Farmer Nichol. 1930 - 1943 - an enquiry resolved

First they tried the Tourist Information Centre in Dawlish

The Tourist Information Centre referred them to Starcross Parish Council

Starcross Parish Council referred them to Starcross History

Starcross History posted their enquiry on Starcross News on Facebook

and the rest, as they say, is history


"We are trying to trace a farm in or near Starcross which we used to visit annually very many years ago.  We don't know the name of the farm, but the owner/tenant farmer was NICHOL(L)S.   Period:  1930 - 1943.
Any information you can give will be gratefully received."

The enquirer then said that the farm was definitely towards Dawlish, rather than towards Exeter.

This message was also posted on Starcross News on Facebook.  and there's been a reply already,  which states that there was a Nicholls who farmed near Dawlish Warren, and gives his forenames.

"Ive found records relating to a Mr William Hudson Nicholls from Eastdon Farm. Sound familiar?"

Here's a picture of Eastdon Farm, from geograph. Copyright Nigel Chadwick. This photograph has been made available to all under a Creative Commons Licence

http://www.yourlocalweb.co.uk/devon/eastdon/pictures/popup-1250442-eastdon-farm/

Could this be the farm they seek?

Here's more information about the Nicholls farming family:

Nicholls certificates

Marriage 25 November 1916 at Register Office, Newton Abbot, by licence before registrars Will E

Horner (Registrar), F Horner (Superintendent Registrar)

William Hudson Nicholls, aged 29, bachelor, farmer, Eastdon Farm, Dawlish West, father John

Jeffry Nicholls, farmer

Mabel Lena Holbrook, aged 22, spinster, 17 Abbotsbury Road, Newton Abbot, father George

Holbrook (deceased), accountant

Solemnised between us: William Hudson Nicholls, Mabel Lena Holbrook

Witnesses: Violet A Nicholls, Leslie J Bassett

Birth 2 January 1928 at Eastdon Farm, Dawlish West

Lena Ann Nicholls, daughter of William Hudson Nicholls, farmer, and Mabel Lena Nicholls

formerly Holbrook,

Informed by W H Nicholls, Eastdon Farm, farmer, on 16 February 1928

Registrar William John Male

Nick Rossiter.org.uk 

HERE'S 's the poignant story, from the Dawlish Local History Group, of the death of the farmer's son,  John Jeffery Nicholls, on 12th October 1918. Private Nicholls  was 9 days short of his 27^th birthday. It was one month from the end of the war.

More information from Starcross News on Facebook

Dawlish Warren farmer Richard Weeks has more information about the Eastdon farming family. Could it be the right farm? 

Here's some more info from the enquirers

"I wonder.  Would Eastdon Farm have been part of what is now the Eastdon Estate, which mentions woods and private paths to the beach at Dawlish Warren?   We remember walking through the warren (complete with rabbit droppings!) and a tunnel, which led to the beach;  given our ages, I don't think it could have been a very long walk.   "

and more about the Nicholl family at The Warren

"I believe farmer Nicholls used to farm the marsh land at Dawlish warren after the Second World War. during the summer he had a very basic campsite I imagine this is were your people would have stayed. The marsh land is now hazel wood park and various other holiday camps on that area."

Result!   It's been proved conclusively that the farm concerned is Eastdon Farm and my brother and I are planning our first return since the war.  Grateful thanks to those who responded via Starcross Facebook.    Shirley Marshall