I MUST admit that I was perplexed when presented with this view of Newton Abbot on a card bearing a 1906 postmark, writes Steve Harris.

The street scene seems almost medieval in character but, after making some enquiries, I was told that if it had been taken six years earlier it should have been annotated as Newton Bushell.

At the beginning of the 20th century Newton Bushell and Newton Abbot were still separate towns, not merging into one entity until 1901. Nowadays Newton Bushell is only remembered as the name of a ward of Newton Abbot.

The postcard shows an almost unrecognisable view of Highweek Street near the junction with what is now Halcyon Way. The tower of St Mary’s Church is visible although the church has long been redundant and has been converted into flats.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE IN THE MID-DEVON ADVERTISER, EDITION OF FEBRUARY 9, 2018