We have just started a special project to clear the 49 war graves scattered throughout the old cemetery in readiness for a commemoration on Saturday November 3rd to mark the ending of the First World War 100 years ago. For more information on the project as it progresses just click on the following links: TheContinue reading “War Graves Project”
Category Archives: People
The Keats Connection
This year has seen the 200th anniversary of the period that Keats stayed in Teignmouth. He was here for only two months, arriving on 6th March 1818 after an horrendous journey from London through torrential storms. He had come to look after his brother Tom who had been staying in Teignmouth as part of the ‘treatment’ ofContinue reading “The Keats Connection”
Thomas Bidwill … continued
A few days ago we had a visit from Don Cockman who lives in Torquay and who first contacted us about 18 months ago. Don owns a decorated terracotta plate painted by “T. Bidwill” who, he believed, was buried in Teignmouth Cemetery. So we did some research and with the help of the Teignbridge CemeteryContinue reading “Thomas Bidwill … continued”
New Page for Stories
As we collect information about some of the people buried in the cemetery we post their stories on this blog. But those stories are mixed in with assorted other posts so there is now a new page “The Stories” which is essentially an index through to the various people we have written about. Try it out!
Georgiana Caroline Barbara Mainwaring
What an incredible story we have unearthed today! On 6 January 1842, 16,000 members of the British Kabul force, the `Army of the Indus’, fled from Kabul under a “shameful capitulation and the illusion of safe-conduct” promised by the eastern Afghan tribes. One week later, on 13 January, Surgeon William Brydon rode alone into Jellalabad,Continue reading “Georgiana Caroline Barbara Mainwaring”
Finding Mary Bowden’s Grave
Last Thursday I went up to the cemetery armed with a stake and a hammer ….. and before anyone says it, no I wasn’t vampire hunting – I also had a makeshift plaque and a tape-measure. I was there to meet up with Katrine Smith, the Cemetery Officer from Teignbridge. She came clutching two mapsContinue reading “Finding Mary Bowden’s Grave”
Cemetery Records
Last week I met with Katrine Smith, the Cemetery Officer for Teignbridge District Council. She very kindly, and with great enthusiasm, showed me the records that are held on the Teignmouth Old Cemetery. We looked at the fascinating old map of the burial plots and looked up the records of Leah Laforgue, the first personContinue reading “Cemetery Records”
Admiral Thomas Abel Brimage Spratt
The latest grave to be cleared last Saturday (14th November), by Jean and Kay, was that of Admiral Thomas Abel Brimage Spratt (1811-1888) .……… What a name to conjure with! Not only was he following in the family tradition of rising through the echelons of the Royal Navy but he also seems to have beenContinue reading “Admiral Thomas Abel Brimage Spratt”
William Frederick Yeames
On Saturday 31st October the working group cleared the grave of William Frederick Yeames, a famous artist who came to Teignmouth later in his life for the benefit of his health. Yeames was born on 18th December 1835 in Taganrog, Russia where his father was the British consul. He was the fourth child of WilliamContinue reading “William Frederick Yeames”
Albert Best
On Saturday, October 17th, a small working group of volunteers cleared the grave of Albert Best, located just to the rear of the surviving chapel in the Old Cemetery. Albert Best was born in Teignmouth in 1840 only 25 years after the Battle of Waterloo and lived here his whole life, the final 20 yearsContinue reading “Albert Best”
Teignmouth Old Cemetery 