Brixham memories
Here are memories of Brixham and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Brixham or a Brixham photo.
Constructing Mayflower II
When I was young we would holiday in a caravan at a site near to Hollicombe in between Torquay and Brixham. As we lived in Walsall in the West Midlands this journey, by coach, was not to be undertaken lightly and a day was usually set aside to complete it. We left town early in the morning and didn't usually arrive in Torquay until late afternoon. One day we went to see Mayflower II under construction. I has a great interest in sailing ships and to see one actually being constructed left a great impression especially the myriad smells and scents of wood that seemed to fill the boatyard. I remember my father explaining to me how it was being built, what the keel and ribs were and how the wood had to be seasoned. My father took some photographs but unfortunately they were not overly good but I still have them. When Mayflower II was launched and began its journey across the Atlantic there were bulletins and photographs put up... Read more
Childhood Memories
Many happy times with my parants staying at the Louville Camp by Berry Head. I can recall visiting the lighthouse and being given a guided tour by the keeper, his name was Peter and we went for tea at his cottage close by. I do believe he emigrated to New Zealand some years later. Just one of the wonderful memories of my childhood.
St. Mary's, Higher Brixham
This is the interior of St. Mary's, Higher Brixham - parts of which date back to Norman times. My mother, a Brixham girl born and bred, was married here in August 1952. I, along with my twin brother,w as christened in the baptismal font (left foreground) a year later. Generations of my mother's side of the family lie buried in the churchyard and I still have relatives who have lived in Brixham all their lives, and I spent many a childhood holiday there.
Dancing at The Brixham Heritage Festival 2008
One of the week long programme of events for the Brixham Heritage Festival is morris dancing on the old Fish Quay.
Grimspound Border Morris entertained the crowds first. They "blacked up" in the traditional way and then danced to the hypnotic rhythms of their large band under the canopy of the old Fish Market. It was something of a surreal experience as a replica of The Golden Hind as shown in this view was right beside us!
Following on were the dancers and musicians of Heather and Gorse Clog Dancers - described in the Festival programme as "our favourites" ! The two teams of dancers put on a display of dancing for more than an hour and then retired to the bar of the nearby Bullers Arms. We sat inside with our beers and looked out past the Prince William of Orange statue (with a seagull on his head!) and the evening sun setting over the harbour.
It was a really enjoyable evening -... Read more
Cudhill
We arrived in Brixham in the spring of 1954, our first 'home' was a one bedroom basement 'flat' in Torquay. I found plumbing work on a block of flats at Plainmore, and became close friends with Brian and Whin Dovey from the Newton Abbott area, unfortunately we have since lost touch. Our first home in Brixham was in Langley Avenue. I worked for Palmers in Dartmouth before starting sub-contract plumbing and small building works on my own account, in and around the Torbay area. We later built a house for ourselves in Braddons Crescent and then as a member of the F M B some hundred-plus 'houses' at various locations around the area.
Coffin House
For those that are interested in Brixham we are a voluntary organisation and run www.brixhamshowcase.co.uk.
We are currently researching people that stayed in the coffin house and lived there, so we can build up a picture of the memories of the building. See www.coffinhouse.co.uk. Those that know Brixham love it, its a special place. To hear a true Brixham accent, music to ones ears. It has a rich past, with a large fishing industry and was leader in the paint industry research.
Very best wishes, Dr Paul Strickland.
Brixham
Coming to Brixham from just outside of London as an 11 year-old was a real culture shock. New smells (fish!) new sounds (seagulls) and new faces (the inhabitants of the south west certainly have distinct facial features...to say nothing of the accent).
The total freedom of the countryside was something new and exciting also. Long walks around Mansands, totally unspoilt cliff walks all the way to Kingswear. In the winter you could set out with a ruck sack and disappear for a day and hardly see a soul.
A cliche it might be, but growing up in Brixham as a child really was the best time of my life.
I live in Ireland now but still think about those times and try to get back to Brixham as much as possible.
A large picture of the restored Brixham fishing smack, Vigilence, adorns the wall of my study. My grandfather worked as a deck hand on that vessel in the 40's and it was built in Uphams yard by a... Read more
Memories of Devon
Past Schoolmaster
My Gt grandfather, William James Hawken was a certified schoolmaster at Galmpton between 1875-1880. His youngest child, Frances Marian, was born there on 10th October 1875. She went on to marry William Henry Birch, who was a son of the iconic Betsy Birch who founded the London omnibus transport system, after the early demise of her husband William in 1846.
Goodrington
This is the best place in Devon to be. I still get excited when I hear and see the steam train. My sisters and I came to Goodrington when we were very young and I still come every year. We love this place so much we have a beach hut here and am hoping to move here in the near future. The park use to be packed with flowers and lights in the trees with all colours red, green, orange, yellow and blue. The same used to happen to the cliff walk. It's a bit disappointing to see the only colour now (2008) are green. The plants and flowers on the cliff walk were beautiful and well looked after. Due to health and safety gone mad I would imagine the reason why the cliff plants aren't maintained and looked after better is due to that. I still can't help but be delighted with Goodrington and have so many photos of it from when I was a child and now. Anyone... Read more
First Holiday
My first holiday was when I was 9 years old (in 1958) and my parents and I came to Goodrington. We stayed at Beech Hurst which if I remember correctly was in Youngs Park Road. It was lovely. I made friends with a girl who lived next door, whom I still have contact with today! Obviously my parents loved it too as the following February we moved to Paignton. I lived in Elmsleigh Park and mum and dad opened a family guesthouse. I attended Curledge Street Primary, and had the benefits (?) of being taught by a Miss Vincent, whom we all loved, a Mr Chamberlain, we all didn't, and a Mr Powell, who if I remember rightly was ex RAF. Mr Reeves was the head and Mrs Price his secretary. Mrs Toop was in charge of the playground. I made several friends there, some of whom I keep in touch with, others I have lost contact with. After Curledge Street, having failed the 11+, I went to the Marist Convent in Fisher... Read more
Living in Kingswear
My mother Mary Dart was brought up in Kingswear, where she lived with her mum, dad, and brother Edward until she married my dad Les Witty who was in the Army at the time. She had to move away as Dad was posted to Germany in 1953. I was born in 1955 and came to Kingswear when I was about 18 months old to stay with my grandad and uncle. Many years passed and I came to live in Kingswear at the age of 12 years old. We had a flat on top of shops overlooking the River Dart, there were quite a few shops. People were always friendly. As years went by my dad became the caretaker of Kingswear cemetery and we moved into the lodge, by this time I had left school and had got a job in Dartmouth Potteries then later moved on to hotal work. I left Kingswear when I was 17. I went back 11 years ago to scatter my mum's ashes, it was a... Read more
Marriage Between Ivy Alice Gillard to Robert Alexander Bent
This date Oct 6th, in 1945, while serving in the RCAF, I was married to Ivy Gillard in this olden church. It was a bright sunny day. Ivy came to Canada with our daughter Barbara in October of 1946. She loved Canada very much, and even though she returned to her homeland on a few occasions, she was truly a Canadian. Ivy was taken from us in 1979 at age 56. She was born with a defective heart. It will always ben the second most important date in my life. My birth was of course the first. I loved Paignton while there. God Bless you all.
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