Exeter - Paris Street

[arishmell]

Gravestock
 You may find the link below of interest. It gives a brief history of Paris St.
http://littleitaly.fortunecity.com/bologna/238/ (Please don't why it says littleitaly and bologna!!! It really is Exeter))
At the main page go to "Alternative Navigation" and select "Pubs By City Area" on the next page "Pub Links and Guide" click on the 'St Sidwells / Longbrook St' link. You'll find the Honiton Inn listed there.
Hope this helps

Many thanks for this fascinating link.  My father's mother, who died before I was born, is shown on her marriage certificate as a bar attendant living at the Country House Inn in Catherine Street in 1920.  This site has located the pub for me and given a brief history which has helped to fill in the picture.

[ryan]

Hi.
"Rush's" was a Grocery Shop owned by Philippa Rush. Her store was at 78 Paris Street.

Ryan.

[arishmell]

Hi.
"Rush's" was a Grocery Shop owned by Philippa Rush. Her store was at 78 Paris Street.

Ryan.

Now isn't that intriguing!  Could it be possible that one of my Pikes, having lived in the court behind the shop, could have maybe started work there as an errand boy and grown up to take over the shop as remembered by Hawkwind's aunt?  Another fascinating sidetrack to follow!  Thank you for that info, Ryan - it's great to be able to fill in the background.

[davidc]

This is an old topic but if anyone is interested there is a link for Paris Street at:

http://www.exetermemories.co.uk

[tabitha]

Hi davidc,

Welcome to Rootshat  and thank you for the Paris Street link.

Tabitha

[dee-jay]

My interest in Paris Street appears to pre-date other subscribers, but I had this little 'gem' tucked away in my GILL file:

THE TIMES
Friday May 19 1837 page 5, column a
On Wednesday night, about 10 o’clock, a very extensive fire broke out in Paris-street, Exeter.  It commenced in the premises of Mr. Hooper, a builder.  The fire burnt rapidly, and soon extended to Silver-place, where six or seven houses were in a short time entirely destroyed;  and the remaining houses in that place were on fire.  In all, about nine houses had been destroyed, and others were involved in flames at the time our informant left Exeter, which was past 12 o’clock on Wednesday evening.  The fire was also continuing its ravages along Paris-street.

My interest stems from my Gt-gt-grandfather, James GILL, who rose through the ranks from post-boy [not the GPO variety!] of Poltimore Square 1835 to Coachman on the over-night Defiance out of Exeter to London, by 1841 on the Ilminster stage of that route, where he is recorded in 1841 Census.

James had issue baptised at Colyton, Ilminster and Membury but I've not found a baptism for son Thomas Page GILL born 30 March 1838 at Paris Street, St Sidwell, Exeter;  Father's occupation then Coachman.

Sadly, James died in 1844 from pulmonary consumption, denying me the opportunity to establish his origins, and was buried in Yarcombe.  However, I am fortunate that two death notices have been located:

The Taunton Courier of 31 January 1844 records on page 7 the death:
‘At Long-hill, Mr. James GILL, for many years driver of the Defiance coach, on the Ilminster Road.’

The Sherborne Journal records in its Deaths column of 25 January 1844:
'January 19, Mr. James GILL, for some years the coachman of the Defiance Coach, whose death was accelerated by too constant exposure to the night air and damp weather.

If some kind soul is in a position to check for similar in any Exeter newspapers of the period, it is possible that some reference may be made to James GILL's origins as he was likely to be well-known to West Country travellers of the 1830s/40s.