Woodbury: A View from the Beacon

[alexisberryman]

by Ursula W Brighouse


Would any one who has access to this book mind letting me know what the information concerning the BASTIN family (i'm informed on pages 169 and 195) says?

Many thanks
Alexis

[suzard]

Welcome to RootsChat

looks like RootsChatmember Robholm has a copy

Suz

[suzard]

Whoops -forgot to say -search Devon board for topic:
Woodbury Salterton-School


Suz

[Robholm]

Hello Alexis

The two references you asked for are as follows:-

Page 169  Rows of cottages began to appear - Claremont Cottages before 1839 and Castle Cottages shortly after - another Philips development. An older generation knew the latter as Bastin's Row because three generations of the Bastin family lived at the corner house where they combined a bakery and shop with their craft as basket makers. People can still remember Blind Bastin sitting in his open doorway working at willow potato baskets and not infrequently children played truant from school to "skim willows" for Blind Bastin and earn a few coppers.

Page 195 (describes people & events in early 20th century).  'Blind' Bastin had gone but blind Jack Searle made baskets in Broadway and grew his 'withies' by the Polly Brook as Bastin had grown his by the stream at Pound Corner.

I hope this provides helpful information.
Best wishes.

Robin

[alexisberryman]

Robin,
Thank you, the first reference is almost certainly the correct bunch as i know they were basket weavers from a trade directory of the time- Intrigued as to which member of the family was called Blind Bastin- further digging required!

many thanks- this is absolutely fabulous detail. I am very grateful for your time!

Alexis

[Robholm]

Alexis

Ursula Brighouse mentions Castle Cottages (known as Bastin's Row).
In 1901 a Bastin family lived in Castle Road which is probably the same location. The census reads as follows:-

RG13/2031, folio 50, page 1
John Bastin, Head, Married, 68, Basket maker (own account), Woodbury
Ellen Bastin, Wife, Married, 67, Dress maker (own account), Totnes
Ernest Bastin, Grandson, single, 9, Guernsey

"Blind Bastin" may have been John, although the census doesn't record that he suffered any disability.

Robin

[john_w]

The Bastins were quite well known in Exmouth as Hotel owners in the 1870's although it may not be the same family as the one you are interested in.  let me know if you want any more information about that.

 The St John Ambulance hall is called The Bastin hall so, one  way or another theyleft their mark.