A view of The Star Inn, 1908. On The left is Mrs. Hawkins, grandmother to Mrs. Evelyn Pike. Mrs. Hawkins cooked lunches in The Star, she is talking to a Mrs. Quick. In the background are Mr. Luxton the ostler and Mr. Denning who brought the Royal Mail from Cullompton to Hemyock. The gentleman with the broad brimmed hat was the Vicar of Dunkeswell Abbey Church.
The Star Inn, 1908.
27th September 2011 by 3 Comments
I believe my G G grandfather was the owner of the Star in 1847. In the GENUKI website under Hemyock land and property, D1996 it has James Townsend as the owner of the Start ( Star ) Inn and gardens, and Mark Babb the occupier.
James Townsend was born at Culmstock, 03/06/1791, to John and Ann Townsend. He married Mary Manfield who was born in 1796, the daughter of Lawrence Manfield and Esther Hart..
In the Book of Hemyock on page 75 it has a Lawrence Manfield the sole licensee from 1803 to 1811. And James Townsend took over the New Inn from 1818 until 1828. James and Mary lived at White Hall Farm.
I thank you for this interesting site,
Kind Regards,
Eric Townsend. Australia.
I believe Mark Babb was my great uncle. My grandfather was Arthur Clifford Babb (1879-1958) who was a career soldier in the RAMC I’d love to know of any relatives. My mother talked about ‘uncle Marky’
In the 1871 Census, George Babb (1840-1910) and his wife Sarah Perry were the proprietors of the Star Hotel. Sarah’s brother James Perry married George’s sister Cecilia Babb. Mark Babb (1843-1887) was George’s brother and in 1881 is a carpenter. Their father was also Mark Babb (1812-1890)
George was arrested in 1875 for a violent act broadcast as an attempt to kill his wife and child, in a ‘dreadful fit’ whilst drunk, and was found not guilty but warned to ‘abstain from drinking’. They were still there in the 1881 Census although he is listed as a builder as well as Inn keeper.
George went on to become landlord of the Winchester Hotel in Taunton, where he died in 1910, was given a lavish and well attended funeral. Sarah died in 1928, having moved back to Devon to live with her married daughter Emily.