Spring 2013 - Devon County Council

School, Ottery St.Mary (8165), Paignton Community
College (8436), Stoke Fleming Primary School (8387),
Stokenham Primary School (8235), Priory Roman
Catholic Primary School, St.Marychurch, Torquay (8313)
and Homelands Primary School, Torquay (8316), while
other educational records came in which relate to
St.Luke’s College, Exeter (8164).
Deposits of business records are rarely very numerous,
but, as is often the case, the most significant collections
of this type comprise collections of deeds and other legal
documents deposited by firms of solicitors. For example,
the Sidmouth office of solicitors Gilbert Stephens, gave
us a large collection of documents relating to properties,
mostly in east Devon, dating from the eighteenth century
to the twentieth (8171), and Peter, Peter and Wright, of
Okehampton, a similar collection relating to west Devon
(8251), the earliest item of which dates from 1574.
From the political world, we have received some minutes
and other records from the Torridge and West Devon
Conservative Association (8265) and we purchased a
minute book covering 1816-1833 of the ‘Devon County
Club’, a club of Whig supporters among the local
gentry (8410).
Other interesting collections received during the period
under review included material produced during the ‘The
School Looks Around’ art project at two Devon schools in
2010 and 2011 (8146, 8147); a collection of material
relating to an Exeter-born actor called Peter Clapham
who appeared in various popular television series and
films between the 1970s and 2001 (8335); a photograph
and magazine relating to a temporary hospital located in
central Exeter during World War One (8358); oral history
material relating to Devon’s hedges (8391) and two
photocopied letters from Admiral Horatio Nelson (8446).
Not all these records are yet available for consultation.
We shall endeavour to make them accessible as soon as
possible, and staff will be happy to advise about the
accessibility of a particular collection. Full details of these
collections can be found on our online catalogue:
http://app-calmview.devon.gov.uk/CalmView/
North Devon Record Office Acquisitions
November 2011 to October 2012
Since the previous edition of this newsletter, the North
Devon Record Office in Barnstaple has received several
additional deposits from the following north Devon
parishes: Bratton Fleming (1506A); Challacombe
(3399A); West Worlington (336A); West
Woolfardisworthy (922A); Berrynarbor (3921A) and
Bishops Tawton (1469A). Records were also received
from Ilfracombe Methodist Circuit (2334), Barnstaple
Methodist Circuit (2347), Bude Methodist Circuit (2926),
Bideford Methodist Circuit (2237), Milton Dameral
Methodist Chapel (B1085), Braunton Evangelical Church
(B1095) and Barnstaple Baptist Church (B419).
Other deposits of note include school log books, 1875-1990
for Bideford church schools (3238C); Berrynarbor school
admission registers, 1874-1954 (B1106); records collected
by Harold Jester - a former school headmaster at Lynton -
that include Lynton and Barbrook school log books, 1930-
1975; manager’s minutes, 1902-1932; an admission
register, 1873-1902 and punishment books, 1900-1945, as
well as a copy of the Lynton tithe apportionment, 1839
(B1112). North Devon District Council transferred some of
its old leases, agreements and local government orders,
1898-1972 (3760) to the custody of the Record Office and
Lynton and Lynmouth Town Council transferred an
inclosure map and award for Lyn Cleeve and Lyn Down,
1860; water works plans, 1902 and some undated tithe
map copies (B1114).
Wages books, purchase and sales ledgers and various
other documents, 1926-1982 of James Tapscott & Sons,
glove makers, Great Torrington (B1084) were deposited as
were articles of association, prospectuses, share
certificates, accounts, correspondence and machinery
plans, 1879 -1980 from the North Devon Clay Company
(B1087). Also acquired by the Record Office were plans of
the Barnstaple to Ilfracombe railway, 1971 & 1974 (B1119);
Stevens family of Cross and Winscott title deeds etc.
(1648) -1842 (B1107); Tawstock and South Molton title
deeds and agreements, 1503-1664 with a large bundle of
Tawstock apprenticeship indentures, 1700-1843 (B1115);
films and photographs of sailing events and shows etc. in
and around Instow, 1930s-2006 (B1083); title deeds and
associated documents of the old Mortehoe Hotel, 1882-
1977 (B1090) and a 1748 attested copy of a bond of
obligation for £1,000 between William Nichols and William
Elliss, both of Appledore (B1118). The Inner Wheel Club of
Barnstaple deposited records dating from their formation in
1945 (B1116) and Barnstaple Longbridge Townswomen’s
Guild also deposited their records, 1940-2010 (B1105).
Finally, the following Women’s Institutes have deposited
records and/or photographs at the Barnstaple Office over
the last year: Goodleigh, 1995-2007 (B680); Frithelstock,
1938-2005 (B1103) and Bishops Tawton, 1938-2000
(B1109).
Please note that some of these deposits, in particular the
larger collections such as B1084 and B1087, have not yet
been catalogued and, therefore, may not be available for
consultation. Enquiries about the availability of the
acquisitions referred to in this article should be made to
staff at the North Devon Record Office.
Our thanks go to the
Devon Family History
Society for providing
a grant which allowed
us to purchase some
of the items
mentioned above.
Instow (NDRO B1083)
Spring 2013 5