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Things New and Old Item 27: Bazaar at the Bath Saloon, Torquay

Home » What to Read » Things New and Old » Things New and Old Item 27: Bazaar at the Bath Saloon, Torquay



This is the twenty-seventh item from Robert Dymond’s book: “Things New and Old Concerning the Parish of Widecombe-in-the-Moor and its Neighbourhood” (1876)

BAZAAR AT THE BATH SALOON, TORQUAY

[From the “Torquay Directory” of April 7th, 1875.]

THE Bazaar in aid of the funds for restoring the parish church ofWidecombe-in-the-Moor, which took place, as announced, at the Bath Saloon on Friday and Saturday last, was, on the whole, a success; although at times, during each day, the attendance was somewhat scanty, and the trade not so brisk as the stall-keepers would have wished. There were, in all, six stalls, besides a tea table, which was presided‘ over by the Hon. Mrs. Dalzell. The first stall on entering the room was kept by Mrs. W. Kitson, assisted by Mrs. W. H. Kitson, Mrs. John Kitson, and the Misses Hext. The adjoining table was presided over by Miss Arnold, assisted by Lady Larpent and Miss Murphy. The third stall was kept by Miss Houstoun, assisted by Mrs. Moore and the Misses Hicks; and the fourth, (the Exeter stall) by Mrs. Robert Dymond, assisted by Miss Dyott, Miss Whitter, Mrs. L. H. Tosswill, and Miss Dymond. The remaining two stalls were taken by Mrs. Beckett, who was assisted at one by Mrs. Atkinson, Miss Erskine, and Miss Young, and at the other (which was devoted to bouquets and flowers) by Mrs. D’Aeth and Miss M. Hogg. The Rhine Band was in attendance on the first day, and the Italian Band on Saturday. The bazaar opened at two o’clock on the first day, and, in spite of the counter-attractions of the steeple-chases at St. Mary- Church, about 200 persons visited the room, which, for a time, seemed quite crowded, and though the time was short, the trade was brisk, and the sum of £162 17s. ld. was realised. On the second day the doors were opened at eleven o’clock ; but, till about three o’clock, the attendance was scanty, and buying somewhat forced. For the next three hours the room was pretty full, about the same number attending between eleven and six as were present on the first day. The Bazaar for the day may be said to have closed practically at six o’clock, as not more than 70 or 80 persons after that time availed themselves of the reduced entrance money, and the attention of these seemed to centre principally in the “Wheel of Fortune,” at which the less expensive and more perishable articles were disposed of. The amount realised on the second day was £178 9s. 4d., so it is hoped that nearly £300 may be handed over to the restoration fund-a small sum, undoubtedly, towards £1,000, which is the sum required to put the mere fabric of the church in repair, without any unnecessary ornamentation, but still sufficient to admit of a substantial section of the work being done during the ensuing summer. The Widecombe Chronicle and Dartmoor Gazette secured a ready sale, and we have no doubt that all who purchased it were well satisfied, and know a great deal more about Widecombe and Dartmoor after reading it than they did before.This publication, edited by Mr. Robert Dymond, F.S.A., is still on sale at the Directory Office, and the principal booksellers of the town, and the proceeds will go to the Restoration fund. For the information of those who are desirous of seeing this magnificent old church, or visiting a very characteristic specimen of the beautiful valleys which may be found on the skirts of Dartmoor, we may state that the Widecombe valley can be easily got at from Torquay, and affords many charming sites for picnics during the ensuing summer. Parties can reach it, either by taking the 11 o’clock train from Torquay for Bovey, where carriages may be bespoken at the “Dolphin” or “Union” Hotels, to convey them by Haytor, Rippon Tor, and Hound Tor, toWidecombe, returning by Manaton and Becky Fall to the train which leaves Bovey at half-past seven. Or they can go to Ashburton bythe train leaving Torquay at 9.15, and, obtaining carriages at the “Golden Lion,” drive through the Buckland and Webburn drives, better known as Holne Chase, to Widecombe, varying the route home by returning, either by Bovey Tracey, or by driving up the Widecombe Valley to Heatree Down, and so by Hound Tor and Rippon Tor, back to the train leaving Ashburton at 6.40. These routes may, of course, be varied or curtailed, but a journey to Widecombe will, we are sure, form a necessary sequence to the kindly efforts of many of those who have volunteered their assistance towards restoring its beautiful church. As there are upwards of £200’s worth of articles still left for sale, it is proposed to hold a bazaar, for such things as are not previously sold by the various stall-keepers, some time during the ensuing summer, either at Widecombe, or at Bovey, Ashburton, or some other place equally accessible, and adjoining the Moor.

The concert which took place yesterday for the same object, was highly successful; the charming singing of Mrs. Atcherley was the special feature.