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”
Category Archives: Stories
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”
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”
Leah Laforgue
Born in 1861, Leah Lee has been described as “a black-eyed, chestnut-haired Devonshire beauty”. She was the daughter of Samuel Lee, a well-to-do draper of Teignmouth, and his wife, also named Leah. Her story is quite extraordinary. – a young Victorian woman who left the small town of Teignmouth and England to become governessContinue reading “Leah Laforgue”
Teignmouth Old Cemetery 