Starcross History Society: Exeter Flying Post

Wednesday, 16 November 2016

Courtenay Arms. Exeter Flying Post. 15th October, 1846

STARCROSS

A new, elegant, and spacious Inn will shortly be erected by the South Devon Railway Company, at Starcross; the present site of the Courtenay Arms being required to give more space for the Railway. The situation chosen for the new Inn is quite as eligible, where "mine host," the present worthy landlord, it is hoped, will entertain his numerous friends for many years to come in his usual excellent way.

The foundation for the new Pier at this place are proceeding very fast, which, when completed, will afford much accommodation.

The steamer to ply between Starcross and Exmouth in connection with the South Devon Railway is soon expected to arrive to be put on its trips. Visiters and all others from Exmouth and its neighbourhood will by this be greatly benefited.

Exeter Flying Post 15th October, 1846

from The British Newspaper Archive

Saturday, 10 September 2016

Research: Cockwood House

Eastdon Hamlet and the elusive Cockwood House by Tricia Whiteaway

The story of Cockwood House once the residence of Rev. D Drury headmaster of Harrow, and of neighbouring Eastdon House, the home of Richard Eales

£2.00 + p&p from the Dawlish Local History Group via the link above

Photographer Adrian Wood has kindly provided a photograph of a stone wall along Cockwood which inludes some dressed stones

Dawlish Museum have enquired. They write

" No luck with an answer here at the Museum I'm afraid. The book says Cockwood House is believed to have been demolished shortly after 1841 but ends with the same question -'to date we still have not found the site of the main house so it is thought that all the stone has been robbed- but on a walk to Dawlish Warren the front hedges to a couple of houses have at their base very similar stones. Could they have come from Cockwood House,one wonders ?"

In Brunel's Atmospheric Railway featuring the contemporary watercolours of William Dawson, - section 9 from Cockwood Lake to the Warren - shows the ruins of Cockwood House; near the river, to the West of Eastdon House.

This book is available online for over £50, but may still be bought from the Newton Abbot Town and Great Western Railway Museum for just £20. Isambard Kingdom Brunel may bring some copies to our meet this Wednesday.

A trawl of the newspaper archives has produced the following results: