Old Ashburton

Thomas Ireland, butcher, takes on Thomas Endle as an apprentice in 1783, Richard Smerdon as an apprentice in 1784 and William Ireland in 1791.

Register of duties paid for Apprentices' Indentures 1710-1811

Elizabeth (wife of John Orchard of South tawton, butcher) was one of them, and Susanna, wife of John Lemon of Ashburton, butcher, was the other.

Documents connected to the Palk family of Haldon, in the Devon Heritage Centre. Ref Z10

                                                        ***                                               

                                                42 East Street 

In the 1911 census Robert Mitchell is shown as a butcher in East Street, assisted in the business by his wife Elizabeth, daughter Annie, and George Poolman, aged 17. The property has a name - Hillview - but its number is not recorded: however, it is three properties down from Greylands, which we know is No 48. (See the 1900s section of People and Properties). As all the houses on that side of the street are even-numbered, Mr Mitchell and his family were probably at No 42.
http://www.ancestry.co.uk/

 Above: 42 East Street when it belonged to W J Eales.
Thanks to Jane and Arthur Smith for all of the items and photographs connected with 42 East Street

In 1916 Rendell and Sawdye held an auction at the London Hotel for the sale of Nos 42 and 44 East Street. Freehold houses and shops, they were both owned by Mr C R Halse, who was occupying No 42. No 42 was a shop, house and premises with a walled garden and greenhouse; No 44 was a chemist's shop, house and premises, rented by Mr E R Moss, chemist. 

A side entrance led to premises suitable for a butchery business, including a slaughterhouse, cowsheds and piggeries. Mr C H Halse was the successful bidder, buying both properties as one lot for £750.

Western Times 30 May 1916 p5 col7

In 1917 Mr S F Willis, a butcher of Ashburton, was accompanying Mr C H Halse of East Street when their car was involved in an accident. Cyclist James Shillabeer, who was riding to Newton Abbot with Florence May Rodgman, collided with the car at the bend of the Travellers Rest; he died a few days later. At the inquest, held at the market hall, Dr E A Ellis testified to the severe injuries that James sustained.
Western Times 13 July 1917, p3 col6

1929 'As a consequence of ill-health' C H Hales sold No 42 and the business for £550

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette 26 April 1940 p9 col3

By the 1940s the business belongs to G B Soper.

1942 George Brendon Soper of 42 East Street was summoned at the petty sessions for employing a boy under 12 years of age. With his parents' consent the boy had often ridden in the delivery van, and occasionally took a basket and delivered goods. He received no payment for this, but the County Education Committee's case was that the boy was employed, whether he was paid or not. The case was dismissed after costs were paid.

In February 1947 C C Roberts of the Forest Inn, Hexworthy, sent a letter to the Western Morning News. The letter, carried 7 miles through the snow, said that the last postal collection or delivery had been on January 29th, and the last delivery of provisions had been on Janaury 27th. The inn had been without a telephone since the first fall of snow.

Mr Roberts wanted to praise Mr Soper, butcher of Ashburton, who had twice attempted to reach the villagers of Hexworthy. On February 2nd he got as far as Holne Chase, where Mr Roberts had met him with a pack-horse; on February 8th he reached Poundsgate.

Western Morning News 14 February 1947  

Mr Soper was Honorary Secretary of the Ashburton gymkhana horse and pony show for several years, and was mentioned in this capacity at 42 East Street in 1950 ( E R Tucker was joint Hon Sec at this stage).

Western Morning News 26 July 1950 p4 col3

See the 1940s section of the Virtual museum for items connected to G B Soper.

                                                           *******

George Brendon Soper died in 1955, aged 49, and William George Smith bought the business at the end of July of that year.

Mr Soper's gravestone is in St Andrew's Churchyard.

Information about George Smith acquiring the business came from the family.

Above: This picture was taken when a company producing machines for slicing ham discovered that Smiths'  had the oldest working model in the country. 'They gave us a new one'.

Left to right: George Smith, son Arthur Smith, representative of the company, son John Smith.

 Above: Dennis Coysh, John Smith and Arthur Smith

George died in 2002 - Arthur and John ran the shop for another 10 years before retiring in 2012.