THE official opening of the Bedford Archive was held in Tavistock recently, with documents on display dating from as far back as 1897.

The evening reception was held at the offices of Ward and Chowen and hosted by Neil and Russell Woolcock, to launch the project to digitise the firm's archives.

Guests were welcomed by Neil Woolcock, who said that it was his wish and that of his father Russell to set up the project, so documents could be scanned and indexed, making them freely accessible in Tavistock for research purposes.

Guests were invited to view the display which was designed to illustrate the range of documents in the archive.

An example of one of many letter books was on view, as well as tithe accounts for the Ashbury Estate and Sydenham Damerel and rentals for Mount Tavy Estates, Sabine Baring-Gould's Lewtrenchard estate and the Beauford estate.

Auction catalogues could be seen for Lord Ebrington's South Devon estate (1897), the Duke of Bedford's Devonshire estates (1911), the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe's Bere Ferrers property (1921), the Hayne estate (1922) and Mount Tavy (1928). 

Other items on display included an arbitration award with reference to the Plymouth, Devonport and South Western Junction Railway's new line from Bere Alston to Calstock, a Tavistock turnpike note book and an inventory relating to the contents of the Queen's Head Hotel, Tavistock.

Daniel Ward, having served as land agent for the Duke of Bedford, founded the firm in 1830.

Late in 2013, Ann Cole, now manager of the Ward and Chowen archive project on behalf of the Tavistock and District Local History Society, was approached by Neil Woolcock who asked if the society would be interested in undertaking the project. The society began its work in 2014.

Guests at the reception included representatives from bodies which had provided grant aid towards the purchase of a document scanner and other equipment.

At present, the society is working on the period up to and including 1940; the earliest document noted is a lease of property in Calstock parish dating from the early 17th century.