Ian Waugh

81 posts

Case for Reopening the Princetown Railway

Case for Reopening the Princetown Railway

Case for Reopening the Princetown Railway Page Index Introduction Historical and Cultural Significance Boost to Local and Tourism Economy Environmentally Friendly Access to Dartmoor Revitalisng Public Interest in Heritage Railways Scenic and Unique Travel Experience Potential for Seasonal and Special Event Services Leveraging Existing Infrastructure and Track bed Preservation Proposed […]

Proudly “Black Sheep”

Proudly “Black Sheep”

My Journey as the Family’s “Black Sheep” Jump to: Introduction | Early Years | Challenges and Adversity | Mistakes and Reflection | Becoming the Scapegoat | Growing Self-Reliance | Positives of Being the “Black Sheep” Introduction As the “black sheep” of my family, I’ve often felt isolated or misunderstood from […]

The Man They Could Not Hang

The Man They Could Not Hang

A quarter-century of my dedicated research unveils the narrative of one of the most renowned and painstakingly rediscovered incidents in British Victorian history. This story centres on a man whose existence dangled on the precipice—the individual who encountered the gallows not once, not twice, but thrice.This work delves into the […]

Labour Party Belief

Labour Party Belief

As a lifelong supporter of the British Labour Party, I have been there through the highs and lows, unwavering in my dedication. To me, being a true socialist means advocating for a fairer society, where everyone has equal opportunities and access to basic necessities. I have witnessed the Labour Party’s […]

Old British News

Old British News

If it happened, it was in the news. 1750 – 1950. My voluntary research service. As an avid enthusiast of British history, my passion for this captivating subject knows no bounds. I’ve immersed myself in its depths, delving into its intricacies and unearthing hidden aspects that have long remained concealed. […]

The texture of yesterday and everyday life

The texture of yesterday and everyday life

I am slowly but surely digitising my collections of Georgian, Victorian, Edwardian and early 20th century personal letters, documents and photographic images acquired over several decades. This process is currently ongoing and will gradually reveal itself here. The collections enables us to look into the lives, loves, ups and downs […]

Protecting the ‘unknown’

Protecting the ‘unknown’

Since auction websites like eBay entered the online arena the success of moneymaking ventures by some has in a way caused serious social and devastating historic damage. I am referring here to the thousands who have unwittingly taken advantage of these websites by selling off literally tons of “family junk”, […]

Emily Cave 1892

Emily Cave 1892

Whilst doing more family research I sadly discovered that my great, great grandmother (Emily Cave (nee Windebank)) committed suicide in 1892 after drinking the contents of a bottle of Carbolic Acid. I found out about this after conducting routine research through the London newspapers. London Evening Standard – Wednesday 14 […]

Fussy Released Dartmoor Convict 1895

Fussy Released Dartmoor Convict 1895

The railway station at Princetown was the scene of an unusual event in September 1895 when a released convict went back to Dartmoor Prison as he felt uncomfortable in the clothes he was wearing. Royal Cornwall Gazette – Thursday 19 September 1895: A Fastidious Convict. An amusing scene was witnessed […]

Running London’s tramway – 1886

Running London’s tramway – 1886

The expense of operating a horse driven tramway system in London was exposed in the Worcester Journal on Saturday 31 July 1886: “The cost of horsing the tramway cars in London forms, as maybe imagined, a heavy item in the accounts of several companies. The largest of these is the […]

Malta 15 May 1941

Malta 15 May 1941

A moment in wartime. Here is an AP WirePhoto dated May 15 1941 taken in Malta during the war: “They live on a “Fortress Island”. These children and the 69 year old woman with them are residents of Malta, British Island Fortress in the Mediterranean. British sources say they’re looking […]

Frank Edward Wright in 1842

In 1842 a man called H. Wright Esquire received a letter from his proud and excited son, Frank Edward Wright: “Southampton September 17, 1842 My dear Papa, We went to London in the holidays with mamma and stayed there three weeks. I hope you are quite well and I send […]

Good friend – Good memory

Good friend – Good memory

Todd Ragsdale Scudder was a friend of mine during his and my time in Malta. He was from Virginia (USA) and was supposed to be a student in Malta – he and I used to hang around in Gzira, Sliema and Paceville. Todd was a person with enormous enthusiasm for […]

Flightmares

Flightmares

I am lucky in many ways and happily have travelled and flown a lot from countries across Europe to nations throughout Africa. I have seen and experienced so much as a result. Funny how things come back to haunt. I was trying to remember this morning the worse flights I […]

The Torquay missing Victorian trowel

The Torquay missing Victorian trowel

This is a very long story about a valuable 1867 silver commemoration trowel used in the laying of the foundation stone of Torquay’s Haldon Pier, that was later used to weed a driveway, lost during late 1800’s, then found in the rubbish on Rainham Marshes by an Edwardian Chatham bricklayer, acquired […]

How DevonAir Wiped Me

My role at DevonAir Radio was of no great consequence. I was, between 1980 and 1987, a loyal member of the station team – hard-working and grossly underpaid. We had built a radio station with local news and information in it’s core – it’s very foundation. My time at this […]