 22/02/97 Wm Winsor Thorne Park
512 04/05/03 25/09/05 Fredk George CAREY Henry Carey Sherracombe
513 18/03/03 Mabel MORRISH 06/07/93
514 22/06/03 John LOOSMORE 09/01/98 W Loosmore Shutescombe
515 08/09/03 Jack Montague KING 03/07/96 F M Beal High Bray
516 14/09/03 16/03/08 Charles HARDING 28/10/98 William Harding Bray Town
517 21/09/03 James WHITE 10/01/00 John White Brayford
518 30/11/03 Eliz Jane HULLAND 08/11/98 William Hulland Brayford
519 14/12/03 George MARTIN 25/03/99 Thomas Martin Brayford
520 21/03/04 Herbert Noah LEWORTHY 16/06/98 Noah Leworthy Thorne Park
521 19/04/04 Mary PRIDEAUX
522 06/06/04 Eliz BAWDEN 10/05/93 Wm Bawden Yard
523 06/06/04 Florence TREBLE 22/12/99 Wm Treble Bray
524 13/06/04 Kate WINSOR 13/01/91 Wm Winsor Thorne Park
525 04/07/04 Francis MARTIN 05/03/92 J Martin Bray Town
526 22/09/04 Clara Cissie Louise
COMER 07/11/99 Henry Comer Brayford
527 10/10/04 Ada QUICK 19/06/81 George Quick Barnstaple
528 17/10/04 Lily FRY 28/03/91 Richard Fry
529 27/03/05 Annie WINSOR 22/02/99 Wm Winsor Thorne Park
530 10/04/05 M LEWORTHY
531 10/04/05 Norah LEWORTHY
532 01/05/05 Winifred LEWORTHY 07/07/99
533 01/05/05 Archie PRIDEAUX 01/05/99 Wm Prideaux Ovis
534 01/05/05 Evelyn Blanche THORNE 30/09/99 George Thorne Withygate
535 01/06/05 Florence May LEWORTHY 21/04/00 Noah Leworthy Thorne Park
536 20/06/05 Florence A HOLLAND 18/06/00 Henry Holland Little Bray
537 10/07/05 26/03/12 Herbert JONES 26/11/00 Richard Jones Lydcott
538 12/07/05 William RASHLEY 07/01/01 John Rashley Bray Town
539 17/07/05 Ellen LEWORTHY Thomas Leworthy Gratton
540 05/09/05 William HOLLAND 28/04/01 William Holland
541 16/10/05 Sidney HOBBS 07/09/02
542 05/02/06 P Richard Samuel SHAPLAND 20/12/00
543 19/03/06 Wm James SKINNER 18/03/00 Wm Skinner Lower Molland
544 26/03/06 Ada Jane ROBINS 08/09/00 John Robins Lydcott
545 26/03/06 William PILE 27/11/93 Thomas Pile Thorne Park
546 23/04/06 Elsie TUCKER 14/08/01
547 08/08/06 Evelyn Eliz WHITE 25/12/01 John White Brayford
548 Dorothy WARE
549 03/09/06 Kitty HOBBS 09/09/93 David Hobbs Bray Town
550 03/09/06 Marjorie HUXTABLE Francis Huxtable Bray Mill
551 03/09/06 John HOBBS 01/07/96 John Hobbs Holewater
552 Fred HOBBS 14/07/98 John Hobbs Holewater
553 Elizabeth HOBBS 13/11/06 John Hobbs Holewater
554 08/04/07 Charles WARE 03/04/02 John Ware Bray Town
555 08/04/07 George R SKINNER 26/04/02 Wm Skinner Lower Molland
556 15/04/07 Ed Alb Vic MARTIN 13/04/02 Thos Martin Bray Town
557 03/06/07 Alice Maud LEWORTHY 12/10/01 Noah Leworthy Thorne Park
558 03/06/07 Arthur James TUCKER 06/09/01 James Tucker Muxworthy
559 10/06/07 04/05/08 Ernest Geo THORNE 02/07/01 George Thorne Withygate
560 09/09/07 Arthur ANDREWS 01/02/96 John Lemon (G) Brayford
561 03/12/07 William THORNE 11/04/00 Wm Thorne Little Bray
562 04/05/08 Chas Jno COWARD 24/01/02 John Fry (G) Gratton Cottage
563 15/06/08 15/04/12 Vera Mary THORNE 27/03/04 George Thorne Brayford
564 06/07/08 Bessie Ann LEWORTHY 13/07/03 Noah Leworthy Thorne Park
63
Admit No.
Date of Admission
Readmitted Child name Surname Date of Birth
Parent Address
565 07/09/08 Frances H M WHITE 20/03/04 John White Brayford
566 07/09/08 Olive A M SHAPLAND 29/09/03 Saml Shapland Brayford
567 12/10/08 Percy Allan LETHBRIDGE 28/07/04 A F Lethbridge
568 11/01/09 Nellie RIDD 04/03/95 Wm Ridd Thorne Park
569 11/01/09 Charles RIDD 10/02/02 Wm Ridd Thorne Park
570 11/01/09 Elsie RIDD 12/07/99 Wm Ridd Thorne Park
571 19/04/09 Edgar MARTIN 01/08/99 Wm Martin Whitefield
572 19/04/09 Walter MARTIN 14/12/01 Wm Martin Whitefield
573 19/04/09 Florence WARE 03/02/05 John Ware Holewater
574 26/04/09 Roland TUCKER 21/01/03 Richard Tucker Down Farm
575 26/04/09 Florence PRIDEAUX 10/10/03 Wm Prideaux Ovis
576 27/04/09 Mabel WINSOR 12/04/03 Wm Winsor Thorne Park
577 03/05/09 Bessie BAWDEN 24/05/02 Wm Bawden Lower
578 12/05/09 Ivy MARTIN 19/08/04 Thos Martin Bray
579 24/05/09 Horace Seymour HOBBS 22/03/05 John Hobbs
580 07/06/09 Myra Bessie HOBBS 17/07/05 David Hobbs
581 27/09/09 Emma DAVIE 18/10/96 Wm Davie Ovis
582 27/09/09 Fred DAVIE 04/08/98 Wm Davie Ovis
583 27/09/09 Prudence DAVIE 26/05/01 Wm Davie Ovis
584 27/09/09 Pollie DAVIE 04/10/02 Wm Davie Ovis
585 11/10/09 Reg James HOMYARD 10/10/04 John Jones Bray Town
586 01/11/09 Eveline TAMLYN 11/03/02 George Tamlyn Shutescombe
587 01/11/09 George TAMLYN 09/10/04 George Tamlyn Shutescombe
588 10/01/10 Chas John LEWORTHY 01/05/05 Noah Leworthy Thorne Park
589 16/01/10 Dorothy Kate BURROWS 29/08/01 Edward J Burrows Village
590 03/03/10 04/04/10 William BIRCH Thos Birch Barnacott
591 03/03/10 Phoeba BIRCH Thos Birch Barnacott
592 03/03/10 Sophia BIRCH Thos Birch Barnacott
593 03/03/10 Moses SAUNDERS Henry Saunders Barnacott
594 04/04/10 Evelyn HARDING 20/09/05 Wm Harding Gratton
595 09/05/10 Christopher SAUNDERS Henry Saunders Barnacott
596 17/05/10 Mary Eliz ANDREW 04/03/98 H Watson School
597 23/05/10 Kathleen Ellen LEMON 15/06/05 John Lemon Brayford
598 01/06/10 Sidney John RIDD 27/08/04 Wm Ridd Thorne Park
599 06/06/10 Emily HOLLAND 12/10/05 Wm Holland Brayford
600 12/09/10 11/09/11 Winnie YEO 12/11/99 John Yeo Barnstaple
601 12/09/10 Evelyn WARE 13/10/06 John Ware Holewater
602 03/10/10 Edward J HUXTABLE 11/02/03 Edward Huxtable Thorne Park
603 03/10/10 Fred Jas HUXTABLE 11/11/04 Edward Huxtable Thorne Park
604 09/03/11 Albert BRAILEY 09/03/06 Thos Martin (G) Bray Town
605 09/03/11 Mabel Doreen BRAILEY 23/04/07 Thos Martin (G) Bray Town
606 24/04/11 Dora Nellie WHITE 15/04/06 John White Brayford
607 24/04/11 Mary BAKER 23/09/06 John Lemon (G) Brayford
608 25/04/11 Ruby HOLLAND 15/01/07 Henry Holland Little Bray
609 01/05/11 Ernest TUCKER 12/09/04 Richard Tucker Down Farm
610 13/06/11 Olive SANDERS 08/09/00 Charles Sanders Molland
611 26/06/11 William SANDERS 31/03/98 Geo Sanders Charles
612 26/06/11 William COOK 04/07/05 Charles Cook Molland
613 04/09/11 Herbert NETHERTON 24/12/01 Wm Gill (G) Bray Town
614 25/10/11 Thos Jn G LEGG 30/07/98 John Jas Legg North Bray Mill
615 25/10/11 Lorna L E LEGG 25/11/99 John Jas Legg North Bray Mill
616 25/10/11 Phelax Henry H LEGG 08/04/01 John Jas Legg North Bray Mill
617 18/03/12 Lilian Eliz HARDING 13/02/07 John Harding Muxworthy
618 27/03/12 Leonard Claud BAMENT 13/07/03 William Bament Fernham
64
Admit No.
Date of Admission
Readmitted Child name Surname Date of Birth
Parent Address
619 15/04/12 Reg Thos SKINNER 13/08/07 Herbert H Skinner Knackershole
620 15/04/12 William H HUXTABLE 15/02/07 Edward Huxtable Thorne Park
621 15/04/12 Jessie SNELL 13/06/03 Walter Snell Lydcott
622 15/04/12 24/11/13 Alwyn F WILLIS 27/12/06 Thos Willis Lydcott Hall
623 15/04/12 Rosella WARE 06/03/08 John Ware Holewater
624 16/04/12 Ena WINSOR 01/06/06 Wm Winsor Thorne Park
625 22/04/12 Muriel May HUXTABLE 20/04/07 Richard Huxtable Brayford
626 22/04/12 Percy John TAMLYN 16/02/07 George Tamlyn Shutescombe
627 22/04/12 Ivy PRIDEAUX 17/11/06 Wm Prideaux Ovis
628 03/06/12 Evelyn HUXTABLE 09/06/08 Richard Huxtable Brayford
629 02/07/12 Eva BAWDEN 20/08/06 Wm Bawden Holewater
630 21/10/12 Dorothy SMALLRIDGE 15/06/03 H Holland (G) Little Bray
631 18/11/12 Wm Alfred WHITE 08/09/08 John White Brayford
632 31/03/13 Marjorie M L HORNE 14/03/07 Charles Horne Sherracombe
633 07/04/13 Charles HORNE 28/02/08 Charles Horne Sherracombe
634 14/04/13 Herbert Squire MOULE 10/01/08 Moule Bray Town
635 15/09/13 Edwin J BOWEN 09/05/03 Edwin Bowen Withcombe
636 22/09/13 Benita May SNELL 05/10/07 Walter Snell Lydcott
637 30/10/13 Ada Mary HOBBS 08/12/05 William Hobbs Brayford
638 05/01/14 Margaret BROMELL 19/11/03 Huxtable (G) Brayford
639 20/04/14 John Lewis BURROWS 01/04/09 Edward J Burrows Village
640 20/04/14 Kathleen E TAMLYN 05/04/09 G Tamlyn Shutescombe
641 27/04/14 Mary Eliz JONES R Jones Gratton
642 08/06/14 William PARKHOUSE 30/01/09
643 08/06/14 04/05/15 Eddie PARISH 09/09/04 Thos Parish Kedworthy
644 08/06/14 04/05/15 Irene PARISH 28/03/06 Thos Parish Kedworthy
645 08/07/14 John PARKHOUSE 29/05/10 Fred Parkhouse Thorne Park
646 31/08/14 Wm David Sam JONES 23/01/09 Frank Jones Village
647 11/01/15 Ernest SHAPLAND
648 29/03/15 Wm John HARDING 05/07/09 John Harding Lydcott
649 29/03/15 Blanche HARDING 03/11/09 John Harding Lydcott
650 12/04/15 Cecil Wm TRIGGER 12/03/04 William H Trigger Molland
651 12/04/15 Louise J TRIGGER 14/07/06 William H Trigger Molland
652 03/05/15 May BAMENT 06/06/09 Wm Bament Fernham
653 01/06/15 Gladys Mary SKINNER 23/10/07 H Skinner Knackershole
654 01/06/15 Gladys PARISH 22/05/09
655 07/06/15 Ernest Geo WHITE 11/05/10
656 11/10/15 Vida May TUCKER 14/05/04 Tucker Brayford
657 27/03/16 Charles Garfield MILDON 20/08/09 Frederick Thorne Mildon, Thorne Pk
658 03/04/16 Maude PRIDEAUX William A Prideaux Ovis
659 03/04/16 Florrie GARDNER 19/08/05 Gardner High
660 03/04/16 Harold GARDNER 21/06/07 Gardner High
661 01/05/16 John Henry MOULE 18/02/11 Jas Moule Bray Town
662 18/05/16 Meta Grace HUXTABLE 16/12/11 Richard Huxtable Brayford
663 18/05/16 George Henry HOBBS
664 Florence TAMLYN 16/05/11
665 21/05/16 John WHITE 01/10/13
666 24/06/16 16/09/18 Arthur DYMOND 18/07/11 Charles Dymond Charles
667 26/03/17 Ada MOULE 14/03/10
668 21/03/17 Frederick John HARDING 19/03/12 John Harding Lydcott
669 27/03/17 William John YEO 30/06/09 William Yeo
670 27/03/17 Mary Eliz YEO 31/01/11 William Yeo
671 Matilda LEY 12/12/05 George Henry Ley
672 21/05/17 Brenda THORNE 07/04/11 Villa
65
Admit No.
Date of Admission
Readmitted Child name Surname Date of Birth
Parent Address
673 21/05/17 Francis HUXTABLE 16/05/14 Richard Huxtable Brayford
674 06/08/17 Albert W J REED 22/08/16 Albert Reed
675 06/08/17 Winifred REED 27/08/05
676 06/08/17 Audrey REED 08/02/03
677 26/11/17 Cyril BEER 07/11/12 Thomas Beer High Bray
678 08/04/18 Mary BARROW 1907 Richard Barrow
679 08/04/18 Richard BARROW Richard Barrow
680 08/04/18 John WITHERIDGE
681 08/04/18 James A YEO 1912 William Yeo Wallover
682 08/04/18 Florence HAGLEY 08/12/04 Holewater
683 08/04/18 Winnie HAGLEY 07/11/06 Holewater
684 08/04/18 Beatrice HAGLEY 11/05/09 Holewater
685 08/04/18 Percy HAGLEY 10/01/08 Holewater
686 29/09/18 26/01/20 Oliver Velmar DENNIS 15/03/08 John Edwin Dennis The Manse
687 29/09/18 Vera Irene DENNIS 19/12/09 John Edwin Dennis The Manse
688 29/09/18 John Mervyn DENNIS 17/11/13 John Edwin Dennis The Manse
689 Alice BARROW 1905 Richard Barrow Ovis
690 Jessie HAGLEY Holewater
691 Catherine Ada HOBBS 11/02/14 Harry Hobbs Thorne Park
692 William SKINNER 1910
693 31/03/19 William H CAREY 10/09/11 James Carey Mockham
694 02/04/19 Wilfred HAGGADON
695 05/05/19 Maude KINGDON 26/04/10 Harold Harding
696 05/05/19 May KINGDON
697 12/05/19 04/06/20 Gladys BARROW 10/08/11 Richard Barrow Ovis
698 09/06/19 29/03/20 Samuel Gordon HUXTABLE 05/05/16 Gerald Huxtable
699 19/05/19 Lily Louisa TAMLYN 21/04/16 G Tamlyn, Shutescombe
700 09/06/19 Margaret BEER 10/06/15 Thomas Beer High Bray
701 22/09/19 Grace ROBINS 12/08/12 Tom Robins Wallover
702
703 Roland SKINNER
704 Jane SKINNER 08/10/08
705 26/01/20 Ada ENDACOTT 29/05/03
706 01/03/20 Frederick MILDON 06/07/15 Frederick Mildon Thorne Park
707 29/03/20 Lilian JOHNS 03/09/06 William Johns North Bray Mill
708 29/03/20 Ernest JOHNS 15/12/07 William Johns North Bray Mill
709 29/03/20 Leonard JOHNS 28/02/12 William Johns North Bray Mill
710 29/03/20 Margaret JOHNS 09/06/14 William Johns North Bray Mill
711 12/04/20 William J HILL 23/05/14 Fred Hill Kedworthy
712 12/04/20 Elizabeth Ann HILL 01/06/13 Fred Hill Kedworthy
713 11/04/20 Charlie WITHERIDGE John Witheridge
714 12/04/20 Agnes BARROW 25/02/14 Richard Barrow Ovis
715 19/04/20 Frank JOHNS 10/07/16 William Johns North Bray Mill
716 17/05/20 Dorothy LEY 29/01/07 M Pethrick Rockleigh
717 06/12/20 William T BOND 04/08/17 W Bond
718 11/01/21 Joyce MOULE 14/05/16 Jas Moule Bray Town
719 14/03/21 Kenneth BEER Thomas Beer High Bray
720 04/04/21 Frederick HOBBS 0 6 16 H Hobbs Thorne Park
721 04/04/21 Reginald WHITE 21/02/18 John White Bray Town
722 04/04/21 Mary ROBINS 20/12/15 Tom Robins Lydcott
723 04/04/21 Mary HUXTABLE 25/05/18
724 24/04/21 Mary BELLAMY 11/04/18 John White Bray Town
725 06/06/21 31 2 22 Hazel GREEN 28/01/17 Hilda Green Brayford
726 29/08/21 Cecil RIECKEN 27/05/12 William Riecken
66
Admit No.
Date of Admission
Readmitted Child name Surname Date of Birth
Parent Address
727 03/10/21 04/11/24 Cecil PRIDEAUX 16/05/16
728 11/04/22 John BARROW 16/01/28
729 11/04/22 Maude HARDING 19/12/16
730 04/04/22 Kath JOHNS 20/10/17
731 19/06/22 Josephine NEAL 23/04/16
732 19/05/22 Elsie GAY 07/09/16
733 04/04/22 William GAY 19/10/09
734 04/04/22 Kathleen E GAY 29/10/10
735 04/04/22 Beatrice GAY
736 04/04/22 Hilda GAY 19/09/12
737 Ronald MILDON 05/12/17 Thorne Park
738 09/04/23 Frederick SANDERS 10/07/09
739 09/04/23 Willie DYMOND 1909 William Dymond Ovis
740 09/04/23 Arthur DYMOND 18/07/11 William Dymond Ovis
741 09/04/23 Hylton WELLS 17/10/09 Fred Wells
742 09/04/23 Nelson SELDON 11/09/13 Frendship Bray Town
743 09/04/23 Emmie HARDING 23/07/10 Jane Harding Grasspark
744 09/04/23 Marjorie HARDING 02/11/13 Jane Harding Grasspark
745 09/04/23 Annie TRUTE 08/11/13 Gertrude Trute Charles
746 09/04/23 Gertrude TRUTE 12/05/16 Gertrude Trute Charles
747 09/04/23 Frank TRUTE 31/10/18 Gertrude Trute Charles
748 09/04/23 Blanche SANDERS 05/10/17 A Sanders Charles
749 09/04/23 Ronald GREEN 01/08/18 Hilda Green Bray Town
750 09/04/23 Roland HOBBS 29/09/18 Harry Hobbs Thorne Park
751 17/09/23 Charles BAWDEN 1918 Prideaux Gratton
752
753
754
755
756 11/09/23 Maud TRUTE 14/04/20 Gertrude Trute Charles
757 16/07/23 Charles PRIDEAUX 21/10/18 Will Prideaux
758 03/12/23 Nelson STEWART Little Bray
759 12/12/23 John NEAL 08/10/19 Holewater
760 01/08/23 Gwen PRIDEAUX 20/10/19 The Mill
761 07/04/24 Lily Maud HILL 12/01/11 Charles, Goodleigh
762 28/04/24 Violet ANTEL 12/06/19 Bray Town
763 28/04/24 Dorothy SHAPLAND 16/12/19 Little Bray Cottages
764 28/04/24 Mervyn PEDRICK 05/10/16 Rockley, H Bray
765 28/04/24 Raymond HUXTABLE 13/04/19 The Bottoms
766 17/06/24 Frederick GAY 19/09/18 Nattsley
767 26/06/21 27/08/28 Hanley Jo PRIDEAUX 26/06/21 High Bray
768 07/07/24 Arthur MOULE 21/04/19
769 John JONES 1921
770 06/11/24 Fred MARTIN 16/01/23 William Martin Fernham
771 10/11/24 Hy Jn Bernard DAWE 29/06/14
772 10/11/24 Joan DAWE 10/07/16
773 17/11/24 Elizabeth JAMES 06/05/19
774 Marie HILL 1919
775 Doris HARDING 1920
776 06/04/25 Mervyn MARTIN 23/04/20
777 Reg PEDRICK 1920 Rockley
778 John GOODYEAR 18/12/20 Thorne Park
779 Derek TRUTE 12/02/20 Gertrude Trute Charles
67
Admit No.
Date of Admission
Readmitted Child name Surname Date of Birth
Parent Address
780 Phyllis GAMMON
781 08/06/25 William ROBINS 02/06/20 Gratton
782 08/06/25 Winifred ANTEL 10/06/21 Bray Town
783 Jean HURFORD 08/02/19 J Hurford The Manse
784 Gorden HURFORD J Hurford The Manse
785 Elizabeth SHAPLAND 1921 Little Bray
786 12/04/26 May HILL 02/04/21 George Hill Town Barton
787 12/04/26 Joan VENN 12/06/20 James Venn Bray Town
788 12/04/26 Florence HARDING 24/04/22 Harry Harding Brayford
789 25/05/26 Mabel Edith DENNIS 16/05/20 Caleb Dennis Whitefield
790 25/05/26 Vera SHUTE 10/12/19 Will Shute The Villa
791 31/05/26 Kathleen KILBRIDE 14/08/20 Alan Kilbridge Thorne Park
792 07/06/26 Dennis SHUTE 23/09/21 Will Shute The Villa
793 30/08/26 Audrey TRIGGER 01/02/22 The Post Office
794 06/09/26 Winifred HARDING 01/09/23
795 30/08/26 Iris G NORMAN 13/02/17 Lane Farm
796 10/01/27 Chris FRIENDSHIP 25/12/20 Bray Town
797 10/01/27 Horace FRIENDSHIP 29/12/21 Bray Town
798 10/01/27 Gertrude FRIENDSHIP 14/08/23 Bray Town
799 31/01/27 25/04/27 Kathleen HUXTABLE 23/04/21 Molland Cross
800 14/02/27 Derek TRUTE 12/02/22 Charles
801 25/04/27 Percy BREWER 06/08/18 John Brewer Kedworthy
802 25/04/27 Irene M ANDREWS 06/11/21 Will Andrews Mockham
803 25/04/27 John William ROBINS 29/11/20 John Robins Wallover
804 25/04/27 Frederick Thomas
ROBINS 30/03/22 John Robins Wallover
805 02/05/27 Rosie LEWORTHY 26/04/22
806 29/08/27 Beryl PRIDEAUX 21/11/22
807 03/10/27 Muriel YEO 04/01/20
808 3,10 27 Elizabeth RIDD 04/11/16 Muxworthy
809 39,1,27 Elsie SHAPLAND 02/06/23 Arthur Shapland Little Bray Cottages
810 16/04/28 John AYRES 14/10/22 Bert Ayres Knackers Hole
811 16/04/28 Reginald ROBINS 10/08/23 John Robins Wallover
812 16/04/28 Clifford HUXTABLE 08/10/23 Gerald Huxtable The Bottoms
813 16/04/28 Rosalie PEDRICK 04/03/22 Bruce Pedrick Rockley
814 16/04/28 Phyllis WILLIS 10/06/15 John Willis Barnacott
815 Sydney RIDD Richard Ridd L Lydcott Cott
816 27/08/28 Gertrude FRIENDSHIP 14/08/22 Fred Friendship Bray Town
817 27/08/28 Leslie RENNIE 22/06/21 Alexander Rennie The Bungalow
818 27/08/28 William KING 09/09/14 John Bowen Grange Farm
819 Winifred MILES 04/09/15 Walland
820 Edwin MILES Walland
821 Frank HURFORD 07/06/25 The Manse
822 Lucy ANTELL Fullaford
823 08/04/29 Sidney HITCHCOTT 20/12/19 R Hitchcott Whitefield
824 08/04/29 Francis HITCHCOTT 17/12/20 R Hitchcott Whitefield
825 17/04/29 Phyllis HUXTABLE 17/02/24 S Huxtable Molland
826 24/06/29 Mary ROBINS 19/06/24 W Robins Gratton
827 01/07/29 James RICHARDS 30/06/26 G Trute Charles
828 02/09/29 Ethel COX 09/05/24 Charles
829 16/09/29 Dorothy WHITE J White Bray Town
830 03/10/29 Eric SANDERS 27/04/19 A Sanders Charles
831 03/10/29 Roy SANDERS 22/04/26
832 07/10/29 Rosie SANDERS 03/05/17
68
Admit No.
Date of Admission
Readmitted Child name Surname Date of Birth
Parent Address
833 William HOLLAND 16/08/25
834 21/10/29 William GOODYEAR 14/03/26 E Goodyear Charles
835 Phyllis HARDING 28/03/26 H Harding The Village
836 27/01/30 Thomas HOLLAND 1926 Will Holland The Village
837 27/01/30 Fred FRIENDSHIP 02/02/21 Bray Town
838 27/01/30 Douglas FRIENDSHIP 1926 F Friendship Bray Town
839 01/04/30 Arthur HARRIS 21/03/26 Sidney Harris The Village
840 01/04/30 Mary WOOLACOTT 01/06/23 John Woolacott Charles
841 14/04/30 Tony MOULE 16/08/25 James Moule Bray Cross
842 28/04/30 Thomas HOLLAND 30/12/26 Will Holland The Village
843 28/04/30 Fred RIDD 12/09/24 George Ridd Muxworthy Cottage
844 28/04/30 Dorcas FRIENDSHIP 20/03/25 Bray Town
845 05/05/30 Lily HITCHCOTT 01/07/25 R Hitchcott Whitefield
846 19/05/30 01/09/34 Herbert ROBINS 04/12/24 Wallover
847 16/06/30 Frank HURFORD 04/06/25 The Manse
848 01/04/31 Arthur HARRIS 11/08/26 John Harris Whitefield
849 01/04/31 Reginald AYRES 27/09/25 Bert Ayres Knackers Hole
850 01/04/31 Betty PYNE 31/10/25 Fred Pine Town Barton
851 Phyllis GAY 23/11/25 Mark Gay Nattsley
852 17/04/31 Ernest HERNIMAN 06/10/18 Charles Herniman Higher Molland
853 04/05/31 Vera MADDOX 03/11/26 George Maddox Holewater
854 01/06/31 Freda BAWDEN 11/06/27 Fred Bawden The Village
855 31/08/31 Betty SANDERS 31/08/28 Jinnie Sanders Council Ho, Village
856 07/09/31 George HOLLAND Will Holland The Village
857 21/09/31 Edna HOBBS Harry Hobbs The Village
858 10/01/32 Willie SHAPLAND 03/10/27
859 22/02/32 Freda FRIENDSHIP F Friendship Bray Town
860 22/02/32 Douglas FRIENDSHIP 01/09/28 F Friendship Bray Town
861 Barbara HEWITT 02/04/19
862 Kathleen HEWITT 07/06/20
863 Phyllis HEWITT 11/08/21 Thomas Hewitt
864 Doreen HEWITT 05/05/27 Thomas Hewitt
865 Douglas HEWITT 27/07/23 Thomas Hewitt
866 Thomas HEWITT 07/01/24 Thomas Hewitt
867 Florence FRIENDSHIP 01/08/27 Fred Friendship
868 William FRIENDSHIP 12/08/27 Fred Friendship
869 George LOOSEMORE 12/06/23 Henry Loosemore
870 Robert LOOSEMORE 10/10/25 Henry Loosemore
871 29/08/32 Peter GRATTON 21/02/23 Charles Gratton
872 05/09/32 Henry CLARK 10/08/27 John Clark Bray
873 01/11/32 22/05/33 Patrick PYNE 14/09/27 Fred Pyne Town Barton
874 01/06/32 Donald BAWDEN 05/12/28 Fred Bawden The Village
875 15/05/33 Francis SKINNER 11/06/21 Henry Skinner
876 19/06/33 Joyce SCOINES 24/09/23 Herbert Scoines
877 26/06/33 Gladys FRIENDSHIP 07/12/29 Fred Friendship
878 21/07/33 Frank PRIDEAUX 01/04/29 Kenneth Prideaux
879 21/07/33 David PRIDEAUX 01/04/29 Kenneth Prideaux
880 02/10/33 Alfred John LEACH 02/03/25 Fred Leach Charles
881 12/10/33 Norman Leslie LEACH 12/01/27 Fred Leach Charles
882 12/10/33 Tony BAWDEN 01/05/30 Fred Bawden The Village
883 31/10/33 Joan SHAPLAND 25/11/29 Arthur Shapland
884 12/03/34 Will MADDOX 1930 Will Maddox
885 12/03/34 Sheila ROBINS 29/09/29 Tom Robins
69
Admit No.
Date of Admission
Readmitted Child name Surname Date of Birth
Parent Address
886 12/03/34 Frank HOLLAND Will Holland The Village
887 09/04/34 Doreen DYMOND 09/10/29
888 09/04/34 Sheila ROBINS 29/09/29
889 09/04/34 Alan BOWEN 20/09/29
890 29/05/34 Joyce LEWORTHY 04/07/29 Charles Leworthy
891 20/06/34 Raymond SNELL 04/03/24 Charles Snell
892 07/01/35 Herbert ROBINS John Robins Wallover
893 29/04/35 Arthur Ray GILL 01/03/30 Mansell Gill Tossels Barton
894 29/04/35 Arthur LEE 03/01/30 George Lee Fullaford Cottage
895 29/04/35 Harold BALE 25/02/30 Ern Bale Kedworthy
896 29/04/35 Raymond DYMOND 30/03/30 Elen Dymond
897 29/04/35 Gladys M SKINNER 15/02/30 Henry Skinner Slade
898 29/04/35 Lois BALE 29 02 29 Ern Bale
899 17/06/35 David RICHARDS 09/03/31 Charles
900 01/11/35 Mary WEBBER 03/04/31
901 01/11/35 Patricia THORNE 13/06/31
902 06/12/35 Phyllis FRIENDSHIP 07/08/31 Fred Friendship
903 11/03/36 John SKINNER 01/03/31 Henry Skinner Slade
904 16/03/36 Gordon DOCKING 13/03/31 Mockham Cottage
905 24/03/36 Kenneth C DYMOND 10/02/27 Gratton Cottage
906 24/03/36 Ronald E DYMOND 29/05/28 Ned Dymond
907 20/04/36 Amy BOWEN 19/09/31 Fred Bowen Welcome
908 11/05/36 Dennis BAWDEN 05/02/32 Fred Bawden The Village
909 06/07/36 Francis HARDINGHAM 04/04/30 Fred Hardingham
910 31/08/36 Muriel DOCKINGS 11/08/31 Will Dockings
911 31/08/36 William JOHNS 26/09/31 Ernest Johns
912 05/04/37 Phyllis PASSMORE 18/07/33 Lane Farm
913 05/04/37 May PASSMORE 23/01/27 Lane Farm
914 05/04/37 Vera PASSMORE 12/02/31 Lane Farm
915 05/04/37 Beatrice K SANDERS 14/04/24 Albert Sanders
916 05/04/37 Roland SANDERS 25/02/27 Albert Sanders
917 05/04/37 Raymond SANDERS 28/10/29 Albert Sanders
918 05/04/37 Wilfred GILL 25/10/31 Mansell Gill Tossels Barton
919 05/04/37 Joyce WHITE 04/08/32 Will White Brayford
920 05/04/37 Michael THORNE 22/02/33 Archibald Thorne
921 12/04/37 Phyllis SANDERS 25/03/32 Albert Sanders
922 12/04/37 George QUICK 01/03/33 George Quick Holewater
923 05/07/37 Kenneth BOWEN 01/10/32 Fred Bowen Velcott
924 30/09/37 George RADLEY 01/09/32 George Radley Ovis
925 01/11/37 Gorden SCOINES 01/06/33 Herbert Scoines Thorne Park
926 01/11/37 Rose WHITE 01/10/33 Will White Brayford
927 10/01/38 Myra BASTOW 1932 Fred Bastow
928 11/04/38 John SKINNER 16/07/25 Jack Skinner Barnacott
929 25/04/38 Geoffrey BALL 28/02/27 Frank Ball Kedworthy
930 25/04/38 William Joseph MOULE 01/04/33 Harry Moule Bray Cross
931 13/06/38 Leslie FOLLAND 25/07/33 Ern Folland Little Bray
932 13/06/38 Peter BOWEN 18/06/33 John Bowen Grange Farm
933 09/01/39 Frederick BAWDEN 25/03/34 Fred Bawden The Village
934 16/01/39 Gwynneth DYMOND 04/09/34 Gratton Cottage
935 03/03/39 Albert ALDERMAN 05/05/29 Charlie Alderman
936 03/03/39 Brian ALDERMAN
937 19/04/39 Jean DOWN 1934
938 19/04/39 Olive ROBINS 06/05/34
70
Admit No.
Date of Admission
Readmitted Child name Surname Date of Birth
Parent Address
939 05/06/39 June FRIENDSHIP
940 01/04/40 Christine THORNE 27/12/32
941 01/04/40 William JOHNS 26/09/31
942 01/04/40 Harold SKINNER 16/01/30 H Skinner Slade
943 01/04/40 William WHITE 30/04/35 Bray Town
944 01/04/40 Thomas LEACH 02/12/34 Shutescombe
945 13/06/40 Joan BURNELL 01/06/36 Withygate
946 13/06/40 John BURNELL 01/06/36 Withygate
947 18/06/40 Doreen BULL 03/05/34 Tottenham
948 18/06/40 Marion DADY 05/02/35 Tottenham
949 18/06/40 Sidney TOWNSEND 06/04/35 Tottenham
950 24/06/40 Geoffrey LOWER 22/08/34 Brayford
951 24/06/40 Anthony WOODS 07/02/35 Brayford
952 24/06/40 Denis TYSON 01/01/27 Kedworthy
953 24/06/40 Joyce TYSON 07/08/28 Kedworthy
954 01/09/40 David HACKETT 01/06/36 Kedworthy
955 22/04/41 Mary RICHARDS 14/10/35 Charles
956 22/04/41 Ena THORNE 31/10/35 Beara
957 01/09/41 Brian Robert SOUTHCOTT 19/06/36 North Bray Mill
958 01/09/41 Edward John WHITE 07/07/36 Bray Town
959 01/09/41 Shirley KINGDON 25/08/36 Bray Town
960 20/04/41 Monica Grace YEO 21/09/36 S Lydcott
961 05/01/42 Chris Keith VANSTONE 27/12/36 Village, Brayford
962 05/01/42 Arthur MULLIGAN Village, Brayford
963 05/01/42 Margaret Ann THORNE 09/11/36 Rock Villa
964 20/04/42 Carol Eliz RADLEY 18/12/36 George Radley Ovis
965 05/01/42 Arthur HOLLAND 02/03/34 High Bray
966 20/04/42 William MOULE 01/10/33 Bray Town
967 11/01/43 Eileen BOWEN 20/09/37 Grange Farm
968 11/01/43 Margaret YEO 20/11/37 Brayford
969 02/05/43 Raymond WHITE 02/05/38 Bray Town
970 03/05/43 Margery Elizabeth
HOLMES 03/07/37 Fernham
971 03/05/43 Maureen Marion SOUTHCOTT 02/04/38 North Bray Mill
972 31/05/43 Francis R JENNINGS 02/06/34 Holewater
973 31/05/43 Edward John JENNINGS 03/08/32 Holewater
974 16/08/43 Derek WILLMETTS 30/01/37 Brayford
975 10/08/43 David Arthur WHITE 25/06/39 Bray Town
976 11/10/43 William RADLEY 28/08/38 George Radley Ovis
977 11/10/43 John Walter KINGDON 01/04/39 High Bray
978 18/10/43 Howard HACKETT 02/08/38 Kedworthy
979 10/01/44 Mary RIDD 04/06/39
980 10/01/44 Hilary Ruth MADDOX 06/01/39 Bray Town
981 24/01/44 John THORNE 26/12/38 Beara
982 24/01/44 Kenneth DAVEY 18/10/39
983 24/01/44 Albert DAVEY 25/03/34
984 24/01/44 Aubrey DAVEY 29/06/35
985 24/01/44 Edward DAVEY 06/07/37
986 24/01/44 Pamela MOULE 01/04/39
987 03/08/44 Eleanor Jane RADLEY 16/05/40 George Radley Ovis
988 03/08/44 Julia KINGDON 04/09/40 Bray Town
989 28/05/45 Clifford WILMETTS 19/07/40 Brayford
990 10/09/45 Raymond JOHNS 21/09/40 Bray Town
991 10/09/45 William YEO 03/09/40 Brayford
992 02/11/45 Michael PARKER 20/01/39 Charles
71
Admit No.
Date of Admission
Readmitted Child name Surname Date of Birth
Parent Address
993 04/01/46 Sylvia VANSTONE 08/11/40 Brayford
994 25/04/46 Christopher BOWEN 01/04/41 Welcome
995 09/09/46 Sylvia FRIENDSHIP Bray Town
996 09/06/47 Spencer George KINDGON 15/02/42 Riverside, Charles
997 12/06/47 Margaret KINGDON 20/06/37 Riverside, Charles
998 08/09/47 Geoffrey Ernest JOHNS 21/05/42 Bray Town
999 06/12/47 Angela Beatrice TOMLINSON 05/08/42 Charles
1000 12/01/48 Ronald John MOULE 02/01/43 Brayford
1001 06/02/48 James Harding WHITE 06/02/43 Bray Town
1002 12/04/48 Elsie Maud FOLLAND 10/01/43 Little Bray
1003 24/05/48 Mary B I TUCKER 24/05/43 Bray Town
1004 24/05/48 David DINNAGE 24/05/43 Bray Town
1005 28/04/48 Frederick Charles
HARDIN 17/08/37 Bray Town
1006 06/09/48 Margaret JOHNS 16/05/43
1007 06/09/48 Ruby Kathleen SOUTHCOTT 30/10/43 South Bray
1008 15/03/49 Patricia CONWAY 15/11/39 East Yarde
1009 15/02/49 Colleen Marie CONWAY 11/11/41 East Yarde
1010 15/02/49 John Bernard WILSON 05/10/40 East Yarde
1011 15/02/49 Brian George CHAPMAN 26/01/38 Holewater
1012 15/02/49 William George DOWN 18/11/43 Muxworthy
1013 15/02/49 Delia BERRY 16/06/43 Mrs Berry Gratton Cottages
1014 15/02/49 Shirley Anne BURBIDGE 24/04/44 Mr B Burbidge 3 Broomhill Villas
1015 15/02/49 Susan Dawn KINGDON 29/04/44 Bray Town
1016 30/05/49 Josephine MOULE 11/11/41 Bray Town
1017 30/05/49 Patricia MOULE 27/12/42 Bray Town
1018 13/06/49 Derrick BERRY 02/06/38 Mrs Berry Gratton Cottages
1019 03/10/49 Marion BURNELL 06/08/44 Withygate
1020 12/12/49 Peter Michael MASON 22/03/41 Withygate
1021 16/01/50 Alison Mary CROFT 15/02/44 Whitefield
1022 20/03/50 Roslien LETHBRIDGE 21/01/43 Bray Town
1023 24/04/50 Wendy May WHITE 13/05/45 Broomhill Villas
1024 28/02/50 Malcolm Richard HUXTABLE 20/08/45 Rock Villa
1025 24/04/50 Ruth BLIGHT 15/07/42 c/o Mrs Conway East Yarde
1026 24/04/50 David BLIGHT 08/04/41 c/o Mrs Conway East Yarde
1027 12/06/50 Robert SMITH 19/12/39 Little Bray
1028 19/06/50 Barrie Clifford BAILEY 13/11/43 c/o Mrs Moule Bray Cross
1029 07/09/50 Brenda Mary WILLIAMS 27/05/45 Bray Town
1030 18/09/50 Philip Henry DELACOUR 29/07/45 Mr Delacour Thorne Park
1031 25/09/50 Diana BERRY 05/05/45 Mrs Berry Gratton Cottages
1032 09/10/50 Philip PERT 06/07/45 c/o Mrs Conway East Yarde
1033 11/01/51 Brian COMER 08/04/44 c/o Mrs Conway East Yarde
1034 12/04/51 Paul Chester TEASDILL 29/12/40 Bungalow Withygate
1035 12/04/51 Ruth Hazel BLIGHT 15/07/42 Mr E Blight Thorne Park
1036 12/04/51 David John BLIGHT 08/04/41 Mr E Blight Thorne Park
1037 12/04/51 Wendy Jacqueline
BLIGHT 17/12/45 Mr E Blight Thorne Park
1038 23/04/51 17/06/52 Rosalind PENFOLD 22/08/43 Yarde Down
1039 23/04/51 Ian GIBSON 05/08/44 The Old Rectory
72
Admit No.
Date of Admission
Readmitted Child name Surname Date of Birth
Parent Address
1040 23/04/51 Andrew John GIBSON 02/07/46 The Old Rectory
1041 07/05/51 George SANDERS 29/05/42 Yarde Down
1042 06/09/51 Jennifer Elaine YEO 14/08/46 Mr J Yeo Lydcott
1043 06/09/51 Barry Edmond G BURBIDGE 10/11/46 Mr B Burbidge 3 Broomhill Villas
1044 06/09/51 Michael James DINNAGE 19/11/46 Mr Dinnage 4 Broomhill Villas
1045 06/09/51 Jennifer Mary HALL 12/12/45 c/o Mrs Conway East Yarde
1046 10/01/52 David Anthony HOWE 15/06/46 c/o Mrs Conway East Yarde
1047 10/01/52 Elizabeth SOUTHCOTT 25/01/47 Mr R Southcott North Bray
1048 24/04/52 Robert Lewis BRAY 03/07/44 Mrs Jefferies Fullaford
1049 24/04/52 Carol Mary HOCKING 30/12/46 Mr Hocking Bungalow Little Bray
1050 28/04/52 Carol WILLIAMS 02/02/47 Mrs Williams Bray Town
1051 28/04/52 Noicholas BOWEN 07/08/47 Mr F Bowen Old Way End Molland
1052 04/09/52 Anthony HUXTABLE 19/08/47 Mr Huxtable Shutescombe
1053 04/09/52 Richard George WHITE 15/11/47 Mr W White 1 Broomhill Villas
1054 04/09/52 Sally HUXTABLE 08/05/47 Mrs F Huxtable Rock Villa
1055 04/09/52 Barbara DINNAGE 30/12/47 Mr Dinnage 4 Broomhill Villas
1056 08/09/52 Philip MOULE 17/11/47 Mr T Moule Bray Town
1057 17/11/52 Shirley May WEBBER 01/01/47 Mr Webber
1058 13/01/53 Jonathan Neil HOBBS 17/11/47 Mr J Hobbs Bungalow Little Bray
1059 13/01/53 Stephen John WILLIAMS 27/03/48 Mr Leaworthy Bray Town
1060 11/03/53 Ann Elizabeth NEWTON 15/09/43 Mr R Newton Grasspark
1061 22/04/53 Molly SOUTHCOTT 14/03/48 Mr R Southcott North Bray
1062 08/09/53 Terence Raymond
BLIGHT 03/08/48 Mr E Blight Thorne Park
1063 08/09/53 Pamela Alice RIDD 17/07/48 Mr Ridd Lane Farm
1064 08/09/53 Rosalind Ella M YEO 29/01/48 Mr J Yeo South Lydcott
1065 21/09/53 Patricia SELDON 07/12/45 Mr N Seldon Chittleham
1066 28/09/53 Terence John MOULE 10/12/48 Mr A Moule Bray Town
1067 11/01/54 John WARRINER 18/10/44 Mr T Warriner Deer Park
1068 11/01/54 Gloria Joyce MOULE 29/11/48 Mr H Moule Council Hse
1069 11/01/54 Margaret Susan DINNAGE 26/01/49 Mr Dinnage 4 Broomhill Villas
1070 03/05/54 Robert Thorne BOND 07/08/49 Mr W T Bond The School House
1071 03/05/54 Sandra FRIENDSHIP 15/02/49 Mr Friendship 8 Broomhill Villas
1072 07/09/54 Gillian Margaret BLIGHT 08/08/49 Mr Blight Thorne Park
1073 10/01/55 Doreen Mary LEY 15/11/49 Mr R Ley Stock Farm
1074 10/01/55 Ann SOUTHCOTT 11/12/49 Mr R Southcott North Bray
1075 28/04/55 Patrick Kingsley JACKSON 07/05/46 Mr N Jackson Down Farm
1076 28/04/55 Christopher Alan WILLIAMS 15/02/50 Mrs Leworthy Bray Town
1077 28/04/55 Anna Elizabeth HUXTABLE 23/03/50 Mr G Huxtable Shutescombe
1078 28/04/55 Peter James MOULE 14/08/50 Mr A Moule Bray Town
1079 06/09/55 Susan Elizabeth GRANT 09/12/50 Mr R Grant Little Bray
1080 12/09/55 Janet Elizabeth HOBBS 07/12/50 Mr R Hobbs 6 Broomhill Villas
1081 12/01/56 Elizabeth Ann LEWORTHY 05/02/51 Mr J Leworthy Bray Town
1082 10/05/56 Frances Mary CLARKE 13/01/50 Mr Clarke Holewater
1083 10/05/56 Valerie Anne CLARKE 26/04/51 Mr Clarke Holewater
1084 06/06/56 Simon CROFT 26/03/51 Mr A Croft Whitefield
73
Admit No.
Date of Admission
Readmitted Child name Surname Date of Birth
Parent Address
1085 11/09/56 Rosalind Janet KINGDON 04/09/51 Mr W Kingdon Bray Town
1086 11/01/57 Robert George RIDD 18/03/52 Mr Ridd Lane Farm
1087 03/05/57 Janet Mary LEWORTHY 12/05/52 Mrs Leworthy Bray Town
1088 03/05/57 Colin BLIGHT 26/07/52 Mr E Blight Thorne Park
1089 13/09/57 Anthony John ELMS 02/06/48 Mrs Friendship Broomhill Villas
1090 13/09/57 Margaret Jean ELMS 23/11/52 Mrs Friendship Broomhill Villas
1091 13/09/57 Graham Donald BAWDEN 13/12/52 Mr D Bawden Little Bray
1092 22/04/58 Pamela Mary ROBINS 19/02/53 Mr W Robins Gratton
1093 09/09/58 Kevin ROBINS 18/09/53 Mr H Robins Natsley Bungalow
1094 09/09/58 Peter Anthony LEWORTHY 18/09/53 Mr J Leworthy Bray Town
1095 09/09/58 Renee MARTIN 18/06/53 Mr M Martin 4 Beech Tree
1096 09/09/58 Eileen May ROBINS 30/07/53 Mr F Robins Wallover
1097 09/09/58 Linda Jane GRANT 22/11/53 Mr R Grant Little Bray
1098 08/01/59 Christopher HUXTABLE 29/10/53 Mr G Huxtable Shutescombe
1099 08/01/59 Stewart Frederick
BAWDEN 03/01/54 Mr D Bawden Little Bray
1100 12/01/59 Margaret Lucy CAMP 10/11/53 Mr H Camp Hillside
1101 16/04/59 Lorna Amelia Mary
MOULE 18/08/54 Mr T Moule Bray Town
1102 20/04/59 Jeffery Robert BLIGHT 04/03/54 Mr E Blight Thorne Park
1103 10/09/59 David George JEMMISON 18/10/54 Mr R Jemmison S Whitefield
1104 10/09/59 Kenneth Michael PRIDEAUX 09/11/54 Mr F H Prideaux Bray Mill
1105 07/01/60 Robert John CARTER 21/10/54 Mr Carter Down Farm
1106 28/04/60 John BLIGHT 30/01/55 Mr E Blight Thorne Park
1107 28/04/60 David William ROBINS 05/03/55 Mr W Robins Gratton Cottage
1108 28/04/60 Mary Joan PRISCOTT 27/01/55 Mr Priscott Fullaford Cottage
1109 28/04/60 Diane Fay BURBIDGE 08/03/55 Mr B Burbidge 3 Broomhill Villas
1110 28/04/60 Pauline Mary BAWDEN 10/04/55 Mr D Bawden Little Bray
1111 28/04/60 Sarah Henrietta BOND 08/06/55 Mr W T Bond The School House
1112 28/04/60 Angela May BARROW 14/06/55 Mr J Barrow Lower Hall
1113 28/04/60 Christine Jane LEWORTHY 12/08/55 Mr J Leworthy Bray Town
1114 28/04/60 Gillian Anne CLARK 19/08/55 Mr H Clark 7 Broomhill Villas
1115 09/01/61 Maureen Ann ROBINS 20/09/55 Mr F Robins Wallover
1116 13/04/61 Brian John ROBINS 17/01/56 Mr F Robins Wallover
1117 13/04/61 Stuart John FAULKNER 03/05/56 Mr J Faulkner Welcome
1118 13/04/61 Peter Charles JEMMISON 25/05/56 Mr R Jemmison S Whitefield
1119 13/04/61 Norman John BARROW 10/08/56 Mr J Barrow Lower Hall
1120 13/04/61 Thelma Joy KINGDON 28/08/56 Mr W Kingdon High Bray
1121 07/09/61 Shirley Anne HUTCHINGS 16/07/53 Mr E C Hutchings 2 Broomhill Villas
1122 07/09/61 Sandra Ruby HUTCHINGS 03/08/55 Mr E C Hutchings 2 Broomhill Villas
1123 07/09/61 Geoffrey Cecil HUTCHINGS 04/08/55 Mr E C Hutchings 2 Broomhill Villas
1124 07/09/61 Rhonda Joyce PRIDEAUX 19/09/56 Mr F H Prideaux Bray Mill
1125 07/09/61 Anthony William BAWDEN 30/09/56 Mr A Bawden 1 Beech Tree
1126 07/09/61 Jennifer Ann ROTTENBURY 17/07/56 Mr J Rottenbury Kedworthy
1127 01/05/62 Andrew Lewis KINGDON 10/04/57 Mr W Kingdon Riverside
1128 01/05/62 Lance Vincent BURBIDGE 11/03/57 Mr B Burbidge Broomhill Villas
1129 11/09/62 Michael John BOWEN 14/11/57 Mr P Bowen Grange Farm
1130 11/09/62 Hilary Mary MARTIN 28/11/57 Mr M Martin 4 Beech Tree
1131 17/09/62 William Henry SMYTH 06/03/53 Mr Smyth Broomhill Villas
74
Admit No.
Date of Admission
Readmitted Child name Surname Date of Birth
Parent Address
1132 08/01/63 John Shapland ROBINS 14/10/57 Mr J Robins Wallover
1133 08/01/63 Rowena Jane HARRIS 06/05/55 c/o Mr S Harris Rockley
1134 08/01/63 Lyndsey Ann HARRIS 03/05/57 c/o Mr S Harris Rockley
1135 25/04/63 Stephen George RADLEY 20/04/58 Mr G Radley Ovis
1136 25/04/63 Clive Michael FAULKNER 07/07/58 Mr J Faulkner Welcome
1137 25/04/63 Alison Mary FAULKNER 07/07/58 Mr J Faulkner Welcome
1138 25/04/63 Ann Sandra FOLLAND 22/01/58 Mr L Folland Thorne Park
1139 25/04/63 Michael Brian JEMMISON 14/07/58 Mr R Jemmison S Whitefield
1140 25/04/63 Kenneth LEWORTHY 25/07/58 Mr J Leworthy Bray Town
1141 10/09/63 Phillip John ROTTENBURY 16/08/58 Mr J Rottenbury Kedworthy
1142 10/09/63 Jenny Ann SMITH 25/08/58 Mr D Smith Natsley Bungalow
1143 10/09/63 Stephne Paul LATHAM 30/10/54 Mr Latham Sunnyside
1144 10/09/63 Brian Edward LATHAM 06/09/56 Mr Latham Sunnyside
1145 07/01/64 Gordon Peter CARTER 10/04/57 Mr J Carter Down Farm
1146 07/01/64 Christopher Roger
CARTER 10/03/58 Mr J Carter Down Farm
1147 16/04/64 Iris Susan MOULE 29/04/59 Mr T Moule Bray Town
1148 16/04/64 Alan William John
BOYLES 17/06/59 Mr R Boyles Higher Hall
1149 08/09/64 John Henry LANG 23/07/58 Mr Lang 2 Beech Tree
1150 08/09/64 Martin John SOUTHCOTT 05/10/59 Mr R Southcott South Bray
1151 08/09/64 Amy Margaret HUSBANDS 11/07/59 Mr Husbands Sandy Park
1152 08/09/64 Audrey Elizabeth LANG 23/08/59 Mr Lang 2 Beech Tree
1153 08/09/64 Christine Diane LANG 19/02/56 Mr Lang 2 Beech Tree
1154 15/09/64 Raymond LEWORTHY 11/08/59 Mr J Leworthy Bray Town
1155 07/01/65 Paul WHITE 03/12/59 Mr White Kedworthy
1156 07/01/65 Nigel David PRIDEAUX 04/02/60 Mr D Prideaux Centre H
1157 07/01/65 Rosemary SOUTHCOTT 05/12/59 Mr B Southcott Holewater
1158 07/01/65 Gail Maud BURBIDGE 29/03/60 Mr B Burbidge Brayford
1159 27/04/65 Jonathan Charles BAWDEN 06/03/60 Mr A Bawden 1 Beech Tree
1160 27/04/65 Timothy Derek SHARP 24/05/60 Mr D Sharp Bray Town
1161 27/04/65 Christopher Leslie
FOLLAND 21/07/60 Mr L Folland Thorne Park
1162 27/04/65 Rosemary Olive BARROW 29/04/60 Mr J Barrow Lower Hall
1163 27/04/65 Elaine Joy YOUNG 18/06/60 Mr Young Brayford
1164 21/06/65 Suzanne Irene ROBINSON 1956 c/o Mr Lang 2 Beech Tree
1165 21/06/65 Peter ROBINSON 14/07/57 c/o Mr Lang 2 Beech Tree
1166 09/09/65 John Laurence KINDGON 04/06/60 Mr Kingdon Furze Farm
1167 09/09/65 Brian John LEWORTHY 04/10/60 Mr J Leworthy Bray Town
1168 09/09/65 Sarah Joanne WATTS 03/12/60 Mr P Watts Gratton
1169 02/11/65 Wendy LEWIS c/o Mr Lang 2 Beech Tree
1170 02/11/65 Charmain BAWDEN 21/09/59 Mr Bawden 2 The Villas
1171 02/11/65 Penelope BAWDEN 09/12/56 Mr Bawden 2 The Villas
1172 10/01/66 Gordon James JEMMISON 03/10/60 Mr R Jemmison S Whitefield
1173 10/01/66 Paul HOGARTH 02/12/60 Mr Hogarth
1174 27/05/66 Pauline May BUTT 10/01/61 Mr R J Butt Withygate bungalow
1175 08/09/66 Valerie Ann MOULE 13/05/61 Mr T Moule Bray Town
1176 08/09/66 Andrew John RADLEY 14/07/61 Mr G Radley Ovis
1177 08/09/66 Dennis W BLACKMORE 05/08/61 Mr Blackmore Blakewell
1178 08/09/66 Stephen Terry LANG 12/08/61 Mr Lang 2 Beech Tree
1179 09/01/67 Diane Jane THORNE 04/10/61 Mr J Thorne Whitefield
1180 09/01/67 Esther Lilian BARROW 07/11/61 Mr J Barrow Lower Hall
1181 15/02/67 Linda Ann PHILLIPS 11/09/58 Mr R Phillips Brayford
1182 20/02/67 Laurence William PHILLIPS 04/06/60 Mr R Phillips Brayford
75
Admit No.
Date of Admission
Readmitted Child name Surname Date of Birth
Parent Address
1183 10/04/67 David BOWEN 26/01/62 Mr P Bowen Grange Farm
1184 07/09/67 Gary HOGARTH 25/04/62 4 Broomhill Villas
1185 07/09/67 Peter Robert BOYLES 09/05/62 Mr R Boyles Higher Hall
1186 07/09/67 David BUTT 06/07/62 Mr R Butt Withygate bungalow
1187 20/11/67 David Graham BOSACKI 10/06/57 Mr Bosacki Muxworthy cottage
1188 23/04/68 David Robert GREENWOOD 03/02/63 Mr J Greenwood Gratton
1189 23/04/68 Carol Ann YOUNG 31/01/63 Mr Young South Mockham
1190 23/04/68 Janet Elizabeth HUXTABLE 22/02/63 Mr J Huxtable Fullaford
1191 22/04/68 Sandra Ann MADDOX 12/04/63 Mr W Maddox 4 Riverside
1192 10/09/68 John Ernest BLACKMORE 10/06/63 Mr Blackmore Blakewell
1193 10/09/68 Nicholas John THORNE 23/08/63 Mr F Thorne 3 Broomhill Villas
1194 07/01/69 Paul Boyd MULLINGER 11/09/60 Mr Mullinger The Stores Brayford
1195 07/01/69 Helen MULLINGER 17/04/59 Mr Mullinger The Stores Brayford
1196 07/01/69 Christopher John THORNE 25/11/63 Mr J Thorne Whitefield
1197 07/01/69 Cherry April HALL 30/10/63 Mr Hall Muxworthy
1198 12/05/69 Tanya CADOGAN Mc/o Mrs Williams The Manse
1199 04/09/69 Nicholas Walter G
COLE 02/05/64 Rockley Farm
1200 04/09/69 Andrew Paul MADDOX 16/05/64 Mr W Maddox 4 Riverside
1201 04/09/69 James Edward RADLEY 30/07/64 Mr G Radley Ovis
1202 04/09/69 Ann margaret GREENWOOD 28/04/64 Mr J Greenwood Gratton
1203 04/09/69 Janine Sara GREENAWAY 12/05/64 Walland Farm
1204 06/01/70 Stephen CASSELL 14/12/59 The Manse
1205 06/01/70 Fiona Winton BALMENT 12/10/64 Mr G Balment Lydcott Hall
1206 06/01/70 Deborah HOGARTH 25/09/64 4 Broomhill Villas
1207 06/01/70 Christopher Joseph
THORNE 10/11/64 3 Broomhill Villas
1208 06/01/70 Caroline JOSLIN 29/11/64 Withygate
1209 06/01/70 Winston George THORNE 15/12/64 Mr J Thorne Whitefield
1210 14/04/70 Michelle Ann REDSHAW 10/04/65 Little Bray Cottages
1211 03/09/70 Sarah Louise MUSCHE 27/08/65 West Blakewell cot
1212 05/01/71 Mark James THORNE 06/01/66 3 Broomhill Villas
1213 17/04/71 Alan John HUXTABLE 17/06/66 Mr J Huxtable Fullaford
1214 27/04/71 Robin James BALMENT 10/08/66 Mr G Balment Lydcott Hall
1215 27/04/71 Catherine Louise LEE 07/08/66 Mr Lee Centre House
1216 16/06/71 Simon COURT-ISDEN 24/08/62 Miss F M Court (guardian)
The Old Turnpike
1217 16/06/71 Laurence Anthony W
COURT-ISDEN 02/08/63 Miss F M Court (parent)
The Old Turnpike
1218 09/09/71 Sarah Ann BAMENT 02/11/66 Mr Bament Muxworthy
1219 06/01/72 Louise Kay EDWARDS 05/04/67 Mr M Edwards South Lydcott
1220 06/01/72 Stephen Philip W GOVIER 03/02/66 Mrs Govier 3 Riverside
1221 06/01/72 Nicholas Herbert J
THORNE 13/02/67 Mr J Thorne Beara Farm
1222 06/01/72 Adrian William FAULKNER 11/02/67 Mr J Faulkner Lane Farm
1223 06/01/72 Ian Richard KINGDON 15/02/67 Mr C Kingdon Furze Farm
1224 18/04/72 Amanda Joyce THORNE 02/07/67 Mr F Thorne 3 Broomhill Villas
1225 26/06/72 Tracy Louise CHAPMAN 09/05/64 Mr Chapman Bray Town
76
Admit No.
Date of Admission
Readmitted Child name Surname Date of Birth
Parent Address
1226 08/09/72 Richard Thomas THORNE 07/09/64 Mr M Thorne Rock Villa
1227 08/09/72 Judith Rose THORNE 23/12/67 Mr M Thorne Rock Villa
1228 08/09/72 Wendy Jayne BOWEN 02/01/68 Mr P Bowen Grange Farm
1229 08/09/72 Tracey Denise MOXHAY 22/05/65 c/o Mr Redshay Little Bray
1230 08/09/72 Nicholas Edwin STREET 17/10/67 Mr Street Purbrook Cottage
1231 08/09/72 Wayne Anthony HUXTABLE 20/12/67 Mr M Huxtable Lydcott cottage
1232 31/03/00 Rachael WHITE 20/03/68 Mr R White Mildmay Cottage
1233 25/04/73 Dawn Lilian EDWARDS 11/05/68 Mr M Edwards South Lydcott
1234 04/09/73 Helen Elizabeth BAWDEN 01/12/68 Mr A Bawden 1 Beech Tree
1235 04/09/73 Robert James BAWDEN 01/12/68 Mr A Bawden 1 Beech Tree
1236 04/09/73 Suzanna Marie BENNETT 09/10/68 Mr G Bennett Bray Town
1237 04/09/73 Simon Robert THORNE 28/12/68 Mr J Thorne Beara Farm
1238 04/09/73 John RODGERS 07/03/67 c/o Mrs Rodgers Coombe Bank
1239 08/01/74 Andrew Mark GUBB 14/01/69 Mr Gubb Barnacott
1240 08/01/74 Alison Tina HUXTABLE 05/02/69 Mr M Huxtable South L
1241 08/01/74 Sarah WHITE 06/04/69 Mr R White Mildmay Cottage
1242 17/04/74 Alan Raymond HOBBS 11/06/69 Mr R Hobbs 3 Beech Tree
1243 17/04/74 John William BAMENT 10/08/69 Mr Bament Muxworthy
1244 17/04/74 Mark Hugh BAMENT 10/08/69 Mr Bament Muxworthy
1245 03/09/74 Helen Joy RADLEY 26/10/69 Mr G Radley Ovis
1246 03/09/74 Matthew Thomas RADLEY 26/10/69 Mr G Radley Ovis
1247 07/01/75 Debrah Jane STREET 24/01/70 Mr S Street Mill Lane
1248 15/04/75 Jayne PICKARD 13/07/70 Mr Pickard Middlecott
1249 15/04/75 Robert John WEBBER 11/08/70 Mr R Webber 8 Broomhill Villas
1250 02/09/75 Sarah Jane THORNE 16/10/70 Mr F Thorne 3 Broomhill Villas
1251 07/09/76 Teresa Jane MADDOX 08/10/71 Mr W Maddox 7 Broomhill Villas
1252 27/09/76 Royston Paul MCGAHEY 21/05/72 Mr D McGahey 2 Path
1253 06/01/77 Simon HUMPHRIES 31/08/60 Mr Richards 3 Indicombe
1254 06/01/77 Caroline GUBB 04/02/72 Mr E Gubb Barnacott
1255 06/01/77 Rebecca Lucy TRICKEY 23/03/72 Mr M Trickey Kedworthy
1256 07/02/77 Gary Phillip SMALL 24/12/66 Mr Small Kings Acre
1257 07/02/77 Clive Roger SMALL 30/12/65 Mr Small Kings Acre
1258 26/04/77 Nina Carmen S RANDALL 27/01/72 Mr Randall Old Turnpike
1259 26/04/77 Bruce William PICKARD 07/04/72 Mr Pickard Middlecott
1260 26/04/77 William James THORNE 10/05/72 Mr J Thorne Beara Farm
1261 26/04/77 Sharon Joyce JENKINS 04/06/72 Mr D Jenkins Broomhill Villas
1262 06/09/77 Lisa Jane DUNFORD 18/12/67 Mr G Dunford High Bray Fmhouse
1263 06/09/77 James William DUNFORD 03/06/69 Mr G Dunford High Bray Fmhouse
1264 06/09/77 Catherine Ann JEYES 25/09/68 Mr Jeyes Down Farm
1265 06/09/77 Philip Robert W JEYES 09/05/72 Mr Jeyes Down Farm
1266 10/01/78 Bryan Keith WEBBER 05/12/72 Mr R Webber Broomhill Villas
1267 27/02/78 Rupert ANDREWS 09/02/71 Mrs Andrews Fernham
1268 10/04/78 Maria WILLIAMS 04/04/73 Mr Williams Natsley Farm
1269 10/04/78 Samuel P JEYES 16/07/73 Mr Jeyes Down Farm
1270 10/04/78 Leslie John PHILLIPS 21/07/73 Mr J Phillips Barnacott cottages
1271 05/09/78 Nicholas John C DUNFORD 29/09/73 Mr G Dunford High Bray fmhouse
1272 30/10/78 Fay Dawn JENKINSON 02/01/72 Mr Jenkinson Little Bray
1273 25/04/79 Angela May BLACKMORE 05/03/74 Mr Blackmore East Blakewell
77
Admit No.
Date of Admission
Readmitted Child name Surname Date of Birth
Parent Address
1274 25/04/79 James Simon PIGOTT 16/12/73 Mr Pigott Mill Fm E Buckland
1275 25/04/79 Benjamin James TRICKEY 05/06/74 Mr M Trickey Kedworthy
1276 04/06/79 Joanna Louise WEST 11/06/69 Mrs West Chatterbury cott
1278 04/06/79 Jamie David WEST 17/09/70 Mrs West Chatterbury cott
1279 04/09/79 Cosmo John GIBSON 29/10/74 Mr Gibson 4 Riverside
1280 10/12/79 Tobias BAYES 28/06/71 Mr Bayes Poltimore Arms
78
Infieldby‘OldPostOffice’:WalterKingdonreceivingCup,MrWhitepresenting
FlowerShow:BobSouthcottandothers
More History in Pictures
Brayford Flower Show
79
Carnival-DayleJackson(queen)ShirleyBurbridge,JulieKingdon,IleenBowen,JaneRadley
RuthEdwards SheilaHudson(evacuee),LesMartin,GeorgeMaddox(withpipe)
Brayford Carnival
80
MrsAliceKingdon,MaudHarding,ShirleyBurbridge,MichaelDinnage
SpencerKingdon
JohnKingdom,SamHeale,MargaretYeo,BillYeo,MrsYeo,RayHobbs,MaureenSouthcott,RuthEdwards
81
MrRegWhite,EdwardWhite,BillYeo,DavidWhite,BillMaddox
MrsKingdon,ChristineThorne,EnaRadley,MaureenYeoandothers
82
PatMoule,SylviaVastin,JosephineMoule,MsMartin,DerekWillmotts,CarolRadley(piano),RuthEdwards
MrsWillmotts,IleneBowen,MrsHeggadon,VeraMartin,MrsKingdon,MaggieJohns,MrsHarding
83
MaryTucker,PamMoule,JosephineMoule,RuthEdwards,ElsieFolland,PatMoule,WendyWhite,RubySouthcott,JulieKingdonandothers
FredBowen,PatMoule,Juliekingdom,CatherineBuckingham,ElsieFolland,MaryTucker
84
VeraMartin,OliveBalment,BabyReneMartin
JulieKingdon
85
PatMoule,JulieKingdon,JosephineMoule,RuthEdwards
LornaMoulewithcat
Brayford Children
86
Leaworthychildren-Christopher,Brenda,Christine,Stephen(withrabbit),Carol,Elizabeth,Janet,Peter
MargaretJohnswith“Hoodricks”
87
BrayfordSchoolgroup-wethink!
BrayfordSchool
Brayford School
88
BrayfordSchool
BrayfordSchoolCouncil-1935
89
BrayfordSchoolPercussionBand:RubyWhite,RosilynLethbridge,BillDown,DeliaBerry,JimmyWhite,ElsieFollandMalcolmHuxtable,AlisonCroft,PatMoule,MaryTucker,MargaretJohns,SusanKingdon,RonnieMoule
RosieWhite,EnaRadley,MsBrown,MargaretThorne,ChristineThorne,VeraMaddox,LilyBarrow,MrsBrown,MurielDockings,PatThorne,RuthEdwards,MaureenSouthcott,ShirleyKilngdon,MargaretYeo
90
Weddings and Dinners
JulieandTonyParkin’swedding:PeggyParker,Tony,Julie,JohnKingdom,JulieCarter
StanandJoanRichards’wedding
91
WeddingreceptionforVeraandMervynMartin
WeddingreceptionforVeraandMervynMartin
92
Waitingattable-weddingreception:RosieWhite,MaureenSouthcott,MrsDockings,PatThorne,LilyJemmison,ShirleyKingdon,EdnaHobbs,MaryRobins
Celebrationof100yearssincetheBrayfordschoolopened
93
Charabangexcursion:1924
Charabangexcursion:1928
94
Messrs.H.Hobbs,H.Skinner,P.Adams,J.Bowen,J.Thorne,J.Heggdon,MrsJ.Thorne,J.Thorne,A.Huxtable,K.Prideaux,F.Thorne,R.Huxtable,T.Robins,MrsT.Robins,
R.Thorne,MrGrimshire,RevW.Lee,F.Dallyn,F.Huxtable,MaryRobins,MollyHuxtable,GraceRobins
BrayfordSewingMeeting:MrsN.Huxtable,MrsM.Prideaux,MrsE.Huxtable,MrsM.Huxtable,MrsBond,MrsF.Thorne,E.Harding,MrsA.Heggadon,M.Huxtable,MrsTrute,MrsMildon,E.Huxtable,A.Trute,C.Comer,M.Huxtable,B.Thorne,
MrsJ.Harding,MrsG.Thorne,B.Prideaux,MrsM.Dallyn,MrsGrinslade,MrsB.Thorne,MrsBrown,MrsPrescott,MrsSmith,M.Johns,M.Harding