Behind the Scenes at Newton’s Place

Another two views behind the scenes for you all. A fascinating mystery that you might be able to help with and the chance to see a favourite from the old museum – the railway signals – coming down in readiness for their relocation to...

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Local Characters – Reminiscences of Newton Abbot 1905

The following is a transcript of handwritten notes made by Mr. Frank Zealley in the 1940s; reminiscing about street life in Newton at the turn of the 20th Century Many local characters and Hawkers of interest, were well known in the Town by their Nicknames....

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What was an Ex- President of the Transitional Government of the USA, Doing in Newton Abbot in 1780, Three Years Before the American War of Independence was Over?

Henry Laurens was of Huguenot stock whose ancestors moved to the America in the late 1600’s, arriving in New York, then settling in Charlestown South Carolina. Laurens served in the Militia and rose to the rank of Lt Colonel in a campaign against the...

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Eating and Drinking in Newton Abbot in the Swinging Sixties

I often hear the complaint that Newton Abbot shopping centre ‘is all charity and coffee shops’. Obviously, charity shops are a relatively recent phenomenon, but wondered what was available in the “days of yore” say 1960, where you could get Tea, Coffee a cold...

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Wycliffe Egginton – Water Colour Artist 1875-1951 Headmaster of the Newton Abbot College of Art 1908-1919

The above monochrome (copied from The Sphere 17th May 1913) is of a Watercolour that was displayed in Gallery 1 of the 145th Exhibition of The Royal Academy in May 1913. The Art press described Egginton’s work as recalling the Masters of British Landscape,...

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