Church c1900, South Molton
Church c1900, South Molton Ref: S362301
Memories of Church c1900, South Molton
Childhood in South Molton
I was born in Gothic House, The Churchyard, South Molton in May 1941. My name was Patricia Elizabeth Abbott Huxtable. My father was Charles John Huxtable and my grandparents were Charles George Pearce Huxtable and Elizabeth Avery Abbott (of North Molton). The churchyard was a playground for myself, my brother Roger and our friends. We were lucky not to suffer the effects of the war and have memories of American soldiers, German POW's and some of the evacuated families who lived close to us. We played on the gravestones, climbed the trees on the 'banks' and got told off by Mr Larsen who was a church warden at that time.
Evacuee
My mother was evacuated to Bishop Nympton ( but going to school in South Molton) She arrived with her mother and her brand new baby sister sometime during the War...I don't know the year right now, I need to find out. They were ultimately taken in by the gentry living in Whitechapel Farm in Bishop Nympton, who I believe were Stewarts of Lloyd & Stewart steel-making fame. My mum and her family lived above the stable. I think the one thing Mum said that sticks with me is that one evening when her mum was taken ill, the lady of the house came over to look after Mum and her sister. The lady of the house thinly cut the bread, wafted the butter over it and barely put any jam on. My mum was dismayed as this was not how her mum did it - they always had piles of butter and jam. I'm not sure if she spoke up though. I think my mum thoroughly loved living in Devon, having come from... Read more
South Molton & local memories
Read and share memories of South Molton and Devon inspired by Frith photos.
My School
I was born at Filleigh and went to Filleigh Infants School. But then at eleven years old went to school at South Molton Secondary Modern. It was 1953 and the school was quite new, opening in 1952 if I remember correctly.
As I recollect Mr Larson ( ref below post) had an upholstery business in South Molton. My memories are of the Terraneaux buses taking me from where I lived to South Molton School and the bottles of school milk that we were instructed to drink at break time. The Headmaster was Mr Hawkes, we kids called him "Buzzard". I remember the the sound of the children saying "Watch out, Buzzard's coming". Those were the days.
