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Broadpark
Broadpark maps
Historic maps of Broadpark and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Broadpark maps
Broadpark photos
We have no photos of Broadpark, although we do have photos of these nearby places:
Ashburton| River Dart| Buckfast| South Knighton| Buckfastleigh| Holne| Ilsington| Coombe| Haytor Vale| Haytor| Ponsworthy| Staverton| Widecombe-In-The-Moor| Dean Prior| Torbryan| Ipplepen| Dartmeet| Bovey Tracey| Dartington| Littlehempston| Manaton| Hexworthy| Abbotskerswell| Chudleigh Knighton| Berry Pomeroy| Postbridge
Broadpark area books
Displaying 1 of 26 books about Broadpark and the local area. View all books for this area
You can read extracts and browse photos from these books.
Memories of Broadpark
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Devon memories
Sparnham House, 36 West Street
I was living in Sparnham House in 1960, but don't recall the umber mine you mention, though my father (Brian Baker) did say there had been one, once. Outside Sparnham there used to be a tap which was supplied by a natural spring and during the long winter of 1963 it was, at times, the only piece of plumbing that wasn't frozen. There was a tunnel under the garden which I was never allowed to explore; I always assumed it was something to do with this spring, but perhaps it was the umber mine? My father died when I was nine, and we moved away from Ashburton shortly afterwards, so that tunnel has always been a tantalising mystery to me.
The house had been a coaching inn many years before. When my father bought it there were evidently huge numbers of old bottles in the back garden. He levelled the heap and planted a lawn on top, so there's probably an interesting experience awaiting anyone who cares to dig a... Read more
Sparnham House
Whether or not Sparnham House was an old coaching inn (I doubt it) or not, it is noteworthy of being the long-time residence of John Hannibal (or sometimes Henry) Foaden and his wife Elizabeth nee Husson. They were married in the summer of 1867 and moved to Sparnham House shortly after. They had at least six children; two sons and four daughters. John lived in the house till after the First World War and died in 1924 at the age of 87. John was a builder and will be remembered as the constructor of the first grandstand at Buckfastleigh (Dean Court Farm) racecourse (1883).
An Interlude in Buckfastleigh And Buckfast
I remember being a pupil at the little Buckfast school, now St Mary's primary. I presume it was the same then but can't remember. It was in the early to mid 1950s and I have a photo of what I think is a school play there. I think that I am in the photo but cannot be sure. Anyone remember milk tablets? We lived in Buckfastleigh at the time, my mother, my sister and me. It was a very dark and pokey little terrace cottage at the western end of the town. I can remember we had a copper basin in the backyard that mother used to do the washing in. As far as I recall she filled it with water and lit a fire underneath it. For a while too, we lived in a caravan in the small park by the bridge near the railway station. Not sure what's there now.
Rock Inn
This was always known as Rock Inn, Haytor when I visited. I got to know a few of the local families, most of which are long gone. Courtier, Clifton, Morrish, Middleweek, Ford to name but a few. The Rock Inn was always very popular in the summer, cars often parked more than half-way up Inverness Hill at Sunday lunchtime.
There used to be a tennis court at the top of the garden opposite, never used as far as I know. I left Devon in 1975 and have never been back to The Rock Inn.
Pinchaford Stables
Just wondering if anyone knows what happened to Pinchaford riding stables in Haytor? I seem to remember heading up to the Rock Hotel circa 1973/74/75 for a shandy! Some of the very best times... Ii remember Caroline (Scoular) and Emma (Ginnett) - fan of Beau Bob/Bandit/Apollo and Bright Eyes as well as (of course!) as Bob (RIP) & Rosie, Jane, Nicky, Polly and Simon and George.
Bovey Tracey
I was born in Bovey at what is now the Old Library in East Street, but in 1937 was the Liberal Club. My Godfather Dick Smaridge lived just down the street at Number 14. After his son Eric was shot down in the War I mostly lived with him, as a sort of replacement son. He'd attended the old school at Edgemoor as a boy and had ridden there on a pony each day. We used to listen to Children's Hour on the BBC each day. He taught me to play chess and appreciate classical music, I sang in the Church choir from 1946-55 when Rev Duxbury was the much-loved Vicar. Many of the folk in Bovey were related to me, and I've always felt I 'belonged' to Bovey. Our earliest recorded ancestor was Robert Sture, who purchased a tenement in Bovey in 1541 and was a 'colyer' - presumably had a lignite-coal business. The tax and lay subsidy rolls show that he paid a lot of tax. In the... Read more
Watching The Coronation in The Rock Inn Haytor Vale.
We moved into Gorse Cottage, next door to the Rock Inn. Our cottage clearly shows on the left of the Rock Inn. The cottage was for sale for £500 but my mother, who was separated from my father, had no money. We watched the Coronation in the lounge of the Rock Inn. I was aged seven and had to sit still for hours, I was bored. My nanny was on holiday, and my mother wanted to watch the whole Coronation, so I had to as well. I have a photo of my mother and myself on the doorstep of Gorse Cottage. We lived there for the summer and it was fun, with lots of children for me to play with.
