Ashburton, North Street c.1960

Photo ref: A67072

Someone thought the Umber Mine in Ashburton was at West Street but I know that it was at the End of East Street next to the Cottage Hospital which I think may have been called Eastern Road at that point. I used to live at East End Terrace and I remember having to pass the entrance of the mine and getting the orange/brown umber on the bottom of my shoes.

Best friend lives there

Whether or not Sparnham House was an old coaching inn (I doubt it) or not, it is noteworthy of being the long-time residence of John Hannibal (or sometimes Henry) Foaden and his wife Elizabeth nee Husson. They were married in the summer of 1867 and moved to Sparnham House shortly after. They had at least six children; two sons and four daughters. John lived in the house till after the First World War and died in 1924 ...see more

I was living in Sparnham House in 1960, but don't recall the umber mine you mention, though my father (Brian Baker) did say there had been one, once. Outside Sparnham there used to be a tap which was supplied by a natural spring and during the long winter of 1963 it was, at times, the only piece of plumbing that wasn't frozen. There was a tunnel under the garden which I was never allowed to explore; I ...see more