-
The Fire Brigade, clay mines & a Volkswagen Beetle: what is the connection?
I recently came across a photograph I took in 1977 of a fire appliance, which immediately triggered memories of Newton Abbot Fire Brigade, the nearby clay mines – and why my father owned a Volkswagen Beetle. There was a powerful link between these seemingly disparate elements.
-
Beating the Bounds!
This morning’s waste collection made me think of local councils and, whatever the outcome of the ‘reorganisation’, they will no longer be so ‘local’. Is a geography lesson required here?
-
Newton Abbot in Old Pictures: The Globe Hotel To Let, 1992
By July 1992 the old Globe Hotel was up for sale, and had not yet morphed into another building in the Austin’s Department Store empire.
-
Newton Abbot in Old Pictures: Alexandra Theatre & Market Street, 1981
The Alexandra Theatre has always been one of my favourite buildings in Newton Abbot and, as you can see, Market Street was a busy traffic thoroughfare in 1981.
-
Seeing an ad for custard creams in a magazine from 1899 reminded me of a school friend who lived in a ‘Boys Home’…
What is the connection between an 1899 ad for custard creams, a boys home and a school friend I haven’t heard of since 1972?
-
Imagine a river with gentle sloping banks, boats, gardens and cafés running through the centre of Newton Abbot. It nearly happened.
An 1870 plan covered the river Lemon and ended any opportunity for Newton Abbot to have a river with sloping banks, flower beds and cafés as its central feature.
-
Post-war OS maps released showing Newton Abbot in detail in 1956
Can you remember where the Odeon was? Or Wolborough hospital? Maps from 1956 tell many a story…
-
In 2005 I took my new camera out for a walk around Newton Abbot – and took pictures of pubs!
Just 10 of the 22 pubs in Newton Abbot in 2005, one or two of which have changed beyond recognition.
-
Newton Abbot 2006: a new supermarket was under construction in the town centre. Did we really need it?
Not everyone was looking forward to shopping in the new Asda. I was one of them.
-
Transport 2000: a successful Newton Abbot millennium event that, sadly, was never repeated
A very good first event that, sadly, has never been repeated. Everything from jet engines to vintage cars on display, and a rare railway journey to be had.
-
Newton Abbot timeline: neolithic to 2009
Newton Abbot Timeline – A reference for anyone interested in the history of Newton Abbot. It is incomplete and I will add to it as time permits.
-
Newton Abbot: How did Newfoundland Way get its name? And whatever became of The Sun Inn? East Street in 1888
How did Newfoundland Way get its name? And whatever happened to the Sun Inn? The lower end of East Street looked very different in 1888.
-
Newton Abbot: in 1967 work started on building Chichester Estate with street names dedicated to famous Devon seafarers – but nobody calls it ‘Chichester’ anymore
Chichester Estate, Newton Abbot: does anyone from the town remember the Devon Seafarers estate?
Colin Anderson 