Budleigh Salterton did not become a parish in its own right until 1894. Its census return for 1891 is therefore incorporated in that for East Budleigh, even though it had approximately twice the population.  Having looked at the descriptions for the boundaries of the four enumeration districts for East Budleigh it seem reasonable for present purposes, and unambiguous, to assume Budleigh Salterton is defined by the boundaries of enumeration districts 1 and 2.  In practical terms this includes the whole of the town of Budleigh Salterton and the three (then) outlying hamlets of Kersbrook, Little and Great Knowle.  Certainly these hamlets would be considered part of Budleigh Salterton today.

The following analysis is taken from detailed study of the facsimiles of the 1891 census returns available for downloading and printing (1).

In total there were 446 houses (32 unoccupied) with 1767 inhabitants at the time of the census of whom 27 were visitors, leaving 1740 permanent inhabitants recorded.  The visitors include: Sir Theodore Martin KCB, a parliamentary agent; a Wesleyan Minister; an evangelist; and a graphic artist.

Two hundred and eighty (16% of the permanent population) described themselves as retired or living on independent means or were obviously part of the household where the head was so described.  Of these 96 were born in Devon (34%) i.e. one third of people retiring to the town had a strong Devon connection.  An even stronger connection was held by the remaining 1460 of whom 1220 (83%) were born in Devon. Eight percent of the population was aged 65 or more.  This is substantially higher than the national 65+ population figure of 5% recorded for 1891 (2).  It can be compared to the figure of 39% recorded for Sidmouth in 2007, which is probably a reasonable surrogate for Budleigh Salterton at the same date (3).

Seven hundred and eighty six (54% of the non retired population) claimed some form of occupation.  Many of the descriptions are quite elaborate and one is left with the impression that most were making an attempt to promote their abilities.  Ninety one women claimed to be seamstresses, dress makers or lace makers.  Nine of these were lace makers and there was also a lace dealer, Julie Farrant.  The demise of the “Honiton” lace trade followed by a short resurgence around Queen Victoria’s wedding up to the Great Exhibition is summarised by Hoskins (4) and sufficiently noteworthy as to form part of the analysis at (2).  The waning influence of Lace schools accelerated by the Education Act of 1870 is also summarised in the OVApedia article on early schooling in East Budleigh (5).

The occupation or “calling” data for 1891 are known, nationally, to be weak.  One can only conjecture as to the degree of economic activity implied by this high level of claimed occupation since very few marked the “employed” or “employee” boxes, which had been introduced in an attempt to improve occupational data collection.  Some returns, therefore, may reflect aspiration rather actual employment. But there are only two people described as paupers and three as being on Parish Relief. 

Of those claiming an occupation 93% can be placed in one of the following nine groupings in descending order.  These groupings were simply chosen on inspection to give a sense of proportion. They have been applied consistently although there are no nationally recognised definitions for the time.  They should be regarded as indicative only.

 

 

 

In April 1795 Rev John Swete (6) described Budleigh Salterton as follows:

“The buildings, in general of the meanest cast intermingling with trees had a picturesque appearance; but in other respects, had so few of those points requisite for a watering place, that I think its improvement, in equipping a few cottages for Invalids have been carried nearly to their full extent.  To many however it possesses, and is probable will retain, two desiderata of the chiefest import, Retirement, and as genial an air as any on the coast!”

“The men are Farmers and Fishermen, and the Women Lacemakers – and the Natural productions which for some years past have render’d the place well known, are its fine Lobsters and its Laver, this last under the class of Mosses, is a vegetable growing on the Rocks.......”

In the 100 years since John Swete’s visit, Budleigh Salterton has emerged from obscurity to become one of the established south Devon seaside resorts alongside Seaton, Sidmouth, Exmouth, Dawlish, Teignmouth and Torbay, albeit the smallest.  So it is not surprising to see agriculture and fishing now playing a minor part in the local economy or to find the “service economy” comprising domestic service and retail activity to be dominant.  

The 35 individuals claiming to be involved in Lodging House Keeping (including the hoteliers and victuallers running the Britannia Inn, Knowle, and the Feathers, King William Hotel and Rolle Hotel in the town itself) only had 33 lodgers between them.  The 1891 census was taken on the night of 5th April and these low numbers of lodgers, compared to the supply of available rooms which must have been substantially more than this, perhaps indicates that the “season” had not started or perhaps the description of Lodging House Keeper falls in the category of aspiration.  John Swete mentions above that seaside resorts, initially, catered for invalids seeking a cure (mostly during the winter season). He also added in his notes on Exmouth, recorded a few days later:

“– it was not now merely sought for by the Invalid, but was consider’d during the Summer months, as an eligible retreat for the Children of idleness and gaiety..” 

Amongst the 57 individuals claiming an occupation, and not accounted for above, there were 12 coastguards and 13 schoolmasters or schoolmistresses. 

There is one school that can be identified because it took boarders. It was run by James White in Montpellier House (top of Victoria Place) with his wife, daughter, a teacher and two servants.  There were 18 boarders, all girls aged between 12 and 18.

The Rev. James Boucher had laid the foundation stone of the hospital three years earlier on 8th March 1888. In the census return it had a resident Matron (Isabella Warington, (46) Widow), one nurse, a domestic servant and six patients: five with ages ranging from 5 to 17 and a widow of 48. Rev Boucher (79 & widower) was then living in 3 Prospect Terrace. 

Given the relative strength of what has been broadly classed as “retail” activity it is interesting to list the diversity of trades available.  The census relates occupation with the home address of the individual.  It does not tell us where he or she carried out that business.  It is reasonable, however, to assume that most were living “over the shop” or close by.

  

Salterton High Street c. 1900

 

High Street shops

Shoemaker

Baker

Insurance Agent

Draper & Outfitter (William Connett(38))

Bookshop

Grocer

Milliner

Butcher (Henry Bickley (32))

Dairy

Photographer (Thomas Andrews (32))

JewellerShoemaker

Greengrocer

Donkey Chair Owner

Chimney Sweep

Coal Merchant

Post Office

The Feathers

The King William Hotel

Fore Street  shops

China Merchant

Butcher (John Walter (46)) 

Draper

Ironmonger

Auctioneer

Milliner

Coffee Tavern

Bootmaker

Grocer & Wine Merchant (Harry Perriman (34))

Tailor & DraperChemist (William Saunders (45))

“Fancy” shop

Photographer (Annie Sherlock (48))

Baker & Confectioner

The Rolle Hotel

Wilts & Dorset Bank

Chapel Street (and elsewhere)

Poulter & Game Dealer

Florist

Cabinet Maker

Vital Institutions:

Bank Manager of the Wilts & Dorset Bank in Fore Street: Herbert Russel (35).

GP’s: Robert Walker (55), 7 Prospect Terrace; Edward Mercer (61), Sydney House; Francis Bell (50), Arch Brook.

Solicitors: Henry Baker (63), The Lawn and John M Templeton (65), 3 The Lawn.

Police Constable: Richard Pike (36), 3 Poplar Row. 

Clergy & Ministers

Budleigh Salterton was still formally part of the East Budleigh Parish, St Peter’s Church was not built until 1893.  However, Lord Rolle had built a chapel-of-ease in 1811, enlarged in 1837.  Rev Robert H Bindon (58) lived in “The Bungalow” in Little Knowle.

The East Budleigh Curate, Rev. C. Price (38) was living in Budleigh Salterton in Park House Lodge.

Charles Harrison, Weslyan Minister lived in 6 Cliff Terrace.

No Baptist minister has been found apart from Daniel Cork (68), retired (likely to hve been administered from outside).

Notable individuals who, at some stage would justify a biographical entry in OVApedia, include:

Thomas Adolphus Trollope (80) was living in 10 Cliff Terrace with his wife Frances, 25 years his junior who also claimed to be a novelist (not to be confused with Frances “Fanny” his mother).

Thomas Brushfield MD (63) lived at “The Cliff” Cliff Road with his wife Hannah.

Henry John Carter FRS (77) had retired as Surgeon-Major from the Bombay Army and was living with his wife Ann in the old family house “The Cottage” now “Umbrella Cottage”.

Retirees included: a Bank of England Clerk; a Consul and Vice Consul; an American Merchant (born British Guiana); Civil Servants and Indian Civil Servants; a Bengal Police Officer and various Military officers of whom the most senior were; Major General Jonathan Keer (64) of H.M. Bengal Staff plus wife Eliza and daughter Honoria, lodging in Ash Villa and Vice Admiral George W Preedy RN (74) plus wife Elizabeth, his sister Anna, his three daughters and one son, four servants and a governess at Park House (Park Lane).

 

Researched and written by © David Daniel, 2009

This is the first of a short series of related articles comparing Budleigh Salterton and East Budleigh.

References: 

1.Ancestry.co.uk

2.www.visionofbritain.org.uk Statistical summary of the population 1891.

3.Coastal Towns: the Government's Second Response. First Report of Session 2007–08. Stationery Office, HC 69,  21 November 2007

4.Devon by W G Hoskins, David & Charles 1978 ISBN 0 7153 5577 5

5.Early Schooling in East Budleigh OVApedia EB-G-00004

6.Georgian Devon – The Illustrated Journals of the Reverend John Swete (1789-1800)” Vol II (edited by Todd Gray) ISBN 1 85522 648 0

 

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