How I got on during my trip to Britain
By Ern Quinton
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Ern visited Britain in Spring 2008 to try and uncover more of his family history. His ancestors are from St Thomas, Exeter. Here's how he got on:
Some of Exeter's history just took my breath away. Attached is a short summary of what I've accumulated (with extra comments, complains and questions of my own).
In the period between the mid 19th and early 20th century, the Beer and the Kerswell (Kerswill) families were often intermingled with each other in family matters, business dealings and public events.
In early times, the Kerswells' owned an ex Mental Hospital named Bowhill. (information extracted from a historical book written about Bowhill's past) and this building stands today. (Image A above) Surrounding this building was a very large Plant Nursery belonging to the Kerswell family and a road nearby bears the (Kerswell) Kerswill name.
During this period, the Beer family owned the Royal Oak Pub at 68 Oakhampton Street. (B) Opposite this pub was a soft drink factory owned by the Kerswells' and they also made their own glass bottles on this site.
Records show that an Ellen married a James Kerswell around 1903 which would have made her name 'Ellen Kerswell' but Ellen, the mother of these children, was buried in 1944 at Exeter Cemetery as 'Ellen Beer'. (D)
(My guess is that Ellen was born 'Ellen Kerswell' in 1870 , married Ernest Beer in1890. Ernest Beer dies 1901-1903 and Ellen stayed with her father until his death).
A seaside village called 'Beer'
Another coincidence is that approximately 30 miles South East from Exeter and on the coast is a village called 'Beer'.
(The story goes that when the Spanish Armada arrived through the English Channel, many boats run aground and one crashed against this point of land and the sailors settled here.)
Exwick Cemetery
Visiting this graveyard made me twinge with great anger. After some time searching for my Great Grandmother's grave, Ellen Beer, (of which I had in my procession a photograph of it taken during the 50's), who died in 1944 (F) , I found that her grave surrounds and ornaments had been removed by council, as with all the graves, and, to my disgust, noticed that many burial plots were damaged and/or destroyed possibly by use of heavy grass mowing equipment. Often small flower holding pots and headstones were relocated where they were 'out-of-the-way' or ignored completely. I saw one such flower pot simply pushed into the soil by driving over it. It is my estimation that within 10 years, many headstones and other burial items will be either destroyed, badly damaged, relocated to an unknown spot or even buried. (G)
Fairfield House
Around 2003-2005, the Fairfield House was purchased by a developer for the sum of 200,000 English pounds for the purpose of replacing it with a 10 unit block of flats. This was rejected by council but an 8 unit block was approved which was not acceptable to the developer who, in turn just left the building open and unsecured, leading to destruction and damage by vandals etc. It was told to me that many locals formed a objection group, opposed the destruction of this sound and beautiful building for prosperity but after a few years, the uninvited occupants made enough damage to the building that council approved its demolition on safety grounds. Early May, 2007, the building was removed and on my visit to the site in May 2008, 12 months later, most rubble was cleared, the area was covered with brush and no further building has taken place. It was told to me that currently the developer has re-submitted his application to council for his 10 flat apartment block. (E)
If you liked this page, these might interest you too:
Background to Ern's story: Kerswells of St Thomas
Finding your family overseas: Trace your roots