Pidgeons Projects

Christmas Eve at the Front

An interesting letter has just been received by Mrs Packer, of Broadclyst, from her husband, Corpl Packer of A Company, 1st Battalion Devonshire Regiment, who is serving with the Expeditionary Force in Northern France. In the course of a letter he describes a remarkable incident which occurred on Christmas Eve between the British and German trenches.

A Commanding site in Abbotsham Road

In April 1924 it was announced that a meeting of the General Management Committee fo the Bideford and District Hospital has been held in connection with the steps being taken for the building of a new Hospital. The option of re-modelling and enlarging the present site was found to be ‘excessive commensurate with the result.’ This scheme was abandoned and the Committee was ‘more and more convinced after the years of consideration given to the subject that the erection of a new Hospital on a more suitable site would meet with greater public approval and support.’ The Committee was able to avail themselves of the voluntary assistance of expert help. “Three sets of plans and estimates were examined, and those of Mr H Dighton Pearson, of Gower Street, London – a brother of Dr Ellis Pearson – were regarded as so entirely in accord with the conditions laid down, and the requirements sought, as to render it unnecessary to incur the expense of proceeding further.”

“The voluntary system in Bideford commenced in the year 1849-50 at a meeting convened by the Mayor (Mr W Wickham), and they found some names on the first Committee familiar to them still. A Dispensary was first opened in Buttgarden street, and thence removed to the Quay. In 1873 it was extended, the rules revised, and its sphere of usefulness widened by the addition of an Infirmary. The year 1887 saw the erection of the Meddon-street Hospital, and this was opened free of debt by the Mayor (the late Mr A G Duncan). In 1890 an Endowment Fund was created by a special effort which resulted in £1,650 being placed upon trust for the permanent maintenance of the Institution. In 1894 the children’s ward was added to the Hospital, and from that date to the present it had served a very useful purpose in the town and district. It might be interesting to know that the total number of patients treated from the foundation of the Dispensary in 1850 to December 31^st, 1924, was approximately 44,000. Subscriptions and donations during the same period (omitting legacies) amounted to about £47,000. The inception of the present scheme began in 1919, and after many years of careful consideration, the Committee decided to acquire that beautiful site of about 5½ acres and to erect a modern hospital equipped to meet the requirements of present-day medical science."

In July 1924, the tender from Messrs Mardon, Ball and Co, at £15,072 was unanimously accepted. Two local firms – Glover and Son, and Ellis and Sons – were not successful.

25 November 1924

“The Ceremony of Laying the Foundation Stone of the New Bideford and District Hospital, in course of erection on the commanding site in Abbotsham Road, overlooking the estuary of the Torridge, will take place on Wednesday, December 10^th, and the Right Hon. Lord Glane has kindly consented to lay the Stone. This important event will no doubt evoke renewed interest in, and appreciation of, the magnificent work of this voluntary Institution. It was started in 1849, first as a public Dispensary in a small house on the Bideford Quay, the outcome of a meeting requisitioned by influential residents of the district and convened by the then Mayor, the late Mr Wm. Wickham. The need for the provision of hospital beds soon became evident and, in Queen Victoria’s Jubilee Year of 1897, during the Mayoralty of the late Mr Alexander Greig Duncan, the Institution was transferred to the site in Meddon-Street. The Meddon-street premises, however, have long since become unsuitable and, for various reasons, now altogether undesirable for the purpose of a modern hospital. It was felt by many that to spend more money there would be short-sighted and unwise.”

Appeals for funding took many forms as this letter in March 1925 to the Editor from the Treasurer shows.

Mr E W S Bartlett (Chairman of the Hospital Management Committee and Bridge Trust) reported in June 1925 “the Bideford Hospital would be opened this year, and without hesitation it would be the most beautiful and up-to-date Institution in North Devon.”

Ernest William Smith Bartlett

In July 1925, the more mundane aspects of running the new establishment are apparent.

In August 1925 a campaign to raise a special fund the provision of a Children’s Ward at the new Hospital was successfully inaugurated at a largely attended and representative public meeting, called and presided over by Dr Toye. The meeting was a gratifying reflex of the public interest in the project, and augurs well for the successful issue of the effort. Before the close of the meeting the Mayor announced that about £100 had already been promised towards the £2,500 required.

25 August 1925

“The new Bideford and District Hospital is nearing completion and will be formally opened by Sir William Reardon Smith, Bart, on Wednesday, the 23^rd of September, 1925.

"The hospital occupies an ideal position in the Abbotsham road, being placed on high ground, about five acres in extent, near the centre of the town and away from all dust and noise. The advantages of such surroundings to the sick and injured must prove of incalculable value, second only to the skill and devotion of the doctors and nurses. The wards (26 beds) situated on the ground floor, contain ample air space, with numerous windows on the east, south and west, and sun balconies on the south. There are in addition separate rooms (6 beds) for private patients. The nursing staff is well provided for, their quarters being placed away from the wards on the first floor of the north side of the building. Electric light, gas and central heating have been installed, and the sanitary arrangements are admirable, and as near perfection as possible."

22 September 1925 - Opening ceremony arrangements

“The official opening ceremony by Sir William Reardon Smith will take place at 2.30pm, and the Mayor and Corporation, representatives of neighbouring public authorities, and others taking part will proceed from the Town Hall to the Hospital in a Civic Procession, leaving the Town Hall at 1.45pm. Inhabitants along the route are asked to display as much decoration as possible. Those who have not already given their donation towards the cost of the Children’s Ward can obtain purses or envelopes for the purpose, at the entrance gates to the Hospital. Tea (tickets 1s) will be provided at the Hospital at the conclusion of the ceremony, and the Town Band will play selections. In the evening, to conclude the day’s rejoicings, a grand promenade concert and dance will be held in the Pannier Market at which it is hoped as many as possible will attend in fancy costume.”

29 September 1925

“Scenes of the greatest enthusiasm marked the official opening on Wednesday afternoon last, of the new Bideford and District Hospital, erected and equipped on an admirable and easily accessible site on the Abbotsham-road, at an approximate cost of £21,000. The foundation stone of the new Hospital was laid by Lord Glanely last December, whilst the opening was performed by another generous contributor to the funds and a native of the district Sir William Reardon Smith, Bart., now of Cardiff. Wednesday marked the consummation of a movement for which the general community of the neighbourhood have long laboured with enthusiasm and zeal, and the occasion was one of general rejoicing, as the attractive display of flags and bunting on public buildings, business establishments, and private houses in the town indicated. The weather was fortunately fine, and the opening ceremony, which was attended by many hundreds of people of all classes, took place in the open space in front of the main entrance of the building.

Groups of officials at the opening

It was an interesting feature of the opening ceremony that among those present was the youngest contributor, age 2 years, and the oldest, age 93. It was also mentioned that the workmen employed on the building had contributed weekly out of their wages to the Building Fund.

Mr E Bate and Master F Burnett

The new building

“Everyone who has been through the building has been impressed with its bright and cheerful interior. All the internal walls are finished broken white (pale cream) and the ward doors and operating theatre in white enamel. The corridors, kitchens, etc. are finished in French grey, and the skirtings throughout are a light metallic grey, while all the outside doors and iron work are painted a medium Brunswick green. Special attention has been paid to the warming of the operating theatre rooms to enable them to be heated at short notice at any time of the year. The hot water supply is carried out in copper tubes, and is circulated throughout the building to all draw-off points.”

“The Mayor of Bideford (Dr E J Toye) and Corporation, supported by representatives of neighbouring authorities including the Mayor of Torrington (Mr G M Doe) and the Chairman of Northam Urban District Council (Major General Sir J Murray Irwin, KCMG CB), Boy Scouts, Girl Guides, Church Lads’ Brigade, etc. marched in procession to the new Hospital via the Quay, High-street, Buttgarden-street, Meddon-street, past the old hospital (where the nurse in charge, Miss Toussaint, had assembled with those of the patients who could be moved, on the entrance steps), through Old Town, and thence into Abbotsham-road. The whole route

A feature of the gathering was a large attendance of school children, as was very befitting in view of the special and very praiseworthy effort they have made in aid of the Children’s Ward Fund.

Opening Day Contributions

“School purses handed to Lady Smith were: Abbotsham, £6 11s; Appledore (Council) £10; Appledore (Council, Infants), £1; Appledore (Church), £8 10s; Bideford Old Town, £14; Bideford Geneva Girls and Infants, £13 5s; Bideford Church Girls, £6 6s; Bideford Church Infants, £3 13s 6d; Bideford East-of-Water Infants, £3 10s; Buckland Brewer, £11 2s 6d; Buckland Brewer, Thornhillhead, £6 2s 6d; Bucks, St Annes, £2 1s 6d; Bradworthy, £9 14s; Clovelly, £38 10s 6d; Frithelstock, £6 11s; Hartland, (Council), £19; Hartland (Elmscott), £6 18s 3d; Hartland (Meddon), £5 10s; Littleham, £6; Monkleigh, £4 10s; Northam (Mixed), £13 7s; Northam (Infants), 10s; Parkham, £12 5s 6d; Putford (East and West), £1 18s 6s; Weare Giffard, £4 10s; and Woolsery, £5 5s; making a total from the Schools of £220 11s 9d. Other purses included Newton St Petrock (not yet completed); Primrose League Buds, per Mrs Stent, £5; Clovelly whist drive and donations from Mrs Hamlyn, £10 10s; and Ye Amyas Leigh Lodge, RAOB, £1 5s; making with the above, £237 6s 9d.

Contributions through Mr R Butler including: Mr Swain’s collecting box, £9 11s 8d; Mr Shute’s collecting box, £10 2s; Mrs Nicholls’ (Lady Nurse), £2 0s 9d; Messrs Baglow, Braddick and Roy Ellis (organ), £10 19s 9d; Mr C Matthews (third box), £2 10s 4d; Master Jack Rattenbury, £3 3s 6d; proceeds of dance in market, £14 13s 9d; collecting sheet at Hospital Hate, in charge of Messrs J H Osborn and W J Barry, £14 13s 8d; Doll competition (Misses Lake and Sluman tied, name Stella) £1 17s 1d; total £69 12s 6d.”

Later in the month, the Committee thanked the people of Bideford and District...

Children’s Ward Auction Sale

"Bideford and District has responded splendidly, as usual, to the various appeals for funds to enable the new Hospital to begin its work free of debt, but more remains to be accomplished during the next few weeks before that result can be attained. Among the schemes adopted by the Building Committee a Sales by Auction effort is being organised in Bideford and Parkham. Circulars explaining the scheme have been distributed as widely as possible inviting residents to contribute articles of any kind for such sales. The auctioneers in the town have offered their services gratuitously, and remittance of cash and offers of goods are being received.”

Maybe your family contributed to the Children’s Ward Appeal Fund? An article dated 29 September 1925 identifies those who have contributed.

And by October of that year, the sum has increased.

In that same month, Miss Blacker of Cleave, Northam, wins a ‘words competition’ arranged by Mrs Hinchliff of Instow – her prize is £2 2s.

In February 1927, it was reported at the annual meeting of Bideford Hospital that “satisfaction was expressed that the new hospital and equipment, which had cost a total of £24,273, had been paid for, and there was no liability in regard to the building. The Committee’s 76^th annual report stated the past year had been to some extent experimental owing to the new conditions set up by the removal from Meddon-street to the newly-equipped premises in Abbotsham-road. Ordinary expenditure increased by 45 per cent but a good deal of outlay on new equipment was not likely to be repeated for some time. Subscriptions were 3 per cent below last year’s figure, but showed an increase on 1924 and all previous years. All other sources of income showed a gratifying increase upon 1925. A special feature of the new hospital was the setting apart of certain rooms as private wards, for which a charge of £3 3s per week was made, exclusive of drugs, dressings, etc. and of any charge which might be made by the doctor for treatment and attendance. These had been taken full advance of by patients desiring privacy.

Bideford Manor Court 1925

Interesting Function

Those who were privileged to be present at the three hours’ proceedings in connection with the holding of Bideford Manor Court and the subsequent luncheon to which the Mayor entertained a very representative gathering, heard much suggestive matter on a variety of subjects of interest to Bidefordians old and new.

Sunday observance is a subject which has of late been exercising thoughtful people seriously, but it is no new question as far as the interest of Bidefordians is concerned, as is shown by an old petition to parliament which has come into the hands of Councillor H W Huxham and which he had kindly presented to the Lords of the Manor for preservation in the Museum. The Petition, on parchment, and with the original signatures, bears no date, but the name of its origin is sufficiently fixed by the signature of the late Mr W Tardrew as Mayor, for he was Chief Magistrate of the Borough in 1828 and again in 1833. Many will read the names of the other signatories with more than passing interest. What was the fate of the Petition was not stated. The document reads:

To the Honourable The Commons of The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in Parliament.

The humble Petition of the Inhabitants of the Town of Bideford in the County of Devon.

That your Petitioners are fully sensible of the natural as well as individual blessings attendant on a due observance of the Sabbath, and deeply lament that this sacred day should be so generally profaned throughout the Kingdom, and especially in our large and populous Cities and Towns, by buying and selling and other secular concerns. Your Petitioners therefore beg leave humbly to approach your Honourable House to request that such legislative measures may be adopted as may ensure a better observance of this holy day and prevent this great and increasing evil.

And your Petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray etc.

W Tardrew, Mayor; Rev Wm Walter, Rector; T Campbell Graham, Major, Dragoon Guards; F Scott, late Second Dragoon Guards; W Hatherley, Alderman; Charles A Cuddy, surgeon; Rev Henry Alford, Jno Jewell, Chas Smale (solicitor), George Isaacs Call (Capt. Regt. Foot), James Welsh (Col0, James Rooker (Solicitor), I Doidge, Francis Ash, T Ballhatchett, Edwin Lethbridge, John Whitlock, John Sweet, John Cochet (Vice-Admiral0, W A Harvie (Solicitor), Thomas Chope, James Bligh, Chris Pedlar, John Abbott, John Saunders, G S Pidler, W Davies, John Lee, W A Tucker, J Rendle, Walter Rendle, John Grant, Thomas Wickham, Edwin Facey, William J Mill, Philip Tardrew, William Tardrew, English Thorne, John Collins, John Parrish, W H Major, Robert Rook, George Nash, John Passmore, Richard Mosae, John Goodanew, William Passmore, Richard Harris, George Gidey, John Thorne, John Halls, Simon Droidge, Thomas Yeo, William Lee, Richard Clark, William Denbon, Thomas Hobbins, Denis Brown, Stephen Ridge, Emmanuel Stevens, John Moase, Nicholas Cumming, Thomas Spencer, John Saunders, George Glover, James Clark, John Harris, Thomas Dullam, Robert Dullam, John Lang, James Courtice, William Thore, Samuel Elliott, William Hobbs, Robert Cooper, John Boynes, William Elliot, senr, Samuel Elliot, jnr, William Cawsey, John Moase, John Boynes, jnr, Samuel Elliott, snr, James Haycroft, Thomas Evans, William Brook, William Nicholls, John Nicholls, jnr, Thomas Isaac, A Thomas Isaac, John Smeeth, William Major, William Frost, John Bishop, William Griffey, Thomas Major, William Monkley, John Stoneman, V H Hatherleigh (Lt-Col).

In former days, the Manor Court, with its Jury,

“You are to make strict enquiry of such cottages as are erected contrary to the law, a practice far too much in use, and found to be very mischievous in most places. Now the law is, that if any person shall set up a cottage without laying of four acres of land to it, or without the allowance of the Lord of the Soil and Justices of the Peace in open sessions he doth forfeit ten pounds for his so doing and forty shillings a month for the continuance of it.”

That, observed the Mayor, was a very healthy contribution to the settlement of the hosing problem of those days.

Current views on local topics

The Mayor, Councillor Dr E J Toye, presided over Bideford Manor Court, held in the Town Hall, and at which the other Lords of the Manor (members of the Town Council) present were Aldermen J Cock, J M Metherell, W T Goaman and A R Adams, and Councillors H W Huxham, W Cole, J S Dymond, R Butler, T Burton, A H Hopson, G Rattenbury, F Percy Lee, and H W Fulford, and the Steward of the Manor (Town Clerk) Mr W B Seldon. Among others also attending in addition to the officials of the Council, were the Mayoress, Miss N Keene, the Vicar, Rev W N Manning, Rev H C A S Muller, Messrs T Goaman, JP, J H Davis, JP, Mr J H Farleigh and many others.

The following were empanelled as the Jury: Messrs F A Searle (elected foreman), T A Goaman, J Street, G W Vincent, W J Barnes, G Boyle, F Lee, William Ascott, O W Ward, A W Cock, W H Puddicombe, and H R Bazeley.

On the recommendation of the Jury the Court re-appointed Mahor W Ascott, OBE, as People’s Churchwarden, Mr Sydney Lake as Tything man, and Messrs Thomas Pridham and Sidney Braund as Waywardens.

In a further presentment the Jury expressed appreciation of the services of the Steward of the Manor in regard to the promotion of the new Harbour Bill, and satisfaction that it provided for the charging of dues upon the actual tonnage carried instead of upon the registered tonnage of vessels, which alteration, it was considered would considerably increase the revenue, and enable the Council to carry out necessary work to the Quay wall and the surface of the Quay inside the rails.

In stating that the Lords of the Manor would consider the presentment, the Mayor said he felt that the present satisfactory position of the Harbour Bill was largely due, if not entirely, to their Steward.

The Foreman said the Jury wished to associate themselves with that expression of opinion.

Old Time Records

The Mayor afterwards entertained his brother Lords of the Manor, the Jury, and a large gathering intimately associated with the municipal government and social life of the Borough at lunch at Tanton’s Hotel, where an excellent repast was expeditiously served, and an appropriate toast list duly honoured.

Proposing the toast of the Mayor, Alderman J Cock said his Worship was proving himself an excellent colleague on the Council and they were greatly indebted to him. During the 39 years that he (Alderman Cock) had been on the Council it had been his pleasure to sit under a large number of Mayors, all of them excellent men who had done well, but no man had succeeded in doing better than their present Mayor had done during the five months he had occupied that office.

The toast was received with musical honours.

His Worship, in acknowledging, referred with pleasure to the fact that in the Royal Automobile Club’s new Road Book, it was remarked that it was pretty safe to say that of the well-recognised touring grounds Devon and Cornwall, and the adjoining part of Somerset were an easy first. Devon could not have a better unsolicited testimonial, and it was up to them, as Bidefordians to see that as far as their district was concerned that statement was justified. That was a matter that was entirely in their own hands; they could make or mar the beauty of Bideford. In other words they could attract tourists or send them away, and he repeated his view that the prosperity and future of Bideford depended largely upon the visitors it attracted. It was up to them as citizens to see that their town was a pleasant place to live in and a pleasant place to visit, and in that connection he suggested that the residents could grow such a wealth of flowers on their windowsills and in their front gardens as to earn for Bideford the reputation of being the most beautiful town in England. What an advertisement that would be for them. The Mayor referred to two important forthcoming events of the year, the formal re-opening of the Bridge and the opening of the new Hospital, and after touching lightly on the amalgamation topic said it was the duty of every inhabitant of the town to do his little bit towards the government of it. They could not, of course, all sit on the Council, but they should take a keen interest in seeing that the best-qualified persons were elected to it, and could in many ways take an active part in promoting the town’s welfare.

Mr E W S Bartlett also responded and made some interesting references to the forthcoming Bridge opening ceremony and new Hospital, which were reported last week.

Bideford Manor Court 1950

The Importance of the Smaller Towns

Addressing this year’s Manor Court ceremony at Bideford, the Recorder of Bideford, Mr W B Faraday, spoke of the important contribution made to the nation by small boroughs and, referring to the possibility of Bideford, with other similar towns, losing the privilege of Quarter Sessions, said it seemed to him a queer reason to take such a privilege away from a place simply because it was well behaved and there were few cases.

Introducing the Recorder, the Mayor of Bideford, Cllr A K Chope, said the Justices of Peace Act would have the effect of bringing to an end their local Borough Bench and Quarter Sessions, but loopholes had been left in the Act by which they hoped that towns like Bideford and Barnstaple would retain these offices. It happened that that day was the last upon which any such appeal could be made. Bideford’s appeal had been made some time ago.

The Recorder spoke of the concern felt for the problems arising from the spread of great cities.

The recent Justices of the Peace Act seemed to him, until it was amended, to be going rather astray. Stress was laid on the big cities instead upon the more widely distributed smaller towns. It was quite true that at Bideford they had a smaller percentage of crimes at Quarter Sessions per head of population then would be found at, say, West Ham or Liverpol, but it seemed queer reasoning to him to take away a privilege from a place because it was extraordinarily well behaved.

Earlier in the proceedings the following had been empanelled as a jury: Messrs C J Smith, F Sanguine, W H Luxton, J T M Mitchell, J Bale, H M Heywood, L H Gorrell, R B Blackmore, J H Lowther, C Morris, E Sawtell and F W Beer. Mr C J Smith was chosen foreman.

The Recorder spoke to the gathering while the jury were out of the room considering what presentments they wished to make. They had heard the Steward of the Manor, Mr F C Backway, report on the action taken by the Lords of the Manor, the Town Council, on presentments last year.

With regard to the piece of land containing shrubs outside the Art School, the ownership of the school had been the subject of a dispute but the Minister of Education had now decided it had been passed to Devon County Council. The Borough Council had accepted responsibility for the portion of land referred to and had appointed a sub-committee to consider suggestions as to its future.

On their return the jury submitted the following names for appointments:

People’s warden at St Mary’s Church – Mr F C Backway

The jury, to whom a representation from the Parochial Church Council had earlier been passed, regretted that Mr C E Tucker, after fourteen years’ service as Churchwarden, felt he could not take office again. They expressed their thanks to him for his service, which the Lords of the Manor appreciatively endorsed.

Tythingman – Mr S Braund; Waywardens – Mr R Cook and Mr W Dennis.

The Lords of the Manor confirmed the appointments which were accepted by the individuals concerned.

Further presentments by the Jury were:-

They considered the Kingsley Statue was in a disgraceful condition. They urged that it should be cleaned, the surrounds replaced, also the wreath.
They felt that work on the ground outside the Art School should be hurried as the holiday season would shortly be opening. They considered this, too, a disgrace at present.
The Lords of the Manor as the Town Council were asked to press the County roads department to improve roads and paths, some of which were in a very bad condition.
The Jury considered that more notices announcing free parking on the Pill should be displayed for the benefit of visitors.
They considered a ‘Keep Left’ sign should be placed at the junction of High Street and Pitt Lane, also at the bottom of Bridgeland Street.
The suggestion that there should be traffic lights at the east end of the Bridge was renewed. It was also considered that the bus stop should be moved a few yards back along Barnstaple Street to give a better view of the corner to road users.

The Mayor said the points would be considered by the Lords of the Manor as the Town Council. He thanked the Jury for their services and welcomed visitors who had watched the ceremony.

When he responded to the toast of “The Manor, Port and Trade of Bideford” at the luncheon at Tanton’s Hotel, Bideford, after the ceremony and over which he presided, the Mayor, Cllr A K Chope, took the opportunity of referring to the oft-heard subject of a public hall for the borough. They would remember that at the last Mayor-choosing ceremony he had said he did not see why during the next twelve months they should not at least explore the possibility of such a hall and possibly get out the plans. Since then they had not heard a word about it and probably thought the matter had been dropped, but he had made a few inquiries.

“But, in my opinion, it is too ‘iffy’ and I am afraid I am not prepared to back such an ‘iffy’ proposal,” continued his Worship. “We hope that times will get better and then we can think about it, but the present seems a bad time – rates are high and possibly going higher and I gather there is a definite limit to the amount of money that is available for entertainment purposes.”

To those people who were always saying Bideford ought to have a hall he had asked how often they were prepared to use it and the general reply was a week, a year, or even once a year and that was not sufficient, even if multiplied twenty times. A hall of sufficient dignity and size for the borough therefore seemed to be a luxury which they could not afford at the moment and would have to await an era of prosperity.

It was of great importance, thought the Bishop of Exeter, Dr R C Mortimer, who was among those responding, that such ancient traditions as the Manor Court ceremony, which so closely bound municipal and religious life, should be maintained. The healthy activity and condition of cooperative friendliness in municipal life depended almost entirely upon the spirit in which those who tool part in that life entered into it, and that spirit was inspired by and derived from religion primarily.

The toast was responded to by the newly-elected People’s warden, Mr F C Backway, and by Mr C J Smith, foreman of the Jury.

Mr Backway added his tribute to the work of Mr Tucker and others who had preceded him in office and spoke of the excellent work of Mr W J Jenkins as Rector’s warden and of Mr K F Sollis as the unofficial Churchwarden of the Chapel of Ease at East-the-Water.

It was mentioned at the luncheon that to Cllr Mrs M Cox had fallen the distinction of being the first woman to attend the Manor Court luncheon as one of the Lords of the Manor.