Boutport Street around 1903More information has come in about Nick Griffins great grandfather, George. This time the image and the information comes from Clive Wakley of the excellent Land & People site.
Hi there,
My family lived both in Boutport Street, Barnstaple and its adjoining streets in the late 1800's and early 1900's. My folks were builders, carpenters and journeyman joiners - ie they travelled around the country when work was scarce in North Devon, to work on various building projects (as building contractors still do today).
They were not "travellers" but men who often had to work away from home for long periods. The attached image is of Barnstaple's Boutport Street around 1903 - when George Griffin and my folks lived there.
Note the horse drawn carts and vans, plus hand carts - sure signs of a large "traveller" presence if one believes the Sunday Express!
As a matter of fact, Boutport Street at that time was the town's second most important street, being home to skilled artisans, successful tradesmen and professional people such as accountants and engineers.
It pleases me to think that George Griffin and my great grand folks probably knew each other and had a laugh and a pint or two in the nearby working mans pub. Clive Wakley (Land & People).
.