A third post about connections between Loughborough and Tiverton, I hear you ask? Well, yes, there were so many that I spotted while I was there that I wanted to share them all with you, but I hadn't realised I'd be doing so many other things in between posts that I haven't had time to research much else! Anyway, checkout parts 1 and 2, just to remind yourself of connections I've already covered, then read on for yet more!
So, one of the connections between our two towns is that we were both part of the second round of Mary Portas towns, that saw lots of different initiatives taking place in our towns to improve footfall, to make the towns more attractive and to ensure the towns survived and even thrived in the economic downturn.
In the mid-19th century, both towns (as did practically the whole of the British Isles) experienced deaths from the various illnesses (cholera etc.) that abounded at that time. In Tiverton, Thomas Webster Rammell was appointed to investigate and in 1849 he suggested a supply of water should be piped to every house and hydrants placed in the streets to help combat the numerous fires there were. He made lots of other recommendations, but these were rejected in 1851 as costing too much, so it wasn't until 1875 that some recommendations were acted upon. Meanwhile, in Loughborough, in 1870, the Reverend Henry Fearon arranged for Loughborough's first clean water supply, which is commemorated by the Fearon Fountain in the market place.
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| Information board on public health in Tiverton Museum |
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| Our Fearon Fountain in Market Place |
Tiverton Museum of Mid-Devon Life had a lovely information board about fingerposts and milestones. This reminded me of the tale of the milestone in Loughborough, on Wood Gate, just outside the Organ Grinder pub (formerly the Old Pack Horse).
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| Fingerposts and milestones in Tiverton Museum |
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| Our misplaced milestone |
One of the major exhibition areas in the Tiverton Museum was a specially created room housing a wonderful collection of railway memorabilia, including a steam engine! Tiverton was on the Great Western Railway, whilst Loughborough had (and still has) the Great Central Railway.
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| A water fountain installed at the Great Western station |
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| The re-created booking office at Tiverton GWR station |
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| The station exhibition at Tiverton |
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| The steam engine at Tiverton Museum |
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| The steam engine at Tiverton museum |
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| Our GCR |
Both towns are lucky enough to have canals. The canal that ends in Tiverton is the Great Western Canal, which runs from Taunton, and although the Somerset part is now closed, the stretch at Tiverton is still navigable.
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| The information board at Tiverton Museum |
Sticking with transport, I was really excited to read that the Morrison Electricar was used in Tiverton as a milkfloat, for, this electric vehicle was developed in Leicester by the grandfather of a very close friend of mine, and at one time, until 1935, the bodies were built by the Brush.
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| The Morrison Electricar |
Tiverton Museum also had a small section on clubs and societies. I've already talked about the Temperance Society, but there was also a bowl from the United Order of Druids in a glass case. The connection here is that our Windmill inn was home to a meeting of this society way back in 1837!
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| The United Order of Druids bowl |
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| Our own Windmill Inn |
Of course, the biggest connection between our two towns is John Heathcoat, owner of a lacemaking factory which was attacked by Luddites in 1816, and who left Loughborough to set up a new factory in Tiverton. Sorry, that's a bit brief, isn't it? Pop over to my virtual walk to learn more.
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| The Heathcoat exhibition in Tiverton Museum |
Other connections include pubs of the same name. So, for example, both towns had a Bishop Blaize pub, a pub called the Barley Mow, a White Hart, a Cross Keys, a Three Tuns (the name of the Loughborough one was changed to the Three Nuns), a Royal Oak, a Black Horse, a Red Lion, a Railway Inn, and a White Horse. Refer to Billy's book of Loughborough boozers if you want to know more about ours, or have a go at my easy pub quiz!
There are also many similarities in shops. So, for example, both towns had a Home and Colonial Stores. In Tiverton the local jewellers is called GW Pack: Loughborough's is Denhams. The drapers in Tiverton was Thorne Brothers, whilst in Loughborough it was Pilsbury's. Today, Tiverton has a bakers called Number 33: Loughborough has a deli, selling artisan bread, called Number 58!
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| Denhams the Jewellers on the corner of High Street and Baxter Gate |
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| Loughborough's Home and Colonial Store in Market Place |
