Ermington memories
Here are memories of Ermington and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Ermington or a Ermington photo.
The New Family
My family moved to no 2 Erme Park in 1967 when I was 3. These were of course the new houses. I remember Mr Burrows (father of Cedric/Zedrick) asking me in about 1973 if I was from the new houses. I of course said no as we'd been living there for 6 or so years. I think my family were pretty much one of the first Migrant families into the village. Because I was 3 (my sister 7) I started school and grew up with the old families and was, in my memory, always part of the village along with the rest of the kids. It was great to read the memories of Chris Stephens. I started school with his brothers Nigel and Johnathon and I knew Poogie and Sonia well . I also remember the rest of the family well but was in a different age group. But that's not so important in village life.
I used to deliver a free paper called 'Yours' to the older generation... Read more
The Jarretts of Ermington
My mother's maiden name was Jarrett, her father was Fred Jarrett who along with his brother Jim ran a small building company. I lived in Ermington from 1957-1974 and was related, or so it seemed, to almost everyone within a 5 mile radius. There was a Daniels, Peter, I think who ran the First and Last. It was where I had my first half of mild at 15 years of age!
I was very close to my grandfather (Fred) and spent many happy hours in his workshop with its smells of seasoned wood, linseed oil and saw dust, looking at the massive oak tree at the bottom of Town Hill. It is still there today and whenever I return to Ermington it is my link with the past. It is a constant, it is no larger or smaller than I remember, just the same old tree reminding me of happy times.
Jarrett Family of Ermington
In 1907 my Great-uncle, Arthur Jarrett, married Elizabeth Daniels in Ermington church. Elizabeth was the daugher of Frederick Daniels, who was then the landlord of the 'First and Last' Inn in Ermington.
Arthur Jarrett was a groom for Lord Mildmay at Flete House. He also served in the cavalry, possibly the King's Dragoon Guards.
I believe Arthur and Elizabeth lived in, or near, Ermington all their married lives. In 1947 their address was 3 Park Hill Terrace, Ermington.
They had at least six children, three boys and three girls, born between 1907 and 1919. Does anyone remember this family?
Thanks for great website. Sue
Memories of Devon
Flete Maternity Home
I was born in Flete House and adopted very soon after. I have a sort of memory of a large wood panelled room filled with cots, there are windows along one side with the sun streaming through. I wonder if that was the nursery at Flete. I would love to know the story of my birth but I am losing hope that I shall ever know more than my mother's name.
Flete Maternity Home
My Mum and Dad often use to tell me the story of my birth. When my Mum went into labour she was taken to Freedom Fields Hospital, later that day (my Dad walked to the nearest phone box) phoned Freedom Fields Hospital to enquire as to how my mum was, only to be told that she wasn't there and that there had been no record of her being there, my dad could'nt believe what he was being told as he actually took my mum to the hospital by taxi! Unbeknown to him and the hospital nursing staff my mum had been transferred to Flete maternity during the night and the night staff at the hospital had not recorded the transfer! My dad thought he was going insane! Everything got sorted out in the end! ... Read more
FLETE HOUSE
The memories that Mary Impey has voiced bear a resemblance to my own. I have always had a memory from very young of being in some sort of establishment with the panelled walls Mary mentioned and rows of babies' cots and even the sun streaming through the windows. Quite uncanny really and that keeps coming back to me periodically. My early days are a bit of mystery to me as I try to establish the exact date of my birth. Father now deceased and my mother is suffering with dementia. I would love to find out whether I was born on 30th or 31st March as there have been conflicting versions of the circumstances of my birth from both of them. Is there a register of births at Flete House?
War Years
Born in 1938 in Modbury, I can remember the latter years of World War II.
I remember vividly the nights during the months of the heavy blitz on Plymouth, with the beams from searchlights that were based just outside the town criss-crossing the sky as German bomber formations droned overhead.
The American forces had an army camp in a field across from Modbury School and as a youngster I used to wander through the camp and GIs would give us sweets or chewing gum. The roads were lined with trucks and tanks preparing for the build-up to the Normandy invasion and the villagers used to volunteer for rehearsals by lying in the streets as casualties to be carried off to first aid stations.
In the evenings, some of the GIs would sneak into town and come to our home. My sister Peggy would sometimes play the piano for them and they would bring canvas bags of goodies for me and my sister. At Christmas time the children... Read more
Wartime in Ivybridge 1939
I was one of ten little girls, plus our teacher, who arrived in Ivybridge as evacuees from Acton, London, at the outbreak of the Second World War. We were taken to a hall (probably at the school) where we were collected in pairs by our 'families'. The first family we stayed with lived in Exeter Road. They had a little boy, a large house and garden. They also had a car. I had never even been in a car before! We used to visit elderly relatives of the family, who lived in an old farmhouse in Cornwood. They kept a cow and made their own cream. The farmhouse had no electricity, and it was lit by oil lamps. Owing to the ill health of the wife, we had to move to Woodland Terrace, where we were looked after by a lady whose husband was away in the army. I have memories of going out primrose-picking in the spring and of playing in the fields at the back... Read more
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