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Tuckenhay

Tuckenhay maps

Historic maps of Tuckenhay and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis.   View all Tuckenhay maps

Tuckenhay area books

Displaying 1 of 26 books about Tuckenhay and the local area.   View all books for this area

Memories of Tuckenhay

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Devon memories

Memories 1920 - 1951

My name is James Ryder, i was born on the 2nd January 1920 in Factory Road, the youngest of seven children, of William and Lucy. Started school [C of E] at the age of 3 and left at the age of 14., during which time I sang in the Village Choir untill my voice broke. In 1934 I started a 6 year Apprentiship with T Brooks of Totnes as a Builder and cycled daily to where ever I was directed. One period was to Holne Chase for several months (sixteen miles e/w!!). On my twentiith birthday I volunteered for service in the Army and was enlisted in the Royal Engineers on the 16th April 1940 and servied six and a half years in Iceland, North Africa and Italy. In June 1946 I returned to Harbertenford after being discharged. When I came home I lived with my mother in chapel cottages as she had now moved. This lasted until a new council house was built in riverdale where i moved in... Read more

A Village Entertainment at The Church House Inn

The Church House Inn 1918
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This is the spot where the dancers and musicians of Dartington Morris and their guests Heather and Gorse Clog Dancers performed in August 2008. The view shows some villge women sitting on a low terrace where a crowd had gathered for the dance performance just recently!

I recall there is now a plaque on the front wall of the Inn inviting people to try the village stocks although that doesn't appear in this Francis Frith view.

I brought my piano accordian along and played in the band for Heather and Gorse and also enjoyed a pint of lovely Flowers Best Bitter! There were probably a hundred folks gathered around the front of the Inn and also standing in the road enjoying the show! There was a family of three boys who we encouraged to join in the music making with our band.

Dartington Morris With Heather And Gorse Clog Dancers at The Church House Inn

The Church House Inn c1955
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This view is EXACTLY the spot where the dancers and musicians of Dartington Morris and their guests Heather and Gorse Clog Dancers performed in August 2008.

It was a lovely warm August evening and a crowd of villagers and holidaymakers gathered for the dance performance at 8pm. I recall there is now a plaque on the front wall of the Inn inviting people to try the village stocks but that doesn't appear in this photo.

I brought my piano accordian along and played in the band for Heather and Gorse and also enjoyed a pint of lovely Flowers Best Bitter! There were probably a hundred folks gathered around the front of the Inn and also standing in the road enjoying the show!

Singing in The Middle Bar!

The Victoria And Albert Inn c1965
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From early 1970 to 1975, when I left Brixham, we used to go on a very regular basis, winter times Friday/Saturday, Summer time every night (except Sundays) when I could make it, and sing along with my local friends from Paignton and Brixham with a fine lady on the piano, "Winnie" ,what great times we had!! When I have had a few drinks now I can even remember all the words! even now at 57! Is there anybody out there who also remembers those times?? Back in that time - yes! they had 3 bars open in the summer at busy times!! Times you never forget!!!

Happy Days

In Sept 1968 I and my five children arrived and fell in love Dittisham, just too late sadly to save the village school from closing. Eventually after renting first Dunedin Cottage and then Red Rose Cottage we were given a council house and lived there for the next 17 years. We have so many happy memories and all the children, now grown up with children and even grandchildren of their own, like to revisit Dittisham with the own families and friends. They have many stories to pass down and still appreciate the freedom they had living in this idylic riverside village, the wonderful people they met during those years, the good start they had at Blackawton village school with headmasters Brian Gerry and Mr Kemp (Ian?), including the many great events that were held over the years including "The Pied Piper of Dittisham", Dittisham's first Pantomime which, with Brian Fricker's help I wrote to boost the funds for Blackawton school's swimming pool. Despite a roller coaster life as a... Read more

Dittisham Family Connection

My family (Hall) took the lease out on Greenway Farm in the 1850's. I visited this, and Galmpton (3/4 of a mile away) which were Hall "haunts" for many years until the 1890's, when the family seems to have headed to 'all parts'. I would love to know why they left such a lovely area - was farming terrible during those years? I visited in March 2011 and found the area still was 'in the time period' - not ruined by crass development, and extremely tranquil. Good to see the Census results pointed to lime burning, and sure enough, on the river foreshore at the bottom of the farm, the original lime kiln is still there to this day. Truly a magical area if there was ever one.

Heather And Gorse Clog Dancers Entertain in Totnes

Fore Street 1928
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Tuesday 11th December was a frosty clear night but the crowds of late night Christmas shoppers filled Totnes town centre to enjoy the candlelight, carol singers, buskers and stalls lining both sides of the streets.  

At the top end of the High Street by the Market Square a large crowd gathered to watch the Heather and Gorse Clog Dancers with their band of accordians and drums. They gave an hour long performance of dancing and music from the north west of England and the crowd loved the rhythmic sound of clogs on the road and the girls in their smart blue kit plus Christmas sparkling decorations!

It was a really enjoyable evening rounded off with shopping and generous free coffee and mince pies offered by several of the Fore Street churches. Hot coffee was truly appreciated to warm my frozen accordianist's fingers!  Altogether, I have to say that the Totnes version of late night Christmas shopping is brilliant and I will be back next time!... Read more

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