The 1880s
From my own collection
In 1839 the Great Western Railway formally started to use the electrical telegraph.
The first general telegraph service was available in 1845, and by the 1850s the messages were commonly called 'Telegrams'.
In 1868 a parliamentary bill transferred the electric telegraph to the Postmaster General.
In 1981 telegrams became part of British Telecom, which discontinuted them in 2003. Some private companies still provide a service.
In the 1911 census William Henry Edgecome's 25 year old daughter, Alice, is the telegraphist.
Right: A bill from L B Varder dated 30 December 1881. Mr Varder has a machine printing works in East Street - he is also a bookseller, stationer, music seller, bookbinder etc. Here he has supplied 3 dozen memorial cards and three packets of envelopes to match at a cost of 4s 9d (plus 10d for some paper 'owed')
L B Varder (Lavington B Varder according to the 1891 census http://www.freecen.org.uk) published Charles Worthy's book Ashburton and Its Neighbourhood in 1875.
There was a sad end to Mr Varder's life: in 1894 at an inquest at the Golden Lion Hotel it was stated that he committed suicide by cutting his throat.
Exeter & Plymouth Gazette 13 April 1894 p6 col8
It is 19½cm x 8cm (7½ x just over 3 inches), and is dated November 3rd 1882. It is for £2 4s 6d and is payable to C W Chute Esq. The signature looks like H W Firth.
Western Times 27 Dec 1862 p3 col2
From Morris and Co's Commercial Directory and Gazetteer 1870: Watts, Whidborne and Co., bankers, West Street (branch of) draw on Williams, Deacon and Co., London. Manager - William Creber.
Following the death of Mr Whidborne and because of the age of the senior partner, in 1891 the four businesses (Dawlish, Teignmouth, Ashburton and Newton Abbot) were transferred to the Capital and Counties Bank Ltd.
Left: Mourning stationery, 1882. This is a letter from Elizabeth Dorothea Wrey, widow of the Rev John Wrey, to Mr Firth (a solicitor). Her husband died in October 1872, and his address was 10, Den Crescent, Teignmouth (North Devon Journal 24 October 1872 p8 col6). It seems likely that Mrs Wrey had the black-edged stationery printed at that time, complete with her own monogram. 10 years later she is living at Holne Park, and has crossed out the Teignmouth address. The letter concerns her wish to continue leasing Holne Park.
Black-edged stationery usually seems to have been used for the period of mourning (see http://www.victoriana.com/VictorianPeriod/mourning.htm
amongst others). In this case either another family member has died, or Mrs Wrey is being economical, and is using up stationery that she already has.
From my own collection
Above, and above right: More examples of mourning stationery. This envelope, sent to solicitors Messrs Tucker and son, was stamped in Totnes in October 1883.
From my own collection
Right: A receipt from J Clymo, 'Silk mercder and woollen draper, hatter, hosier, haberdasher etc.', of Market Place, Ashburton.
The logo on the left hand side says 'Family mourning', and as well as advertising that funerals are 'furnished', we are told that there is a millinery warehouse, and that dresses and mantles are made to order.
It is difficult to read what Mr Clymo supplied in 1883 (it looks like the bill was paid on June 14th), but the second item looks like 'bonnet' for 8s.
The 1881 census has a James Clymo, aged 29, a draper employing 4 hands, living in North Street. He has a wife Sarah M and 4 year old child Margaret N E. Both Sarah and Margaret were born in Ashburton, but James was born in Australia.
https://www.familysearch.org
From my own collection
Kelly's Directory of Devonshire 1902, p32: Golden Lion Family and Commercial hotel and posting house (James Clymo, proprietor) East St.
Golden Lion Hotel, East St., Ashburton
Head James Clymo, hotel keeper, born Sydney, Australia
Wife S M Clymo, born Ashburton
1911 census
Mr Chalk's shop was in East St., at the corner of Station Road.
In the 1891 census Samuel H Chalk is a shoemaker in East St. - aged 59, he was born in Ashburton. At this time his 17 year old daughter Flora R Chalk is a shoemaker assistant.
http://www.freecen.org.uk
For more on Samuel, see Cordwainers and Shoemakers, under Banks and Businesses
The ticket, dated September 21st 1887, is for a new mainspring for a gold Geneve watch - probably the customer, in this case Mrs G Yolland, was given the ticket as proof that the watch was in Mr Burston's possession.
According to the website of the Federation of the Swiss Watch industry, http://www.fhs.ch/en/* the term Geneve means that the timepiece is made in the canton of Geneve and is of the highest quality.
In the 1881 census John Burston is shown in East Street, but by 1891 was in St Lawrence Lane.
By 1902 J Burston is operating from 71a Queen Street, Newton Abbot, advertising that he has been there for 7½ years, after being at Ashburton for 18. He also says that orders can be taken at 3 Fore Street, Teignmouth.
Western Times 30 May 1902 p5 col6
*Accessed 14-05-2017
Left: A receipt for items provided by Charles Skinner, 'Linen and woollen draper, silk mercer, hosier, glover and haberdasher', of East Street.
Sent on February 18th, 1888, to the executors of the late Mrs G Yolland, it was settled in April. Mr Skinner provided: 6 bearers' gloves at 2/9d each, 1 kid glove for Dr Gervis, I cap (2/6d) and 1 tie (1/6d) for 'Nurse' and 2 pairs gents best Dents (?) gloves at 6/6d each.
Mrs G Yolland was probably Mary Ann Yolland, widow of Mr Geo. Wills Yolland - she died on February 9th, 1888.
Western Times 11 Feb 1888 p2 col4
Thanks to Geoff Thursfield for the item above