A STORY OF BRAUNTON
The following is a series of descriptions of Braunton life as experienced by the late A. H. Slee,
and contained in his 'Victorian Days in a Devon Village', privately published in 1966.
His book recorded the period since his early childhood in the 1880s.

PART 1: The Village at Work.
PART 2: Village Organisation.
PART 3: Village Life.
PART 4: More People.
PART 5: Matters More Weird!

Further Notes on Braunton.
Notes on "pounds, shillings and pence".
An Index of local names referred to in the 5 Parts.
THANK YOU for visiting, and please mail me with your comments,
or link to Devon History Selection.
or link to my Family History Homepage


Further Notes on Braunton.

In the earliest part of Slee's coverage, the 1880s, there were two reported references to Lerwills in Braunton. The first can be seen at the Devon History Selection page with reference to my gt-grandfather William Lerwill and "The Clock in the Square". The second is that the old manorial system came to an end in 1889, and the last crier for one of Braunton's three manors, the Manor of Gorges, was one John Lerwill, though he has not been identified in the family 'tree'.

The "Postman Poet", Edward Capern, is referred to by Slee and is also referred to at the Devon History Selection page.

Other histories of Braunton:
Braunton by Tina Gaydon, Badger, 1989.
Here is Braunton by Sam Ellacott (available at the NDRO).

Click to return to top of page.

Notes on "pounds, shillings and pence".

A.H. Slee printed his work just 5 years before the "decimalisation" of currency occurred in Britain. Consequently, he had no difficulty in quoting old-style monetary values. The "old" currency was made up of pounds, shillings and pence (pennies) and there were 20 shillings to the pound (the pound being the same as it is to-day) and twelve pennies to the shilling.

The notation form for pounds shillings and pence would be usually like £25/10/6d, meaning 25 pounds, 10 shillings and sixpence. If only shillings and pence were involved, then 10/6d or 10/- or 10/= (the last two simply meaning 10 shillings, no pence) would be the form.

Click to return to top of page.

An Index of Local Names Referred to in the 5 Parts.

ASHTON, Sgt.Major Tom ; PART 2
AYRE; PART 1
BARON, W.L. ; PART 2
BENCRAFT, Archibald ; PART 2
BRAY; PART 1
BUTIER, Monsieur ; PART 2
BUTLER; PART 1
CAPERN, Edward ("the Postman Poet"); PART 4
CARPENTER, John ; PART 4
CHALONER, Rev. William ; PART 2
CHICHESTER; PART 1
CHUGG; PART 1
CHUGG, Dan ; PART 2
CLARKE; PART 1
CLARKE, Captain Harry ; PART 2
COATS; PART 1
CODD, F.H. ; PART 2
COLWILL, Sam ; PART 2
COPP, Tom ; PART 2
DARRACOTT, Tom ; PART 4
DAVIES, Rev. D.R. ; PART 2
DOVELL, The Abbot ; PART 3
DRAKE; PART 1
DRAKE, Alfred ; PART 4
EVANS, William "Pincer"; PART 1
FERGUSON, Major ; PART 2
FfINCH, J.P. ; PART 4
GOULD, Captain ; PART 2
GRIBBLE, Sarah ; PART 4
HAHN, Herr ; PART 2
HAMES, "Daddy"; PART 4
HANCOCK, Mrs. ; PART 2
HARBUD, William ; PART 3
HARPER, Sydney ; PART 2
HARRIS; PART 1
HAYMAN, Richard Mellhuish ; PART 2
HORDEN, Grace ; PART 4
HOW, Will ; PART 4
HUNT; PART 1
HUNT, Farmer; PART 1
INCLEDON ROGERS; PART 1
INGRAM, Mr. ; PART 2
IRWIN, Christopher ; PART 4
KOPSEL, Herr ; PART 2
LAMPREY; PART 1
LANDER; PART 1
LANE, Dr. ; PART 2
LANE, Dr. Stephen Orson ; PART 4
LONG, Alfred ; PART 2
LOVERING, Fred. ; PART 2
MACNAMARA, Dr. ; PART 2
MARTIN, Johnny ; PART 3
MASON, James ; PART 4
MATT, R. ; PART 2
MINGO ; PART 3
MITCHELL; PART 1
MOCK, "Shiner"; PART 4
MORCOM, Rev. W.G. ; PART 2
PACKWOOD; PART 1
PACKWOOD, Jack ; PART 4
PAGE, Mr. ; PART 2
PASSMORE, Lucy ; PART 4
PEDRICK; PART 1
PERRYMAN, William; PART 1
PIKE, Miss ; PART 2
PROUT, Samuel ; PART 4
RALPH, John L. ; PART 2
RALPH, Miss ; PART 2
REED, John ; PART 2
RICHMOND, F.G.; PART 1
ROBINSON, Miss ; PART 2
SHEPHERD, Jack ; PART 4
SLEE, John; PART 1
SOARES, (Sir) E.J. ; PART 2
STADDON, George ; PART 2
STANBURY & SON; PART 1
SYMONS, "Nimbo"; PART 4
TAYLOR, Mrs. ; PART 3
TRENGROVE ; PART 3
TRESISE ; PART 3
TUCKER; PART 1
TUCKER, John Yeo (Crier, "J.Y.T."); PART 4
WATTS; PART 1
WATTS, "Doctor" Tom ; PART 4
WILSHIRE, A.E. ; PART 2
WINDSOR, Mrs. ; PART 2
WYOTT, William ; PART 3
YEO, Dick ; PART 3

Return to top of page.