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St Thomas - photos of people, places and events

Page updated 21st March 2014

The second of several pages for the different areas of Exeter. If you have a photo of a place, event or people in St Thomas, that would be suitable for inclusion on the page, or know more about one of the photographs, please Contact me.

A decorated boat for the St Thomas ARC that took part in the 1912 water carnival.

St Thomas Girls' 1910 is chalked on the board.

In October 1914, a Canadian Motor Transport detachment of motorised machine-guns and supply column passed up Alphington Street and Cowick Street, watched by a large crowd. They camped at Fairfield in Okehampton Road for the night before driving over the Exe Bridge and up Fore Street, and proceeding to their destination. Photo courtesy the Westcountry Studies Library.

The Buller Arms in Alphington Street was the first to apply for permission to put up a sign that said "Motor Accommodation". The Council approved the sign on 23rd March 1904. Photo Simon Wellaway.

A postcard showing the County Ground when it was being used for a rugby match by the Cathedral School.

The shop of Hubert Wellaway, a fruiterer of 144 Cowick Street. Hubert had previously been the landlord of the Bullers Arms in Alphington Street. Photo Simon Wellaway.

A second photo of the pageant held at Franklyn House. Photo John Moore.

During the middle of the 1930s a pageant was held at Franklyn House, probably as part of the St Thomas Fête. Photo John Moore.

The St Thomas Townswoman's Guild meet in the Methodist Hall during the early 1950s. The cake cutter is the president, Mrs Fanny Lethbridge. Photo Tony Lethbridge.

The Coronation of King George VI in May 1937 was a time for celebrations in many streets across the land. The people of St Thomas turned out in their droves, placed tables and benches in the streets and laid on a tea for the children and a drink for the adults. I'm not certain where this photo was taken, apart from St Thomas. Photo John Garnsworthy.

Before the Gateway Shopping Centre (now Somerfield) was built in Cowick Street, a large rectangular area from the shop fronts to the rope walk was owned by French's Mill and Seed Merchants. The large building in this photo was the cubing mill, and behind is Wippell's in Buller Road. The mill was sited just where the row of shops is now situated at the rear of the car park. Photo Murray French.

St Thomas railway bridge before Cowick Street was widened and a pedestrian arch made parallel to the road arch. Circa 1955. The small hut like shop to the right of the arch was Paddy Lawler's Emporium. Paddy would have all sorts of junk for sale. For many years he had a large stuffed bear that would be put out the front, often wearing a corset or pair of bloomers, or similar, of which he had managed to find a plentiful supply, for sale. At night, the bear, being too large to go in the shop was put around the back and covered with a tarpaulin. Many a young police constable was given a scare by a senior colleague, by being asked to investigate the rear of the building on a dark night. See Willie the Transport Manager. Photo Express and Echo and memories of Peter Hinchliffe.

This is the only photo I have of the Turks Head, which was on the north side of Cowick Street. It is now the entrance road into St Thomas precinct, with the General Buller, just behind. Other pubs in this view are the Moreton Arms and the Railway Inn.

The north side of Cowick Street by the railway viaduct. The Railway Inn was just behind the lamp post – it was a City Brewery house that was closed in 1939, and demolished after the war. The National Westminster Bank is now on this site.

The new road layout for the twin Exe Bridges included widening Cowick and Alphington Street. They started on the northern side of Cowick Street, leaving the King's Arms in situ, as it had been rebuilt a few years before, a few yards behind the old building line. In this photo, all the shops and tenements on that side, including Swan Yard have been bulldozed before the road is widened. Photo Express and Echo.

Cowick Street became a famous land mark when the Monty Python team decided to film part of a sketch in the street. Entitled 'Up you street' it featured two tramps who find a bottle of champaign and two glasses in a rubbish bin. See Up Your Street

St Thomas was incorporated into Exeter in 1899. Before then, it had its own fire service. This is the fire-wagon and crew in 1889.

St Thomas Station was the headquarters of the South Devon Railway, and as such, it had to have a building to suit its status. There was a grand entrance at street level while it was fully enclosed at the platform.

St Thomas Church and Cowick Street after the great blizzard of February 1978. Photo John Garnsworthy.

The entrance to the County Ground in 2005, just before the Exeter Chiefs played their last game there. Everything has now gone, as the developers have started building the new houses (2009)

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