Directory of Pubs in the UK, historical public houses, Taverns, Inns, Beer Houses and Hotels in Devon .
Residents at this address.
1889/Henry James/../../../Kellys Directory
The Summerland Inn in Summerland Street Exeter was owned and run by my grandparents, William and Alice Bowden until it was destroyed in the Exeter Blitz of 4th May 1942. My mother Evelyn and her two younger sisters were brought up in the pub., but they had all left home by the time of the Blitz. My grandparents had taken shelter when the sirens sounded so survived the blast, but lost their home along with all their possessions and their livelihood. Being by then in their seventies they never returned to the pub trade and my grandfather died in 1948. *
I have a faded photo of my grandfather behind the bar in the Summerland Inn holding my aunt aged about two in his arms. It must have been taken around 1914. *
1911/William Bowden, Licensed Victualler/40/Exeter, Devon/Census
1911/Alice M Bowden/Wife, Assistant/38/Exeter, Devon/Census
1911/Evelyn Bowden/Daughter/6/Exeter, Devon/Census
1911/Marjorie Bowden/Daughter/4/Exeter, Devon/Census
1911/Violet Chudley/Servant/15/Witheridge, Devon/Census
1914/William Bowden/../../../Kellys Directory
1919/William Bowden/../../../Kellys Directory
In 1939 at 64 Summerland Street, Exeter are :
William Bowden, Licensed Victualler, born 12 Jan 1871
Alice M Bowden, Domestic Duties, born 22 Sep 1872
Joyce E Bowden (Kelley ), Millinery Sales Assistant, born 27 Aug 1911
* Provided by Lesley Mallinder