Paignton Heritage Society: Historic Paignton archives grow with new donations

Paignton Heritage Society is extremely proud of the heritage centre in the library. Here are housed the large and increasing number  of interesting and valuable documents and artefacts relating to the history of Paignton. 

There is a  vast collection of postcards, photos and maps, all of which are available and can be seen on request.  

We have also been fortunate to receive gifts and donations relating to our history from various sources.  Many of these have yet to be examined and catalogued by our archivist and her team of volunteers. This can be slow and painstaking work but progress is being made and the result will be an unrivalled record of many aspects of life in Paignton over the years.

One of the interesting collections of documents and photographs relate to a lady very well known and much loved in this area. 

Ethel Kate Bradford was born in 1882, the daughter of a clergyman. For many years she ran a bible class and Sunday school at St Andrew’s Church in Sands Road. She was much admired by all who knew her and a great inspiration to the boys that she taught. 

Such was their admiration and affection for the lady that an old boys’ group was set up comprising those that had been taught by her.  The old boys met yearly and held a lunch where she was the guest of honour. 

A magazine was produced each year giving details of the lives of the old boys and marking significant events. When Ethel got older and less mobile the group set up a taxi rota to ensure that she could always get to appointments and most important to church services.  Ethel Bradford died in 1972 but the association continued for some while afterwards until it was finally disbanded in 2000. 

Amongst other interests, Ethel was a keen golfer.  

She is remembered every year at Churston Golf Club where a cup is presented in her name. Copies of the annual magazine and pictures of the group can be seen in the archive.

A recent donation which is generating much interest is several boxes of documents and photos relating to Rossiters. Much loved and much missed, Rossiters was the store to go to in Paignton for many years. 

Originally a small draper’s shop, it was opened in Winner Street by two sisters in 1872. One left the business when she got married but her sister carried on trading and eventually the business moved to Palace Avenue.  The business flourished and for generations served the people of Paignton well until finally closing in 2009.

The boxes of papers and other items have yet to be examined in detail. However, it is obvious that they contain much information not previously seen and will form a valuable asset to our already extensive archive.

We were recently given access to a first-hand account of policing in Torbay in the 50s, 60s and 70s.  Very different from policing as we know it today.  

The  account contains details of the life of a PC in the 50s and follows his career as a village policeman and then a detective constable through to his retirement as a detective chief inspector. We are grateful to the family of the policeman for allowing us to take a copy of the scrapbook of his career, another valuable asset to our archive.

Paignton Heritage Society is active in many areas and we are delighted to say that Kirkham House will be open to the public on Good Friday and Easter Monday.  Guided tours are provided by members of PHS and accompanied visits to the Clink and the Bishops Tower are also available for early arrivals.

Kirkham House is a medieval property dating to the late 14th century and is situated in Kirkham Street Paignton. It will be open from 1pm to 4pm.

The next meeting of the society will be on March 19 at Gerston Chapel in  Torquay Road, Paignton, starting at 7pm.  The speaker will be John Tomkins and his subject will be bringing music heritage to documentary films. Entry is £5 (£4 for members of PHS) and  includes tea and coffee.

Plans for the future include accompanied walks around Victorian Paignton led by our vice-chair Karen Chapman, whose knowledge of the history of Paignton is unrivalled.  

Paignton Heritage Society Junior Explorers, a group for children aged eight to 13 who have an interest in local history and want to find out more, will be launched in April.