Over the 73 years the Princetown Railway operated it had several station-masters who featured occasionally in the local news. Here is a developing account of those who served at this moorland station. Click the pictures to view larger size images on this page. I am conducting research regarding this page – updates as and when.
1883 – 1904
John Higman (born Tavistock in 1851) was the first Stationmaster at Princetown. In 1891 he and his family lived at the newly, purpose built detached house on Station Road, Princetown. He was living there with his wife (Elizabeth), his daughter, Helena L. S. Higman who was a Schoolmistress at Princetown Primary School and a boarder, Richard S. Wingett who worked with John as a railway signalman.
John Higman was still in the same post and address in 1901. His boarder had moved out, replaced by his niece, Minnie Nicholas:
On Saturday 01 October 1904 The Cornish & Devon Post reported “After being station-master at Princetown for twenty one years – ever since the advent of the railway there – Mr. J. Higman leaves the town shortly for Ivybridge, where he takes up a similar position.”
John Higman was born at Tavistock In 1850. He had spent his life working for the railways in Devon. At the age of 20 John was based at Teignmouth in South Devon as a porter for the South Devon Railway Company although he had started his career at Plymouth in 1869. In 1873 he married Elizabeth Mary Symons at Tavistock after which he had moved to Launceston to continue his porter duties. Then in 1883 John transferred to the Princetown Railway Company where he became the first stationmaster at Princetown. Remaining there until 1904 where he transferred to Ivybridge as stationmaster. He retired on March 25th 1920 after serving just over 50 years working on the railways around Dartmoor and South Devon. John died at home at Whitchurch, near Tavistock, in May 1926.
1904 – 1909
Mr Chubb became Princetown’s stationmaster in 1904 as reported in The Western Times – Tuesday 01 November 1904. “Mr Chubb, stationmaster at Lydford (Great Western Railway) has been appointed station-master at Princetown, in place of Mr. J. Higman, promoted to Ivybridge. Mr. Chubb was stationmaster at Ashton. Although Mr. Chubb has only been at Lydford two years, there have been many expressions of regret at his leaving. Curiously enough, while holding the stationmastership of Lydford, he has lived in Brentor parish, while on his removal to Princetown he will reside in Lydford parish, one of the largest in England.”
1909 – October 1913
Mr James Friggens (born 1872, Ludgvan, Cornwall) lived in the Station Masters House with his new wife, Annie Louise (born 1875, Bicester, Oxfordshire) and his two daughters, Catherine Ellen (born 1897, Penzance Cornwall) and Dorothy May (born 1899, Penzance Cornwall). James Friggens remained with GWR until his death (21st October 1929) at Marazion, Cornwall, where he was Station Master.
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The Western Morning News on Monday 22 January 1923 reported the death and funeral of Mr Henry Cowling the “late stationmaster at Princetown.”
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Mr. John Highman
1929
Mr Gibbon was widely reported following a lightning strike on the stationmasters house. Here The Leeds Mercury reported the event on Saturday 07 December 1929: “The house of Mr. Gibbon, station-master at Princetown, was struck by lightning during a fierce storm which raged over South Devon last night. The chimney was split to the bottom and crashed through the roof. Mr. Gibbon’s housekeeper had a remarkable escape from falling debris.”
1929
– ? Mr Joseph Shipton
? -1936
Mr. W. Dawe
1936-1946
Mr C. Winsor (Senior)
The Western Morning News – Saturday 21 November 1936 reported the appointment of Mr C. Winsor “who has been station-master at Mary Tavy for five years has been appointed in that capacity to Princetown, and commenced his duties there on Thursday. Mr. Winsor, who was previously signalman at Totnes for seven years succeeds Mr. W. Dawe, who has been transferred to Nancegollan.”
Mr Winsor spent ten years in the post and retired in 1946. The Western Morning News – Monday 23 September 1946 reported the moment: “Retirement of Mr. C. Winsor, stationmaster at Princetown for the last ten years after 46 years service with the Great Western Railway, is announced in the September issue of the company’s magazine. Mr. Winsor was presented with an electric iron and kettle by Mr. Bolt, representing the general public.”
1946 –
Mr C. Winsor (Junior)
1954-1956
W.G. West