top of page

Ward and Chowen

 

Ward and Chowen Chartered Surveyors, Estate Agents and Auctioneers have operated in the Tavistock area for over 180 years, placing them uniquely as a constant in the ebbs and flows of the area’s history.

Ward and Chowen Archive

 

The Ward and Chowen archive is a substantial trove of information, documenting the landownership history of not only Tavistock and the immediate vicinity, but even further afield areas such as Cornwall. The earliest documents date from the 1600s and take us right through to more modern times.

The information contained is wide ranging, from leases to rents, and sales bills to the regular notetaking of the firm.

Background

 

Neil Woolcock initially approached the Tavistock Local History Society to involve its members in the exciting task of indexing, digitizing and eventually uploading the older portion of these significant documents. Neil was keen that this vast amount of information would be available to local residents for their historic research.

Project

Tavistock Local History Society started their indexing and digitization in September 2014. Scanning and indexing this huge wealth of documentation has been a significant and consuming project. Meeting regularly, the small team have made steady headway in digitizing this information for generations to come.

Generous Support and Donations

 

Our scanner was obtained from a generous grant fund from the Town and Parishes (TAP) fund as nominated by Gulworthy Parish Council.

We have also been the grateful recipient of other grants from Tavistock Lions, Tavistock Young Farmers, Dartmoor Trust, Elmhirst Trust. There have also been kind donations from the general public at our stalls and other promotional activities.

Tavistock Town Council kindly allocated premises for our work, and it is hoped in the not too distant future we will have a location where we can deal with public inquiries directly.

Of course, we remain very grateful to Neil Woolcock for giving us the opportunity and privilege of being able to work on such a fantastic and important project.

Current Progress

The Tavistock Local History Society continues to work on the project, and all members are welcome to visit us on appointment. However, at this stage, we are currently unable to handle any research requests or inquiries.

Parishes

Below are a list of parishes and areas included within the scope of the archives. It is not a complete and exhaustive list.

Adber in Somerset

Aldershot

Alternun

Ashbury

Ashwater

Aveton Giffard

Beaworthy

Bere Ferrers

Bere Alston

Bickham

Boltus Fleming

Bradstone

Bratton Clovelly

Brentor

Bridestow

Boyton

Broadclyst

Broadwoodwiger

Buckland Monachorum

Callington

Calstock

Chillaton

Churstow

Dartmoor

Devonport

Duchy Lands at Stoke Climsland

Dunterton

Efford

Egg Buckland

Egloskerry

Filleigh

Grenofen

Gunnislake

Harrowbarrow

Hatherleigh

Highhampton

Horrabridge

Kelly

Lamerton

Landulph

Launceston

Lewannick

Lewdown

Lewtrenchard

Lezant

Lifton

Little Hampton

Lydford

Maker

Tinhay

Mary Tavy

Meavy

Menheniot

Milton Abbot

Milton Buckland

Minhinitt

Mount Tavy

Mutley

Mulbury

North Lew

North Petherwin

North Hill

Pelynt

Pennycross

Peter Tavy

Plymouth

Plympton St Mary

Plymstock

Plynt

Princetown

Pulham

Quither

Rame

Saltash

Sampford Spiney

Sheepstor

Shebbear

Sheviock

Sourton

South Brentor

South Hill

Sydenham Dameral

St Budeaux

St Germans

St Giles

St Juliot

St Stephens

Stoke Climsland

Stoke Damerall

Stowford

Talland

Tamerton Foliot

Tavistock

Trevaddick

Tregonnay Estate

Thrusleton

Turnpike Roads/houses

Walkhampton

Week St Mary

Werrington

Whimple Estate

Whitchurch

Yelverton

Yealmpton

bottom of page