Transcript

Of

Joseph Bangham [Obituary]

Transactions of the Devonshire Association, 1890, Vol XXII, p. 37.

by

W. Harpley

Prepared by Michael Steer

The paper was delivered at the Association’s July 1890 Barnstaple meeting. Glove making was a thriving industry in north Devon with factories in Appledore, Bideford, Pilton in Barnstaple and Great Torrington up until 2006. Great Torrington was particularly well known for its Glove Manufacturing industry. There is an excellent exhibition in the town museum situated under the Town Hall in the main square. Mr Bangham’s father, Joseph Bangham, originally from Worcester, born in 1789, owned a glove factory in that town and has been credited with having brought the glove industry to Great Torrington. There were 13 glove manufacturers in Great Torrington by the 1850s. White's Gazetteer 1850, lists Joseph Bangham, Senior and Junior living in New Street, and for 1878;  Joseph Bangham and John Jackson, together at New Street. The Sydney Morning Herald, 22 Mar 1866 p. 1, reports that “On the 13th instant, at St. James's, by the Rev. Canon Allwood, EDWIN BANGHAM, second son of the late Joseph Bangham, of Great Torrington, Devon, was married to MARY ANNE, third daughter of the late GEORGE TOMLINS, of Sydney. The article, from a copy of a rare and much sought-after journal can be downloaded from the Internet Archive. Google has sponsored the digitisation of books from several libraries. These books, on which copyright has expired, are available for free educational and research use, both as individual books and as full collections to aid researchers.

Joseph Bangham, of Great Torrington, was born at the Old Palace at Woodstock - in the same room, it is said, as Edward the Black Prince - in the year 1821.

For many years he carried on an extensive glove manu- factory, which had been established long previously by his father, who came from Woodstock.

He became a member of the Association in 1870, and took a lively interest in all its proceedings but through ill-health he was never able to attend the Annual Meetings. He prized most highly the "Reports and Transactions" of the Association, of which he possessed a complete set from the commencement: the study of geology was especially interesting to him.

He was a sufferer for many years from heart disease, and other ailments, borne with great patience and fortitude; his gentleness and sweetness of disposition were well known to and appreciated by a large circle of friends. He died September 15th, 1889, aged 68.