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The bridges fascinated me and I often explored the area, although just after the war it was rather rough. One of the items inherited at Newmarket House (Nailsworth) was a model of the "Bedford Life boat". I found the original boat at the Exeter museum. There was also a fascinating set of letters written in the 1820s, by his family to Benjamin Bedford who was training in the Midlands. Amongst his documents were early photographs of what were obviously Newcastle Bridges. I discovered that The Rev Thomas Fox Newman's wife was a Bedford from Lower Birlingham near Pershore (TFN was minister at Shortwood Baptist Chapel from 1832-1864). In fact, Nailsworth had a direct contact with someone involved with the Bridges. Research told me that Bedford on retirement went to live with his sister at Pershore. T.F.N's son was his executor. His documents and the model life boat are now at the Pershore Museum. |
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