NORTHERNHAY #2, EXETER, 1833

 In 1833 there was a 'tremendous and devastating storm' which destroyed trees and houses in Exeter.    Northernhay Gardens suffered damage which was lamented by The Exeter and Plymouth Gazette in the following terms:

"....24 of these venerable and majestic elms were borne down, and several others so much injured, as to render it in all probability necessary to remove them also, by which we are deprived of much of that ornament to old Semper Fidelis, the shades of which our forefathers prized,  These relics of antiquity had, many of them, borne, if not 'the battle,'  the 'breeze' for nearly two centuries, and those of more recent growth had attained to more than the age of man.

"The largest of the trees on Northernhay have stood ever since the reign of Charles II, in the year 1664, when the historian informs us 'a pleasant walk was made on Northernhay, and above 200 young elms on each side thereof planted,' in the Mayoralities of Mr Alderman Penny and Anthony Salter.  Most of the other trees were planted about 85 years ago, by Mr. Sanders, a thatcher and gardener, by order of the Mayor and Chamber."

Once again I find myself admiring the sense of history of the citizens of Exeter, their pride of place, their particular pride in 'the fine walk of Northernhay such an agreeable promenade for the inhabitants'.  Northernhay Gardens which contribute: 'so much to the  beauty of the city in the eyes of strangers' 

Has anybody planted any trees on Northernhay lately?

The most recent big idea of today's Mayor and Chamber has been to rent out the Gardens, which our forefathers prized, for nine precious weeks as a site for a vulgar fairground regardless of the necessary (health and safety I imagine!) locking the park gates against the citizens for weeks on end, regardless of the damage to the turf, the sound pollution, the light pollution.  (the Gardens are the best place in Exeter to observe the night sky) the disturbance to wildlife &c.   All this in an age when we are supposed to care about our 'environment'! 

The reference  'battle and breeze' is to Thomas Cambell's poem which, no doubt, all our forefathers could recite verbatim - all four stanzas!  The memorable first lines read:

"Ye mariners of England

That guard our native seas!

Whose flag has braved, a thousand years, 

The battle and the breeze!"  

   Secondary Source:  The Taunton Courier, 27th February, 1833.

A DEAD MAN'S HAND, EXETER, 1829.

It was April 1829 and Thomas Helston and William Trethrew were to be launched into eternity at Exeter's gaol, each protesting his innocence to the last breath, for attempting to murder W, Jeffrey on the King's Highway:

"Before the execution a silly woman applied at the Prison Gate for a piece of the rope; with which either of the malefactors should be hanged,  this was to act as a charm against the effects of some disease, and another asked permission to rub the neck of a child afflicted with the King's evil with the hand of one, after the execution.  Mr Cole, the governor, had very properly left orders that all such applicants should have a decided negative." 

It would seem that such applicants were likely to be at the prison gate at every Exeter execution.  These were two silly women but they were desperate.   It is no more silly believing that a dead man's hand might cure scrofula than might the touch of a monarch but the kings of the French were still touching swollen necks at this time and the 'rational' French folk were queueing up for it.   

Source:  The Exeter and Plymouth Gazette,  4th April 1829.

NORTHERNHAY, EXETER, 1896.

 

As I write, wide areas of Northernhay Gardens' lawns have been trampled to mud.  Vehicle tracks have torn up the ground.  The gates are still locked against the citizens of, and visitors to, our city.    By my reckoning the park has, for more than 72 days. ( about the fifth part of a year.) either been locked up or has been a fairground  From before Remembrance Sunday, though the Christmas weeks and well into the New Year the Gardens qua gardens have been denied to the people and they have been well and truly 'disfigured' by being hired out to serve as an amusement park. 

Fairs are fun but a less suitable site for a fairground than our exceptionally lovely Northernhay Gardens is hard to imagine!   

Compared to us, the Victorian RATEPAYER below, whose letter appeared in the Express and Echo of 12th August 1896, had little to complain about, yet no citizens nowadays seems greatly to care!!!  Perhaps some will when they are permitted to see the state of the park:]

 "Sir,

"Kindly allow me a short space in your valuable paper concerning Northernhay.   On Saturday afternoon, about 4.30, i should have liked a mouthful of fresh air, but I was refused admission on account of a 'private' garden party.   

"We all have to pay to keep the grounds in order, and it is very hard when one cannot enjoy the beauties of Northernhay after a hard day's work.

"I notice that the turf, which we are not allowed to walk on, is cut up with tent pegs, and the borders of the turf driven over in a reckless way by the vehicles of Saturday last.

"I have seen several little children ordered off, and sometimes the gardener has used more force than he ought, because they have simply walked across the turf;  but others who have permission may come and disfigure the place as much as they choose.

Yours,

A RATEPAYER."

And are not the concluding 15 words true today?

THE PRESERVATION OF RARE BIRDS, EXETER, 1842.

"A beautiful specimen of the Grosbeak was shot a few days since at Upper Nutwell, near Lympstone.  This bird is frequently met with in Spain, Italy and France, and but rarely visits England.  A specimen of the Black-toed Gull was caught last week in a singular way, at Lympstone - a floating bait was out for fish which the bird caught, and was effectively hooked.   This bird also is very rarely seen in Britain. 

"Both birds are now in the possession of Mr. Atkins, South-street, to be preserved."

I had often thought, when trailing a couple of inches of pipe-clay in the hope of catching a bass, that one or other of the tern might one day fall from the sky and swallow the hook.  I'm pleased to say he never did.  

This  Black-toed Gull swallowed the bait and was not able to disgorge it.  Hence it ended up being stuffed by Mr. Atkins of South Street.

I think the Black-toed Gull might now be rare to the point of extinction.  The Grosbeak is but a finch and it seems shocking that it should have been considered fair game. 

Somewhere the two stuffed birds are quite possibly still to be seen.  The Victorian understanding of preservation was rather different to ours,   One wonders what else was in Mr. Atkins' shop.

Source: The Western Times, 22nd January 1842. 

  

YOUR MONEY OR YOUR LIFE, SOUTH DEVON, 1800.

 In August 1800 two young men were 'executed on the Drop' at the High Gaol in Exeter.  Joseph Buywater aged 28 and John Chimleigh aged 21.  They were convicted of highway robbery but they were not at all like the highwaymen of romance. 

They seem to have been strangers to Devon,  indeed at first their captors thought they were Americans but  'at the gallows' they claimed to be Englishmen.   Nothing else, it would seem, was learned about them.

The first of the crimes for which they were executed was in May, 1800.  They stopped Richard Wakeham, a farmer who was riding along the road  between Dartmouth and Totnes.  The two robbers were walking along the road, one some distance behind the other:

"It appears that Mr. Wakeham rode by Chimleigh and came up with Buywater, who seized the horse's bridle, and demanded his money.

"Mr. Wakeham seeing some persons in a neighbouring field, was about to call for help;  when Buywater presented a large pistol, and, with an imprecation, told him he would blow his brains out if he made the least noise. Chimleigh now came up, and told Mr. Wakeham if he would give them a shilling, he would be permitted to depart.   Mr. Wakeham then delivered them the shilling and rode off."

Later the same day the two desperados went to the house of the Rev. Mr Cholwich (no location given) where they:

"....  demanded victuals in very rough terms, which he very spiritedly refused. though Chimleigh had a pistol, and Buywater a bludgeon.  Finding him determined, they went away from Mr. Cholwich's house, Chimleigh with threats and curses and Buywater civilly asking pardom if offence had been given.

"For this behaviour they were indicted, but acquitted, 

"Mr Cholwich, Thomas Borne, and some others, afterwards went in pursuit of Buywater and Chimleigh, and when Borne, who was a little before the others , came up with Buywater and Chimleigh, they seized his bridle and demanded his money or his life.  Fortunately at this time his associates came up, and apprehended both."

There is, I think, something very fishy about this story.  I suspect it might have been that Parson Cholwich was so dissatisfied with the acquittal that is reported (no further details) to have taken place that he had, Wild West fashion,  'got up a posse'.  It seems rather too convenient that the young strangers then decided to rob one of their pursuers in classic highwayman fashion - your money or your life.

There are no further clues in the report of The Exeter Flying Post of 28th August, 1800 but the two men were most certainly hanged:  

"Baywater appeared very penitent, whilst Chimleigh seemed equally hardened, and did not appear even to be depressed at his unhappy situation." 

Bludgeon  is a jolly word,  of obscure origin but it certainly makes one think of blood and blows and bloody deeds.