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Tavistock memories

Here are memories of Tavistock and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Tavistock or a Tavistock photo.

August 25th, 1892

Walreddon Manor 1895
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I have photos of Walreddon Manor from my ancestors who lived there in the 1890s. One is similar to the photo here, but was taken in August of 1892, and the back inscription, written about the same time, said the children were 'taking a quiet repose' on the front lawns of Walreddon and their Nanny and Governess were also present. I have another photo from about the same time that says on the back, "Early view of front of house before laurel hedge was cut down. Ivy only half-way up left wing of house. Date over porch, 1591. Inscription: "M.F., 1591", meaning Mary Fitz - grandmother of of the famous Lady Howard. There is also a 'widow's walk' said to be haunted by Lady Howard's ghost." It's signed by my great, great grandfather, Reverend Henry Donaldson Nicholson. There is also a photo of a hall or room filled with snow and the inscription reads: "Walreddon in Blizzard, 1891". It could also be 1897,... Read more

My Memories of Plasterdown Camp

Plasterdown Camp c1965
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Following my basic training at Crownhill Barracks Plymouth in June 1951 I was transferred to Plasterdown Camp to complete intensive training until October 1951. I was in the Wiltshire Regiment and as I came from Swindon, I was only one of about 4 who actually came from Wiltshire. One person was Ted Rogers who also came from Swindon and I am still in contact with him today. Most of our draft came from Devon or Dorset so I was pleased that I was going to join my county regiment even if it was a long way from my wife and home!  How ever I applied to join the Royal Engineers, being a Plumber by trade as I thought that I might get transferred and stay in England but no such luck!  Our corporal was Cpl Dallas and he was very keen and made sure that he had someone to clean his brasses and blanco his webbing every day. I remembered that when he got agitated, he stammered!
The things that... Read more

Five Years at Kelly College

Kelly College 1890
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Five years at Kelly College with mediocre academic results and then off to Africa. layed in the Rugby teams and in the boxing teams. mORE OR LESS ENJOYED MY TIME THERE. GOING OFF ON BICYLCE RIDES AS SENIORS. SMOKING THE OCCASIONAL CIGARETTE . i REECENTLY MET A LADY WHO HAS SWUM COMPETIVELY IN THE NEW KELLY POOL WHO LIVED IN TAVISTOVK. MET ON A MOUNTAIN TRACK OVER LUNCH!! FOURTY YEARS DIFFERENCEW IN AGE. COURTNEY HOUSE WITH REX THOMPSET WHO WAS GOOD TO ME AS MY PARENTS WERE ABROAD. NO DOUBT DECEASED A LONG TIME AGO. HUGH HALLIDAY.

Military

Plasterdown Camp c1965
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I was the resident Army R.Q.M.S. at Plasterdown Camp from 1963 - 1966 with a civilian staff ran the camp administration durin Territorial occupation and after, also Tregantle Fort in Cornwall, I would like to know if anybody remembers me , I am 83yrs old now.

Memories of Devon

Bagpuss

A section of this photograph was used by Peter Firmin and Oliver Postgate for one of the opening sequences in the programme Bagpuss. This was confirmed in 1978 when a Horrabridge resident wrote to the Bagpuss programme and received a reply from Mrs Joan Firmin giving an account of how the picture used came from an old postacrd album which now belonged to her.
The wheelwrights yard is shown on the left and the view is looking south to Station Road taken from the north side of the bridge. This scene has changed little in the last 100 years and is still recognisable today.

Staying at The Bullers Arms

When i was 11 I started school at Tavistock, and met a lovely girl called Helen Desmond who became my best friend. Helen's family (sister Sandra and brother Jonathan) lived at the Bullers Arms and I used to stay there every weekend and during the holidays, until she had to go to a boarding school in 1973. Friday's we used to go to the hall for tap dancing and we performed in a Christmas show (I think it was 1972). That was alot of fun especially with the lads who used to watch the girls dancing and were doing the scenery for the show. I can actually still remember some of the dance routines we did, scary!!! We used to take Helen's dog for walks, mostly down by the river, and eating cob nuts if i remember rightly, and I nearly forgot, having a crafty fag.

Family History

This is not about my memory, this is about my family history, that dates back to 1827. My father has been working on his background for 40 years now, he has so much information about his family in Cudlipptown, it feels like I have been there. My dad is 83 this year, he's not well, he would like me to take a trip to see some of our family that still lives there. My father's name is George Rufus Cudlipp who lives in Landsdown, New South Wales, Australia. If you could give me any information about Finemores and James Cudlipp could you please contact me on my e-mail address please. Thanking you

A Wedding on The Tor

On 15 May 1982 my husband Graham and I got married in the church on the tor. We had about thirty guests who all had to climb up the tor, and only one lady did not manage it. There had not been a wedding in the church for some months before this. Afterwards we all went to the Dartmoor Inn for lunch, then walked up to Widgery Cross. It was a wonderul day and we go back on most anniversaries to climb the tor and see the church again.   

Childhood 1941-1947

I was born in Tavistock in 1941, but my family lived in Bere Alston until 1947. We lived in a house called The Firs, but perhaps it is no longer there. My father was the doctor and during the Second World War, the local inhabitants petitioned Parliament so that their doctor would not be called up into the army. The end of the war was celebrated in the village and I remember that the streets were filled with long tables for a huge Victory Party.

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