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Pilton West
Pilton West photos
Displaying the first of 15 old photos of Pilton West. View all Pilton West photos
Pilton West maps
Historic maps of Pilton West and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Pilton West maps
Pilton West area books
Displaying 1 of 26 books about Pilton West and the local area. View all books for this area
You can read extracts and browse photos from these books.
Memories of Pilton West
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Devon memories
Railway Info.
This view shows the junction line which linked the GWR Victoria station with the Junction station - running from left to right and opened in 1887. It must have been almost new when the photo was taken and the earthworks are still bare.
Railway Info.
The building on the left is a carriage shed, used for holding spare passenger vehicles under cover. It is from the North Devon Railway in the 1850s and still appears to have broad gauge track (7ft gauge - not removed until 1877) laid into it. Access was by means of a small turntable just off the picture to the left. The Ilfracombe Railway is being built - the low embankment can just be seen with what appears to be temporary track on it - and the girders of the river bridge are in place but work is continuing on the line - see the works yard at this end of the bridge. There are no signals in place, so the line is not open, and the Quay station has been built but looks unfinished. This means that the photo was probably taken in about May 1874 - 13 of the viaduct girders were undelivered in February and the first engine did not cross the river... Read more
Railway Info.
Date of this photograph is c1874/75 as the railway viaduct is complete.
Railway Info.
The furniture van to the left will have been carried to Barnstaple by rail. There were special low 'road vehicle trucks' onto which these vans could be loaded and moved long distances around the country. and it is standing next to the end loading docks at this end of the station.
The parked car is outside my great uncle's cobbler and shoe shop. When I was eight, I spent time 'working' in the shop for a few pennies The church opposite was where the local Brownies met weekly of which I was one.
School Swimming Lessons
I remember well going to the swimming baths once a week during the summer for swimming lessons. We used to walk from Pilton School to Rock Park, or those of us with bikes were allowed to cycle and wait at the park for the others. I cannot imagine that being allowed today. By the time we gained access to the pool it was about 9.30 a.m. and it would be like a mill pond, but being so early it had not had time for the sun to work its magic, so it was also very cold. Many a weekend was also spent here when it would be packed with people who were unable to get to nearby beaches.
First Job
This picture has particularly fond memories as on the immediate right is Darks the Jewellers' shop, where I started my first job as an apprentice. The window immediately above the sun blind is the watch repairer's workshop. Two doors away is Timothy Whites, a name long gone from our High Streets.
