Day 12 - Joy Riding in Devon

Today I was lucky to receive an invitation from Joy at the Halberton Historical Society for a ride around some of the sites where the Way family had resided in days gone by. I caught the bus to Tiverton passing a couple of steam train stations which unfortunately are not in operation during January.

Joy met me in Tiverton and we headed out to where Hartnell Farm was located. Now a business park there has been much redevelopement and it seems that the owners are wanting to concrete a whole field for further development - a proposal that has met with much opposition from locals. By some co-incidence Joy's family lived at Hartnoll at a later date.
"In Canon Girdlestone's own census in 1864 John, Sarah and one child are listed at Hartnell, John as Labourer for Mr. Cruwys. Also listed at Hartnell is another labourer, wife and child but no-one else so presumably they both lived in the farmhouse and the farmer lived elsewhere.
My Mother's family lived at Hartnell from about 1889 to 1926. I have a feeling that in 1864 is was rather run down and I think in the 1879 the owner or occupier was summoned for bankruptcy !"

We headed up to the Grand Western Canal that had some excellent views over the area and some brave kayakers and swans enjoying the water on this freezing cold day. The canal was important for moving stone and goods throughout Devon.

From here went to meet with a local Dairy Farmer Colin who's family had been in the area for many generations. We were hoping that Colin might be able to shed some light on where 'Dairy House' would have been that the Ways also lived at. This information came from the 1881 Census and alot of farms would have had a dairy house so to pin it down exactly proved to be difficult. It was nice to get out of the cold and sit in Colin's excellent kitchen - with beams that had come from various places such as a wrecked ship in Plymouth!

"1881 Census - Dairy House, Halberton :
WAY, John Thomas Head Married M 40 Dairyman (50 Acres) b Halberton
WAY, Sarah Wife Married F 35 b Bampton
WAY, Francis Son Single M 17 (Dairyman Son) b Halberton
WAY, Emma Daughter Single F 10 Scholar b Sampford Peverell
WAY, John Son Single M 8 Scholar b Halberton
WAY, William Son Single M 6 Scholar b Halberton
WAY, Elizabeth Daughter Single F 5 Scholar b Halberton
WAY, Auther Son Single M 4 Scholar b Halberton
WAY, Hannah Daughter Single F 3 b Halberton
WAY, Walter Son Single M 2 b Halberton
WAY, Charles Son Single M 1 b Halberton"

We then drove down the lane around which it is most likely the Dairy House would have been.

Next we headed up to Sampford Peverell to take a look at Butteridge Farm. The original farm house is long gone - I had a quick chat with the current farmer who has been there 50 years and built thier current residence at this time. Seems he had other Australians visiting the farm to find their roots as well. Still with dairy and sheep on the land.
"1871 Census - Butteridge, Sampford Peverell :
WAY, John T Head M 32 Dairyman b Halberton
WAY, Sarah Wife F 28 b Bampton
WAY, Francis T Son M 7 b Halberton
WAY, *Aurter* Son M 5 b Halberton *Really cannot tell what this is but it seems from later entries it could be "Walter"
WAY, Emma Daughter F 1 month b Sapford Peverell"


A quick bite of lunch at Joy's then back to Tiverton on the bus. Was really impressed with the kindess shown by Joy, Colin, Mike and Linda for a strange Aussie girl wandering around Devon.