CD1

(74 mins)
 

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BORN HAWKRIDGE 1926 / FAMILY CARPENTRY BUSINESS / TANNING BARK / SELLING CIDER

Recorded at Hawkridge, 23 January 2001.

Born 1926 in cottage in Hawkridge. Father was carpenter, TL followed in his footsteps into the family business, which had been started by TL's great-great-grandfather in 1840. Most of work came from farms in the area - fences, gates, farm sheds, general repairs to farm buildings. Ripping (bark removed and taken to tanning yards in Porlock) was done in April when sap was up.

Taking of bark to Porlock quite an occasion: they would set off with farmers' wagons at 3 in the morning, deliver the bark and return with year's supply of cider from Porlock. Great-grandfather had an off licence in Hawkridge, as well as being a carpenter - he would have had some of the cider that was brought back to sell. Farmers would come to order some new gates or whatever and have a go at the cider [laughs]. Like most Exmoor villages, Hawkridge too high (960 feet) for the growing of apples, hence Porlock's importance as cider centre. [Back to top]
 

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RIPPING GANGS / PIT SAWING / LOCAL ESTATE / LOCAL CARPENTER / CHANGES / COB BLOCKS 

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Pit sawing: a felled tree would be rolled onto a frame that was positioned over a pit that had been dug in the woods. A saw about seven foot long was then used, with one man on top and the other down in the pit. Pits still exist, though most now filled with debris.

Ripping: oak trees would be coppiced and the smaller trees that were taken out would be the ones that would be stripped of their bark as they were not much use for anything else.

Woods which were worked originally belonged to the Earl of Carnarvon, then the Hawkridge estate was bought by Colonel Harrison who lived at Combe in Dulverton. Estate comprised about six farms, and woods down to Castle Bridge [check sp?} and up towards Withypool.

Grandfather/great-grandfather's business had no competition in the area - in those days the local carpenter did a bit of everything ('chairs, carts and coffins'). No such things a flatpacks in those days [laughs].

Workshop where business began still in use, but not as much as it used to be, as more work is now done out on site. TL's two sons still do lot of carpentry work, eg putting up hedge banks that National Park [Authority] is trying to reinstate. Basically same sort of work that has always been carried out. Recent job involved restoring cob blocks into old barn near Anstey to comply with conditions of grant for restoration. [Back to top]
 

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FAMILY BACKGROUND / YOUNGER SISTER / POST OFFICE / MAIL ROUNDS / BILL BEDE / HAIR CUTS / WALKING / UNCLE JIM

TL next to youngest in family of five (two brothers and two sisters). Eldest brother called away to war (TL didn't go because he wasn't very old and wasn't that fit), he returned but did not live for long after war because he had contracted TB. Other brother (Fred) never worked at home: he won a scholarship, went away to school and joined Air Cadets and then the RAF. Stayed in the RAF after the war then went on to do experimental work near Salisbury involving helicopters. Died unexpectedly of a brain tumour. So TL the only brother left.

He went straight into the business from school, carried on working until he was 64, when arthritis made it impossible for him to continue. Happy in his work, loved country life and would not have wanted to live in a town.

Youngest sister married a local farm worker and he took a job near Exeter and settled there. Other sister never married: she did various farming-related jobs around Exmoor then returned to Hawkridge to care for parents. She is still looking after the village post office, which was opened in 1880s by his great-grandfather and has been in Lock family ever since. Now only open two afternoons a week; He expects it to close if and when his sister gives it up. His eldest son lives with her and helps out at the post office.

In grandfather's time mail would have been brought up from Dulverton on foot by Bill Bede. Bill Bede delivered some, the village postman delivered the rest. Bill Bede also had a hut in the village in which he cut hair and mended boots for a couple of hours before returning to Dulverton with the outgoing mail. In time a van was introduced, which came as far as Anstey Hill. His uncle used to go and collect mail from the van, return to the village to sort it then go on his round on foot - about 13 miles.

TL used to regularly walk into Dulverton for various reasons: haircuts, carnivals and so on. It took about an hour down the valley. Eventually progressed to bicycles. Usually walked in just with other Hawkridge children but sometimes went with Uncle Jim, the postman. Uncle Jim used to go rabbit trapping once he had finished his deliveries. [Back to top]
 

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MOTHER / GRANDFATHER / FRANKIE HOWARD / WITHYPOOL PUB / WALKING AT NIGHT

Mother hailed from Ash Thomas, near Tiverton, came to work at a farm near Withypool.

As his parents' cottage was rather cramped, TL often lived at his grandfather's cottage, which was close by. Describes his grandfather as being thought of as a 'rough card' - no-one messed about with him [laughs]. Tells story of how grandfather went into the pub in Withypool and found those there taking the mickey out of Frankie Howard, the local postman. TL's grandfather 'slung them all out'. Another night, his grandfather and some other men were returning from an evening's drinking at Withypool when they tripped over chain harrows that had been lain across their path as a trap. TL's grandfather said he knew who had done it so they went back to Withypool to give them a hiding [laughs].

TL and his friends would often be out walking at night, whether to the pub or to a whist drive in West Anstey (three and a half miles) or other social event. Could usually see by the light of the moon - no need for lanterns unless it was particularly dark. When he was a young teenager motor vehicles started to be used instead. [Back to top]
 

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CHILDHOOD / HOLLOWCOMBE FARM (MR LAND) / CIGARETTES / HUNTING

Short walk to school in the village. Used to spend a lot of time at nearby Hollowcombe Farm, which was owned by Mr Lang. Mr Lang was a great smoker; TL's aunt sold cigarettes and they would take a packet of 20 Player's down to Mr Lang for a shilling. Boys would get to keep halfpenny change and the cigarette card, so it was a popular job.

Blacksmith's shop had already gone by the time TL was a boy.

When hunt was on he and friends used to run down on the ridge to watch. They would sometimes get a coin for opening the gates for riders. Allowed out into the schoolyard to watch if there was a meet in the village. Hunt used to meet at Hollowcombe Farm. Some of the hunt used to ride 10-15 miles to get to the meet. Visitors from upcountry would come in spring and autumn for staghunting. There would sometimes be hunting two or three days a week because two different hunts covered the Hawkridge area (West and East Dulverton). Quarme Harriers based in Withypool used to go hare hunting when he was a young boy. [Back to top]
 

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SCHOOL / TEACHERS / CLOSURE / CLASSES / OUTINGS / MAYNARDS GARAGE

TL did well at school but never enjoyed it that much. Numbers at school varied because of itinerant farm worker families but it was generally around the 12-16 mark. When school started in 1880s they had more pupils, as many as 30.

Only half a dozen houses in village when he was a boy, not many more now. Teachers included Mrs Cragg and Mrs Thomas. Mrs Cragg, who lived in the schoolhouse, was one of first people in village to own a car - a Baby Austin with a fabric top. His son now lives in the schoolhouse. School itself is now a holiday home - school closed down in 1950s, at about the same time as electricity arrived in the village. When the school closed there were only three pupils left - they went to Withypool school instead. He was five when he started school, 14 when he finished. All the pupils were taught in the one room together, regardless of age. No actual sport was taught as such, but the children were let out of class to run around outside.

Village had coach outings from Maynard's garage to places like Ilfracombe and Combe Martin. [Back to top]
 

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WARTIME / EVACUEES / BLACKOUT / SEARCHLIGHTS / MILITARY EXERCISES / BRIDGES

Had a lot of evacuees in Hawkridge during the war who came down with a teacher and used the village hall as a school. Some evacuee families found village too quiet and soon returned to their original homes, bombs or no bombs. Some evacuees kept in touch and returned to the village later on. His family played host to three boy evacuees, the Gittings. Got on well with them, more scope for team games like cricket. Because of blackout they had to have a mask over their bicycle lights. Could see bombing of Wales from high ground. Night sky full of searchlights looking for German planes - nearest one at Hinham Farm, others at Anstey and Withypool. Occasionally saw plane in beam of light. One plane came down at Court Down, just above Dulverton, another one near Sandyway. Soldiers, including American servicemen, out on Molland Common on military manoeuvres. Military vehicles damaged some of the narrow bridges but they were all put back after the war. Withypool was the HQ of the local Home Guard. TL's dad was the local air raid warden - he had the uniform and a tin hat. [Back to top]
 

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ARMY MEDICAL / FATHER / MOTHER / WASHING / OLD RECTORY / VILLAGE HALL / RESIDENTS / SONS

TL found to have an ulcer at his army medical in Taunton, so he was not called up.

His father used to walk to East Anstey and get the train to South Molton to see the timber merchants there. His father died in 1975, following a stroke several years before which left TL running the business. His father had always done the books, so TL was dropped in at the deep end.

His mother and aunt used to take in washing for local people, including washing from the rectory, which later became Tarr Steps Hotel.

Colonel Harrison built the village hall about 60 years ago. Village hall well used now.

All TL's sons now back in village. [Back to top]
 

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DANCES / JOINING BUSINESS / MACHINERY / FENCING / ROOF REPAIRS / GRANTS / LISCOMBE EXPERIMENTAL FARM / TIMBER / SAWMILLS / PRICING

Went to Dulverton by bicycle for dances. Mainly old-time waltzes and so on rather than more modern stuff. Also set dances like the Lancers. Bands mainly local.

Never took up riding - did not like horses.

Just TL, his brother Bill and his dad in business when he joined it. Never had much in the way of machinery until the 1950s and the arrival of electricity, everything was done by hand. Farm gates, fencing and repairs to farmbuildings formed bulk of work. He started doing sheds when farmers began to get more grants to do that sort of building. Did lot of maintenance work at Liscombe Experimental Farm. Did not have timber yard but would have timber delivered to site at start of job. Most of timber from Goodlands who were at Dulverton and South Molton. Also timber from local sawmills, such as Pikes Sawmills at Exebridge, there's houses there now. TL used to do the estimates and bills, with help from his wife - didn't enjoy it much because he had to do it in the evenings after a day's work or at the weekends. Didn't make a lot of money but managed to survive [laughs]. [Back to top]
 

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UNDERTAKING / SCHOOL BATHING ACCIDENT / TRANSPORTING COFFINS / ASHWAY FUNERAL

Used to make coffins only occasionally. Had to dig the graves as well. School outing from Withypool to coast ended up with one boy and the young vicar in charge of the party both drowning; TL had to go to Bideford take the coffins by hearse to the mortuary at Bideford where the bodies were. In days before hearses, coffins would be transported by farmers' wagons. Mr Hepper from Ashway who used to walk to church in Hawkridge every Sunday requested that his coffin be brought along the same route for his funeral - TL's father had to arrange that. [Back to top]