Search our archive

Search

Families

Families of the village past and present

The Coombe Family

While 'Coombe' seems a common Devonshire family and place name, the first known Coombe of Molly’s family had arrived in Bishopsteignton by 1870. Molly's Great Grandfather, William Winser Coombe (1818-1899) was, according to several censuses, a Miller and was born in...

The Heathman Family

Stay in Devon! A letter written by Rachael Heathman, mother of Rowena Bradnam, who was with her grandmother, Lavinia Back, in Bishopsteignton when WWII was declared. "On Saturday 2nd 1939, my sisters and I were due to return home from our holiday with my grandmother...

The Blogg Family

Many years later Phyllis Blogg, nee Hudson, wrote to Dick Searle, then the curator of Bishopsteignton Museum, about her wartime experience in the village. The letter, and the language within it, is of its time. It is reproduced here in its original form, save for some...

The Ward Family

Jack and Kit Ward In 1939 Jack Ward and his wife Kit (nee Dennis), ran the Butcher's shop at what is now 23Fore St. Kit’s family owned the Manor Inn.  Flo Vallance who owned the Manor Inn was Vallance by her second marriage. Her first husband Frederick George Dennis...

The Hope Family

Phyllis Blogg's husband, Harold Eric Blogg was the brother of John's mother  Kathleen Winifred Hope (nee Blogg). Percy Alfred Hamilton Hope was her husband, John's father. John was evacuated to Bishopsteignton along with his mother, his brother Geoffrey and his...

The Cross Family

LETTER FROM DAVID CROSS EVACUEE Dear Mr Searle, David, Pat and Ted Cross, Bishopsteignton London Evacuees. June 1940 – January 1942. In relating the following memories of the 18/19 months I spent in Bishopsteignton, I would ask you to bear with me, regarding some of...

The McGregor Family

John Harvey McGregor served on H.M.S. Neptune in the Royal Navy as Paymaster Commander (Acting). HMS Neptune sailed from Chatham in May 1941 on its last voyage. He died at sea in Libyan waters on 19th December, 1941 and appears on the Bishopsteignton War Memorial....

Blacksmiths of Fore Street

Records confirm a blacksmith's workshop on Fore Street in 1841 but it is highly likely that it was much older than this, sandwiched on both sides by 18th Century (or earlier) cottages.  This extract looks at the families that have occupied this spot and what we can...

Tainton 1524 – 1600s Family Names

A Short History of the Parish The history of the Bishopsteignton Parish can, in a brief form, be divided conveniently into three time divisions – First – before the Bishops of Exeter received it, Second – the 500 years during which they successively owned it, Third –...