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One hundred years ago in June
Free passages to Australia
Wanted – about 100 Female Domestic Servants and helps – 18 to 35 years of age – to sail on August 10th next. This special party will be in the charge of a matron, and sent out by the orient liner “Oaterley”, and may rely on promptly securing situations at good wages upon landing – apply G,Manley Tucker,
16 Bridgeland Street, Bideford.
Motor Service to Bude
Messrs R Dymond and son of Bideford have inaugurated their Observation Motor Car Service from Bideford to Bude,running on Mondays and Thursdays. The 26 mile run is over good roads with ever changing scene of well wooded dale and rolling moorland with Lundy island and occasional peeps of the Bristol Channel . Leaving the Royal Hotel Bideford at 10.30am after the arrival of the train from Exeter, the journey to Bude is completed by about 10′clock and the return is at 5o’clock. The char-a-banc used is built in order that passengers at the rear have as good a view as those in the front and accommodates 26 passengers.
Mike Davy ( from Bideford Gazette,courtesy of Bideford Archives)
Family History
There is some excellent news for Family Historians who are researching Irish Ancestors -the
Irish 1901 & 1911 Census. The National Archives of Ireland has announced that the 1901 & 1911 Census of Ireland details will be freely available on its website (see below)
The next meeting of the North Devon Group of the Devon Family History Society will be on Saturday 17th July, 2-4pm at the Burton Art Museum, Bideford. All are welcome and it is free to attend.
The meeting will be devoted to Beginners and Slow Starters in Family History Research.
Len Collum .http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/about/futureplans.html
North Devon Record Office
One of the many new collections deposited recently in the North Devon Record Office consists of a bundle of miscellaneous papers of the Bideford Highway Board. This body was one of many such organisations established around the middle of the nineteenth century to administer the construction and maintenance of the growing rural road network, and the boards were really the forerunners of the comprehensive district council network introduced at the end of that century. The papers include correspondence, plans, posters and agreements covering the period 1875-1886. Many items are written by the Bideford Highway Board’s surveyor in chief, John Turner. He appears, aged 31, along with his wife Elizabeth and their children, in the 1881 Census living at Northway, Parkham. Work for the Highway Board took him to Abbotsham, Alwington, Buckland Brewer, Bulkworthy, Clovelly, Hartland, Landcross, Monkleigh, Newton St Petrock, Parkham, East & West Putford, Welcombe and Woolsery.The papers complement another substantial deposit of records from the Bideford Highway Board, which includes surveyor’s reports, wages books, stores accounts and labourers’ contracts, as well as John Turner’s own exercise book on land surveying from his time as a teenage scholar at Chulmleigh Academy (ref. 3721A/F1). The elaborately decorated title page from that book i s shown here. If you would like further information please visit our website at www.devon.gov.uk/recordoffice.
Tim Wormleighton
AUGUST NEWS FROM THE BURTON ART GALLERY & MUSEUM
The Westward Ho! & Bideford Art Society Annual Exhibition continues in the Gallery until Sunday, 8th August. Founded in 1922, this Society has attracted talented artists from all over the South West and beyond, and the 282 exhibits in this year’s collection will feast the eyes with the variety and high standard of their work. The Society also invites students to take part, and have chosen Harriet Thorne, Amy Whalley and Shakira Mcmillan for their ‘Highly Commended’ Award. Each student whose work is accepted receives £100 from the Society, who understand how important it is to encourage young people and acknowledge their talent.
The Society use both ground-floor exhibition rooms, as there is no size restriction on paintings, and there is a good deal of three-dimensional work. Admission is free, just 50p for a catalogue in case you feel inclined to purchase an original work of art – why not?
Another feast for the eyes is the Quilt Exhibition, beginning on 14th August. Quilts, Wall Hangings, and works of mixed media will be on show for five weeks, until 19th September.
Throughout the centuries, quilts have played an important role in the lives of families, providing makers and recipients not only warmth and comfort, but also colourful works of art. Traditionally, quilts and needlework were the showcase for the skills of their makers. All through history, most families, regardless of income, owned quilts they only used for special occasions, or for honoured guests. Modern quilts follow tradition, but add modern methods which you will see when you visit this stunning exhibition. All techniques and quilting methods will be displayed, and all the exhibits have been made in the South West.
The Bideford Quilt Group was formed in November, 2003, and has played its part in introducing to beginners, as well as experienced quilt-makers, the various methods used by quilters throughout the centuries. This Group have made a Sampler Quilt, which will be raffled in aid of North Devon Hospice, and draw tickets will be on sale throughout the Exhibition.
Workshops will run throughout the 5 weeks, introducing the ways quilting techniques can be used with various fabrics, and how embroidery and applique are used by quilters and needleworkers. There is also a Workshop entitled “Understanding your Sewing Machine” – always a popular day for those with modern machines who never find time to discover what their machine is capable of.
Admission is free, as usual, so don’t miss an opportunity to see this riot of colour, and admire the skill of the makers.
This exhibition is sponsored by the Friends of the Burton Art Gallery & Museum.
Admission to the Gallery is free: areas include Museum (upstairs), Craft Gallery, Shop, Toilets, and the ever-popular Cafe du Parc.
