Tipton Railway

The Railway

 

Its quite hard to believe that it was ever really there. Apart from the old station building and parts of the tracks foundations as evidence, it's all just a distant memory, yet the building of the railway was so important to the growth of our village.  

 

Tipton was a relatively small farming hamlet before the arrival of the railway in 1874. With more accessibility and employment the village expanded with the London and South Western Railway linking Tipton with the larger world and even London! The branch line expanded the station further when it became a junction for Budleigh Salterton in 1897, with the signal box and the footbridge being added at this time. The track ran across the main street with large rolling gates that would be swung across to stop the road traffic.  The Golden Lion was rebuilt to refresh and accomodate more travellers and Coombe Vale was built to house railway workers

 

The station would be busy with passenger and freight trains. Steam engines hauled the trains until 1963 when they were replaced by diesel units.

 The train line gave villagers the chance to move around the southwest and beyond for work and leisure. The trains would bring holiday makers to the seaside resorts of  Exmouth and Sidmouth. It would have taken men from the village to both world wars and brought evacuees from London.  School children would use the train for getting to school, with the train stopping at Tipton and children continuing on the line would quickly jump off to buy their sweets from the village shop while the train was in the station.

 

Post, milk, flowers and other goods from the village would have been collected from the station and delivered around the country. Flowers from Burcombe flower farm, Wiggaton and other local growers would have been  packed and sent up to Covent garden market for sale. Mr Baker would bring boxes of  Tulips, Iris, Daffodil and tomatoes down on his horse and cart to load onto the trains..

 

Mr Rockey, worked on the Tipton Line, joining the railway in 1953 cleaning the engines. In 1955 he progressed to Fireman, stoking the engines fire, he remembers cooking their breakfast of eggs and bacon on his shovel over the fire! They would refill with water from the water tower, but he said that once they caught one of the embankments on fire which didn't go down well with the farmer whose field it spread too!

 

There was a furnished staionary carriage set back from the station on the coal siding, where people could come and spend their holidays, perfect for the train enthusiasts! In 1955 a week's stay would cost you £9.

 

Unfortunately the freight and then the passenger services were withdrawn in 1967 with many villagers taking the 'last train'. My parents took this journey and said that there were fog/fire crackers all up the track in celebration of this memorable last trip.

 

Can you imagine just how popular and scenic the train journey down the Otter Valley and into Harpford Woods would be today, such a tourist attraction.

 And also how useful would it be to pop on the train for Sidmouth ....those were the days!

Venn Ottery from above

This aerial shot was taken above Venn Ottery, @eyeskygroup , 16th May 16

The Golden Lion

We all may believe that The Golden Lion has always taken pride of place in its current position on the Tipton main street, but this has not always been so In the 1800's the Inn stood on the other side of the street! It was a thatched building and stood where Stanley Cottages now preside. The Inn, as well as being a meeting place, also provided accommodation and was regularly used as the auctionroom for the sales of local property and stock. The Inn was nearly destroyed by fire on several occasions. Unbeknown to Herman Ham, the keeper of the Inn in 1848, he had the makings of a pyromaniac amongst his employees. Servant Ann Browne, started small fires which were found in the cellar and then just after Christmas another blaze was lit by Browne, that spread to the cellars thatched roof. Ann, who was only 15, was found Not Guilty after expressing her remorse In the August of 1896 licence was applied to move the Inn to a new position, as the accommodation at the present Inn was considered insufficient, and for a change of name to The Railway Inn. Only three months later the Inn had been completely destoyed by fire. "About half past twelve on Sunday night (November 1896), a fire broke out in the roof of the The Golden Lion Inn, Tipton St John and quickly resulted in the complete destruction of the premises and the whole of the contents. The occupier (Mr Pring) was luckily insured and the Heavitree Brewery Company, the owners of the premises were also insured, the damage is estimated at about £700. It was at first thought that the adjoining houses would be destroyed, but the efforts of the Ottery Fire Brigade were successful in preventing the flames from spreading. " Exeter Flying Post So the building of the new Inn commenced 'on the other side of the street! and was reopened on the turn of the century. The former site of the Old Golden Lion Inn was sold as a building site in 1902 and two cottages were then built, now known as Stanley Cottages

1968 floods

The aftermath of the flood that swept away the road bridge and flooded many properties.
The Bailey Bridge was put up by the Army to keep the road open.
Prince Philip made a flying visit

Floods in Tipton

Floods

We have all seen the horrors of the flooding upcountry on the news this Winter. 
Metcombe and the school suffered after a flash flood on the 30th December (Pauls video footage reached over 38,000 views on Facebook!) causing  chaos and leaving a lot of mud to clear up. It’s scary just how quickly the water levels can rise.
The level of the Otter is always a worry for those living close by and we can even view the rise and fall of the river from the comfort of our own home by watching it on the internet (Google Tipton River cam).

Flooding is not new to Tipton as we all know but few of us may be aware of the floods of 1909 when the Post Office was washed away.
Newspaper reports tell of the Post Office completely collapsing in the early hours of the morning.

"For several hours previously the torrential rain and tempestuous winds had prevailed and the village brook which runs close to the Post Office had swollen to something like a torrent undermining the foundations."
Mr Wood the Postmaster was awakened by a crash and at once raised the alarm. He and his family were forced to leave the house in their night attire by means of ladders. Mr Greening the Stationmaster was awakened by the cries of "help!". On dressing he went onto the roadway only to find himself in water up to his knees. Villagers came to help with the rescue and all were safely removed from the building.

The Post Office and adjoining cottages were demolished and the P.O. was rebuilt slightly further up the road than it was previously.

Photographs kind donated by Marilyn Berry (Mr Wood’s Granddaughter)

Photographs kindly provided by Marilyn Berry (Mr Woods great granddaughter)

Post master (Mr Wood)

Tar barrels at Tipton St John

Remember, Remember the Fifth of November!
With the village showing signs of Autumn and the nights drawing in, carnivals and Bonfire Night will soon be upon us. We all know of the Ottery St Mary Tar Barrrels, but did you know that Tipton also has had a Tar Barrel Tradition?  Lauren and I found an article in the Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, The British Newspaper Archives regarding November the 5th 1892, Tipton st John.
It tells of a celebration of great spirit with a procession of 70 men bearing flaming torches. They  marched for an hour around the village and surrounding hamlets, lead by Mr Salter and his band of instrumentalists. That must of have been an amazing sight on a dark night, hearing the singing and music coming up the dark lanes with an orange glow from the torches waving in time with the marching. When they reached the Railway Station at 8 pm a great bonfire was lit amidst cheers!
“ When this got fairly alight, a fine display of fireworks took place and the damsels and their swains started to dance to the strains of Mr Salters band. This was kept up for nearly two hours!”
It goes onto tell of how it is usual here on the anniversary of the 5th, for the men living on one side of the railway to oppose those on the other side in the burning of a number of tar barrels. They would mark a boundary and it is the object of each party to secure the barrel falling to pieces on either side. It says that though often a rather rough amusment, it is entered into with great zest!
On November the 5th 1892 the Metcombe side won the victory.

We found a number of articles relating to the Carnival in Tipton, around the early 1900’s. The processions would start off from Mount Pleasant (the Coombe crossroads) and wend its way through the roads and lanes, through Metcombe and back again.
“..many torchbearers and masked people, who masqueraded in various styles, delighted the country folk who lined the village roads”
The Tipton Band would lead the procession, with bandmaster Mr H. Baker and people came by train and road to watch.
“ The weather was dry and the murky darkness of a November night helped to heighten the spectacular effect of the brilliantly illuminated tableaux of which there were a dozen”

A feature of Tipton St John Carnival was a lifesize version of a White Elephant brought out by Mr Pottinger, which caused much laughter with its antics!
The money raised at the carnivals was given to the Ottery St Mary Cottage Hospital funds
Reading the articles gave me a real feel of the atmosphere and of the people involved in these village events....maybe we could bring them back this November!

WW2 Tipton St John and Venn Ottery

Tipton during WW2
I have recently been researching newspaper articles about life in Tipton during WW 2 and found that the village was alive with fundraising events to raise funds to support the war effort.
There were regular dances, concerts, and whist drives, many held in the Church Institute or school in connection with the Home Guard, Red Cross "Penny a week" , "Salute the Soldier", "Wings for Victory" among other funds.
'Salute the Soldier' week was a fund raising scheme to encourage civilians to save their money in government accounts. The scheme was themed around raising funds at local level.The OSM and District Savings Association,( president Sir John Kennaway),ran competions to see which groups in the area had raised the most money.
"Miss Scorse, teacher ,was presented with a certificate of honour repesenting Tipton St John school , to commerate their wonderful achievements raising £5 19s 11d per member during the four weeks of the competion, obtaining 1st place! The school children had also put on concerts with Miss Scorse on the piano and Miss West and head Miss Richardson supervising. The schools saving group during "Salute the Soldier" week raised £ 2,682 8s, that was 5 times more than its target and the sum exceeded the total raised for "Wings" week by £ 191."
A "Victory Garden" Show was staged by the WI for the Red Cross Agricultural fund. With a well-supported vegetable, flower, fruit and cakes competion and childrens sports. Mr George Baker of Coombe (nurseryman) put up a fine display of non-competitive roses, dahlias and scabious. All exhibits in the show were sold for the funds.
In aid of the Merchant Navy week a fete was held, there was an exhibition of country dancing by school children and sports and teas. Apparently the tug of war caused much amusment and the outstanding event was the baby show with 27 entries!
The Tipton st John Home Guard were entertained by 'A Nightlights Concert party', a performance of mirth and melody! Supper was provided by the lady members - Gill, Askew, Bater, Lane, Dart and Rutherford. The hall was reported to be packed and that an enjoyable evening was had by all. Funds raised went towards supporting the local Home Guard.
These are just a few of the many fundraising events that took place in the village during the war. Reading about the enthusiasm and generosity of Tipton folk during these demanding times was heart-warming.
The evacuees staying in the village were also welcomed and given parties at Christmas. Eve Smith was evacuated to live with her uncle Sidney Smith, who was the Stationmaster and lived at 3 Coombe Lea. She remembers Miss Richardson was her schoolteacher -"a really beautiful and excellent teacher." And having warm milk from the cows at Skinners Farm.
Tipton celebrated VE with a sports day, this was held at Metcombe by Mr Manley, for the children of Tipton. The field was said to have been gaily decorated with flags, flowers and bunting. There were many different races and activities with money prizes! Lemonade, Cyder and cake were served during the events. There was community singing to the accompaniment of Miss J Scorse on the accordion ( Miss Scorse was obviously very musically talented ) and finally to the delight of all, a huge bonfire and fireworks. Consolation prizes of 6 d were given to every child who won nothing at the sports. Isn't that lovely!