TWISS FAMILY 


The Twiss family took over Banfield‘s Library, and hence Stewart and subsequently Milligan’s business in about 1882, although both businesses were operating concurrently in that year.

For a more detailled account of Banfield´s Library up to 1900, see the opening chapter on Centres of Production - Ilfracombe.

The Twiss family issued a range of maps and the following have been identified:

Twiss 1:  Two maps on one sheet titled NORTH DEVON for Twiss & Son’s Illustrated Guide to Ilfracombe and North Devon. See below.

Twiss 2: Sketch map with no title showing Lorna Doone country.

Twiss 3: Ordnance Survey style map Twiss & Son´s Environs of Ilfracombe etc.

Twiss 4: Ordnance Survey style map Twiss & Son´s Environs of Lynton etc. 

Twiss 5: Ordnance Survey style map Twiss & Son´s Environs of Bideford etc. 

Twiss 6: Twiss & Sons´ Plan of ILFRACOMBE

Twiss 7: New map of NORTH DEVON.

 
Twiss 1

Twiss and Son came into possession of the Rev. Tugwell´s popular work on North Devon, The North Devon Handbook, and the extracts and proceeded to reissue them. The first edition of Twiss & Son’s Illustrated Guide to Ilfracombe and North Devon was dated (in the preface) 1888. Later issues are difficult to date: a new issue appeared c.1893 (Twiss and Sons) on the evidence of an advert for the L&SWR dated May of that year. There were new headers and "tail pieces" but minimal text (mainly layout) alterations. A new edition appeared c.1893 with updated text, new illustrations (mainly photographs) and meteorological data from 1891. 

Size: 300 x 375 mm (combined). Scale of English Miles (10 = 50 mm) 

Two maps on one sheet: NORTH DEVON with scale bar (Aa) size: 150 x 375 mm showing an area from Hartland (and Duck Pool) to Bridgewater Bay[1]. ILFRACOMBE. (below) size: 150 x 375 mm  The map shows the coast from The Torrs to Hillsborough Hill and south as far as the railway station. Imprints: Published by Twiss & Sons, The Library, 9 High Str, Ilfracombe. (AeOS) and Bacon's Geographical Establishment, 127 Strand, Lond. (EeOS) (both within frame lines). To the right within the map is a reference to the library: Mrs Twiss & Son's Business Establishments thus II which is clearly marked. The section of the Bacon map shown is from the New Ordnance Atlas (see Bacon 1). 

 

1. 1888  Twiss & Son’s Illustrated Guide to Ilfracombe and North Devon ..

             Ilfracombe. Twiss & Son. 1888, (1889[2]).  KB, BL[3]; KB.

 

             Twiss & Sons’ Illustrated Guide to Ilfracombe and North Devon ..

                     Ilfracombe. Twiss & Sons. (1893[4]). KB.

 

2. 1894 Bacon imprint removed. The map is one of four in a slipcase. See also Twiss 3, 4 and 5.

 

            New Ordnance Survey. Map 4. Plan Map of Ilfracombe And Railway Map of North Devon and Somerset

              Ilfracombe. Twiss & Sons. (1894).  KB.

 

3. 1894  Both maps reduced in size: 175 x 255 mm. Title above (CaOS) and blank area (Aa) shows where title and scale bar were removed. Reference to Twiss premises in map area removed (but buildings still heavy black as before) and no imprint.

 

                 The Album of Ilfracombe and North Devon Views

               London. Charles, Reynolds and Co[5]. (1894).  KB.

 

4. 1894  Plan of Ilfracombe only. Size: 150 x 365 mm. Reference to Twiss premises in map area and imprint are present. New buildings (Wilder Road) and roads including Cambridge Grove, the Victorian Pavilion on the Promenade and the Granville Hotel with two approach roads. 

            The Album of North Devon Views

             Ilfracombe. Twiss & Sons. (1894).  KB.



Examples of "Headers" and "Tail Pieces" used by Twiss


NOTES:

[1] The north coast is taken from part of Sheet 6 of Bacon's Road Map of England in 7 Sheets which was available from c.1887. The same plates were later used for his Waistcoat-Pocket Series. A pre-1900 map of Devon has not been seen but several c.1903 and later.

[2] As 1888 except for two advert pages which have been amended: one text was originally upside-down; another has different prices for tea.

[3] BL 10368.cc.31.

[4] New head and tailpieces and one railway advert is dated.

[5] The booklet has Charles, Reynolds & Co monogram on cover and page of adverts for his products. Address 26 and 27 Milk Street, London. A second copy in author’s collection has monogram as before but an advert for T Harding, Confectioner and Depot for Photographic Views of Ilfracombe and Neighbourhood, 1 & 2 Arcade, Ilfracombe.

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