Crosbie Coles / James Owen


W Crosbie Coles and James G Owen of Bideford both signed the preface to a small paperback guide of Bideford first published in 1894. This was printed and published by the "Gazette" Office. Walter C Coles was a printer, stationer and publisher with premises at 5 Grenville Street. He was registered as the publisher of the Bideford Weekly Gazette which appeared every Tuesday. This contained two maps: a sketch map of Bideford; and an outline map of the surrounding area from Bude Bay to Barnstaple.

In 1883 W Crosbie Coles published The History of Bideford written by Roger Granville and this may have given them the idea of producing their own Guide to Bideford and District. Kingsley's Country. However, the first account of the town was An Essay Towards A History Of Bideford in the County of Devon. The First edition was published in Exeter where it was printed by E Grigg and appeared in 1792. This work includes chapters on local Witches, the Granvilles, Dissenters, Bridge and Quay, etc., and was probably written by J Watkins.

Coles / Owen 1a

Size: 135 x 185 mm. (7 = 45 mm) Scale of Miles.

MAP OF THE BIDEFORD DISTRICT with scale bar (Aa). Simple outline map of the area around Bideford. No signature or imprint. The area covered is from Bude (Ae) east to Hatherleigh (Ee) and north to Saunton and Barnstaple.


Coles / Owen 1b

Size: 95 x 145 mm. No scale.

BIDEFORD (Aa). Simple sketch map of the area of Bideford. No signature or imprint. The area covered is from North Down Lane (Ae) east to Torrington Lane (Ee) and showing relatively few buildings.

1. 1894 Guide to Bideford and District. Kingsley's Country
Bideford. Gazette Office. 1894. DevA.

Guide to Bideford and District. Kingsley's Country ... Third Edition
Bideford. Gazette Office. 1896. KB.

Guide to Bideford and District. Kingsley's Country ... Fourth Edition
Bideford. Gazette Office. 1900. TQ, [Bid].

                                      

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