Barnstaple, Bear Street c.1940

Photo ref: B25007

I am now 89 but I was only 7 when I was collected from the pavement at the end of Yeo Vale Rd in 1940. I was given shelter at number 41 Carrington Terrace the home of Mr. & Mrs. Gear and their daughter Mary. They were wonderful to both me and my sister Phyllis and I had always kept in touch until Mary died aged 91 last year. All our lives we had regarded each other as brother and sister. I have so ...see more

I came to Barnstaple in the year 1940, from Plymouth 24 hours, so I was told just before Plymouth was heavily bombed. I lived with my Mother at number 5 Gaydon Street with a lady I came to address as Aunty Rose, my Father at the time was stationed at an RAF airfield not far from Barnstaple . Now what I can remember is; just across the road, a ...see more

Not exactly 1965, but around that time. I was/am the grandaughter of the Bidgoods that ran the PO. I used to go out with my Dad delivering groceries in an old Standard 10 van. I can remember every inch of the whole building, parts of which we weren't supposed to go in! Sadly it was demolished some years ago.

I'm fairly confident that the people below occupied the properties at that time; No 1 - The Vicar of St Marys' Magdelain in Bear Street, he lived on his own, a short, dark and mysterious man with bushy eyebrows. No 2 - Occupied by the Burges's and also owned [or rented] a walled plot of land just opposite. No 3 - Owned by the Dimeo family, ex RAF. No 4 - Occupied by spinster Ms Damon and her Mother. No ...see more