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A Guide To Local History In The Holsworthy Area.

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1901-1945 AD
1901    Mr. Richard Headdon was appointed driver of the steam road roller at a weekly wage of 22/-.
1901    Augusta Christina Davie Coham died.
1901    Charles Roberts of Peterborough owned Ugworthy.
1901    Caroline Risdon appointed Pretty Maid.
1901    Sale of Cory Estate.
1901    Death of Queen Victoria. More about Victoria Images of Victoria
1901    Arthur Phillip, Earl Stanhope, gave to the people of Holsworthy Stanhope Park, in area 8½ acres. The entrance gates were erected by the people of Holsworthy in honour of Viscount Mahon (the eldest son of Earl Stanhope) coming of age.
1902    Local authorities were empowered to provide secondary education under the Balfour Act.
1902    Average Agricultural Labourers wage, plus all allowances, rose to 17s 5d per week.
1902    Ada Hooper appointed Pretty Maid.
1902    Pretty Maid, Specott and Poor Lands Charities united under one body.
1902    1902-20. W.C.R.Peterson Clerk to Holsworthy Urban District Council.
1903    Thorne Estate sold to Dr. Thomas Arthur King of Stratton.
1903    Maud Chapple appointed as Pretty Maid.
1903    Claude Kinsman Clerk to Holsworthy Urban District Council.
1903    1903-06. John Bussell Batten Chairman of Holsworthy Urban District Council.
1904    Mary Tickle appointed as Pretty Maid.
1905    December 14th. Elm Tree House and grounds sold by private auction.
1905    Ordanance Survey made.
1905    Elsie Back appointed as Pretty Maid.
1905    January. Opening of new cattle market at Greenaway, at a cost of £800.
1905    Arthur Phillip, 6th Earl Stanhope, died.
1905    1905-32. Albert John Walters Parish Clerk.
1906    The Education (Provision of Meals) Act passed.
1906    1906-09. Lewis Harris Chairman of Holsworthy Urban District Council.
1906    Beatrice Risdon appointed as Pretty Maid.
1907    Jaynie Maynard appointed as Pretty Maid.
1907    Holsworthy Rifle Club and Cycle Club formed.
1908    National School teachers salary was £125 per annum.
1908    Rosie Jane Bassett appointed as Pretty Maid.
1909    1909-12. Joseph Avery was Chairman of Holsworthy Urban District Council.
1909    Hollacombe water works built, at a cost of £7,300.
1909    Phyllis Richards appointed as Pretty Maid.
1910    June 30th. Sale of part of The Stanhope Estate. 1,450 acres.
1910    Ethel Risdon appointed as Pretty Maid.
1910    September 28th. Sale of The Stanhope Hotel (Barclays Bank now).
1910    Manorial Rights, Market and Fair Rights sold to John Bussell Batten, William Harris and John Henry Stranger.
1910    Rev W H Webber appointed as Minister at Holsworthy Chapel.
1910    Gas Co. took over the electricity supply.
1910    First motor bus service for Holsworthy, an old London bus called “Devonia”, ran from Holsworthy to Bradworthy.
1910    Simpson Estate sold by Earl Stanhope.
1910    Soldon Estate bought by Mr. Wickett.
1910    6th December, warrant for Freemasons Hall, Lodge Concilliation 3483.
1910    1910-19. Charles Walter Wickett Chairman of Holsworthy Hamlets Parish Council.
1910 *  Bodmin Street Methodist Chapel built to accommodate the growing number of Methodists in the town, it eventually. replaced the Wesleyan Chapel in Chapel Street in 1950. Designed by Mr S Parsons, the chapel is built on the site of two former chapels, and houses a fine pipe organ, with 63 pipes, which was renovated in 1959.
1911    February 14th. Freemasons Lodge consecrated.
1911    Mary Harris appointed as Pretty Maid.
1911    Sale of remainder of Stanhope Estate.
1912    Freemasons Hall in Bodmin Street opened.
1912    First English sugar-beet factory opened.
1912    Mary Stanhope Kendall appointed as Pretty Maid.
1912    1912-15. William Penhale Chairman of Holsworthy Urban District Council.
1913    Court Leet held at Holsworthy. The Lords of the Manor gave a dinner, and a Jury was formed. Dr Ash was Portreeve.
1913    February. Site of Drill Hall bought, and building began.
1913    Rev S. Prouse appointed Minister at Holsworthy Chapel.
1913    Mary Louise Vanstone appointed as Pretty Maid.
1914    First World War began.
1914    The Institute was built in Station Road.
1914    Holsworthy Church tower was struck by lightning, a pinnacle fell to the ground, but luckily no one was hurt.
1914    Effie Bromell appointed as Pretty Maid.
1915    Institute opened.
1915    Edith Grace Richards appointed as Pretty Maid.
1915    1915-18. Rev T. S. Kendall Chairman of Holsworthy District Council.
1916    Winifred Beatrice Gilbert appointed as Pretty Maid.
1917    Florence Moore appointed as Pretty Maid.
1918    The school-leaving age was raised to 14.
1918    Ada Braund appointed as Pretty Maid.
1918    Rev J. A. Dobson appointed as Minister at Holsworthy Chapel.
1918    1918-21. Samuel Parsons Chairman of Holsworthy Urban District Council.
1919    Dr W G Gray appointed as Portreeve.
1919    Edith Moore appointed as Pretty Maid.
1919    1919-22. John Littlejohns Chairman of Holsworthy Hamlets Parish Council.
1920    Torrington Dairies started collecting cream from farms for use in butter-making.
1920    Grace Ashby appointed as Pretty Maid.
1920    1920-22. Dr. Hollis Clerk of Holsworthy Urban District Council.
1921    Fox Fowler Bank taken over by Lloyds Bank. It was the last private Bank in England, and printed it’s own bank notes.
1921    May Gough appointed as Pretty Maid.
1921    August 4th. Unveiling of the War Memorial.
1921    Death of Samuel Holman of Pyworthy, Blacksmith and Dentist and designer of the first iron plough.
1921    1921-24. Thomas Oke Chairman of Holsworthy Urban District Council.
1922    Dingley, Pethybridge, White and Dingley Bank amalgamated with The National Provincial and Union Bank (now Nat. West).
1922    Lily Gilbert appointed as Pretty Maid.
1922    1922-25. Seth Davey Chairman of Holsworthy Hamlets Parish Council.
1922    1922-25. Arscott John Isaac Chairman of Holsworthy Rural District Council.
1923    Rev J Bone appointed as Minister at Holsworthy Chapel.
1923    Rhoda Trace appointed as Pretty Maid.
1924    Gas street lighting was superceded by electricity.
1924    Rev G W Hicks appointed as Minister at Holsworthy Chapel.
1924    Brass processional cross given to the church by Dr. E.O.Kingdon.
1924    April 24th. Grand Floral Bazaar at Holsworthy Weslyan Church in Chapel Street.
1924    Ena Prowse appointed as Pretty Maid.
1924    Horace John Sillifant Chairman of Holsworthy Hamlets Parish Council.
1924    1st November. Richard Leslie Pitt-Johnson instituted as Rector of Holsworthy.
1924    1924-27. William Daniel Chairman of Holsworthy Urban District Council.
1925    1925-28. William Jones Chairman of Holsworthy Hamlets Parish Council.
1925    James Boles Chairman of Holsworthy Rural District Council.
1925    Helen Medland appointed as Pretty Maid.
1926    Holsworthy Urban District Council supplied the Lytch Gate for the cemetery which was presented by Miss E.E.Batten in memory of her parents.
1926    Beatrice Bond appointed as Pretty Maid.
1926    Holsworthy Amateur Dramatic Society was formed by Mr. Ritblett.
1926    Oak reredos in the church was erected in memory of Mary Elizabeth Aspinall of Waterloo House by her children.
1926    Church organ refurbished at a cost of £200 and rededicated.
1926    New Borroughs Steam Roller bought for Thomas Turner of Bradworthy.
1927    Wesleyan School amalgamated with National School.
1927    Secondary School separated from National School.
1927    Margaret Moore appointed as Pretty Maid.
1927    Construction of Rydon Bridge completed.
1927    1927-30. William Kinver Chairman of Holsworthy Urban District Council.
1928    Complaints were made by The Rural Sanitary Authority that in hot weather water could only by drawn for two hours in every twenty-four. At the time Holsworthys population was 1,500.
1928    Gladys Mary Ashby appointed as Pretty Maid.
1928    "1st November Rev. Thomas Samuel Kendall died. Advowson sold for £1,100
1928    1928-30. Charles Gilbert Chairman of Holsworthy Hamlets Parish Council.
1929    Barclays Bank moved to Stanhope Chambers.
1929    Rev W L Gibbs appointed as Minister at Holsworthy Chapel.
1929    Edith Mary Weeks appointed as Pretty Maid.
1929    Gas Co. ceased to run as the gas plant was worn out and was too expensive to replace.
1930    New silver paten, inscribed SS Peter and Paul Holsworthy 1930, was presented to the church.
1930    Annie Eleanor Sellar appointed as Pretty Maid.
1930    1930-33. John Hicks Chairman of Holsworthy Urban District Council.
1930    1930-33. John 0. Daniel Chairman of Holsworthy Hamlets Parish Council.
1931    Earl Stanhope sent “Holsworthy Standard” weights and measures to Holsworthy Museum.
1931    Naomi Ruth Jewell appointed as Pretty Maid.
1931    Two altar candle sticks were dedicated to the memory of Mrs. Cornelius.
1932    Church clock overhauled and repaired.
1932    Holsworthy Cinema Co. built cinema which opened on 13th October.
1932    Urban District Council previously held the market and fair rights on a lease, at this time they purchased the reversion and so became the owners.
1932    Marjorie Evelyn Mary Rowland appointed as Pretty Maid.
1932    Frederick Harris inherited Ratherton.
1933    Gwendoline Dennis appointed as Pretty Maid.
1933    Rev A Goldthorpe appointed Minister of Holsworthy Chapel.
1933    William Trick left a legacy of £1,000, the interest from which to be used for the relief of the poor in Holsworthy.
1933    1933-36. W G Vivian Chairman of Holsworthy Urban District Council.
1934    Milk Marketing Board started.
1934    Rhoda Wakeham appointed as Pretty Maid.
1934    Derriton Creamery, originally built by Stacey and Sandford, closed. Later sold out to Cow and Gate.
1935    May Caroline Prowse appointed as Pretty Maid.
1935    Rev D Collier appointed as Minister of Holsworthy Chapel.
1936    1936-39. W.H. Badcock
1936    Rosslyn Hill appointed as Pretty Maid.
1937    Holsworthy Urban District Council built 17 Council Houses in Fosters Way at a cost of £470, for a weekly rent of 6s.16d.
1937    Marian Kathleen Broadribb appointed as Pretty Maid.
1937    February 1st. Seats at Holsworthy Cinema performances cost ls/6d for Back Stalls, 1s/3d for Centre Stalls,and 9d and 6d for Front Stalls.
1938    Kathleen Mathias appointed as Pretty Maid.
1938    Rev E D Gibson appointed as Minister of Holsworthy Chapel.
1939    1939-42. S.J. Ellery Chairman of Holsworthy Urban District Council.
1939    Morwenna Sellar appointed as Pretty Maid.
1939    September 3rd. Start of Second World War.
1939    Three hundred troops arrived in Holsworthy and billeted with local families.
1939    1939-45. First combine harvester in the district used on Common Moor by the War Agricultural Committee.
1940    Fire broke out in Thomas Oke’s mill. it is thought to have originated in the engine room. The fire brigade prevented the fire from spreading to surrounding buildings.
1940    Elizabeth Mathias appointed as Pretty Maid.
1940    Rev W H Martin appointed as Minister of Holsworthy Chapel.
1940    First Parish casualty of the war was Bert Bazley of Ashwater, serving with the Royal Navy.
1940    First Town casualty was Private F Lock, serving with the Devon Regiment.
1941    The Womens Voluntary Service (W.R.V.S.) opened a communal feeding centre in Bodmin Street for refugee mothers and children.
1941    Meetings held to discuss provision of an Ambulance service.
1941    Betty Ward appointed as Pretty Maid.
1941    The first tractor arrived on Lundy Island, supplied by Whitlocks of Holsworthy.
1941    May. Four hundred troops in town, all sleeping under canvas.
1941    June. War Weapons Week. Total collected £162,384.
1942    1942-45. L.J. Whitlock Chairman of Holsworthy Urban District Council.
1942    First Holsworthy Ambulance arrived.
1942    Meda Joyce Hearn appointed as Pretty Maid.
1942    February. Warships Week. Total collected £132,000.
1942    March. National Waste Paper Competition. Holsworthy won £500.
1942    September. H.M.S. Towey laid down. Paid for by Warships Week.
1942    September. Building of P.0.W. Camp began.
1943    Rowena Bennett appointed as Pretty Maid.
1943    H.M.S.Towey launched at Smiths Dock.
1943    May. Sgt Brawn of Bridgerule was the first Briton to shake hands with the Americans in Tunisia.
1943    May. Home Guard birthday parade.
1943    May. Spitfire EN 953 entered service with 500 Squadron.
1943    Wings for Victory Week. Total collected £141,000, enabling adoption of Spitfire EN 953.
1943    Sgt G F Locke killed when EN 953 crashed.
1943    First American troops in the town, 392 Engineer Battalion, arrived from Bude.
1944    Fees in State Schools were abolished. The school-leaving age was raised to 15.
1944    New six-inch water main laid by Italian prisoners of war.
1944    Edith Beatrice Mary Rendle appointed as Pretty Maid.
1944    June. Salute the Soldier Week. Total collected £108,000.
1944    September. Evacuees left Holsworthy to return home.
1945    1945-48. Thomas Kivell Chairman of Holsworthy Urban District Council.
1945    Crucifix on the organ in Church was carved by an Italian prisoner of war.
1945    Rev R W Chapman appointed as Minister of Holsworthy Chapel.
1945    Rev Edward Royle instituted as Rector of Holsworthy.
1945    Betty Weeks appointed as Pretty Maid.

 * Indicates an addition to the original by Tony

This date, 1945, at the end of the Second World War, seems an appropriate stage at which to conclude this present almanac. The post war period was the fore-runner of a new era for Holsworthy, indeed for the country as a whole, and the many changes to Holsworthy and District that took place over the last 44 years will necessitate much further research. We have a great deal of information on those changes but many dates and facts have still to be collated so this must be the target for a future edition.