Village History

This summary of the history of Pathfinder Village was kindly provided by long-term resident Ron Wilson who has built up a remarkable website over the years to be found at http://www.pathfinder.ic24.net/ and which contains much more detail.

This is based on the "official history" written from old records, talks with the two Horton brothers who began the park in 1932 and from newspaper cuttings.

The original site for the village was on land formally owned by the church. The father of the two lads that started the village was the Reverend Horton, possibly a relative.

The "Lillybrook" stream

Through the village runs a stream called the "Lillybrook". It is mentioned in records going back to the year 739 AD and also mentioned in the "Domesday BOOK". It is one of the earliest charted rivers in the United Kingdom. It rises on "New House" farm and passes through Pathfinder Village, onwards to Oldbridge and Blackalder Woods down the valley to join the rivers Ted, Culvery, Yeo, Creedy and on to the Exe and to the sea.

Small Beginnings

The Site proper (known later as Pathfinders) was first set up by Tony Horton on the 22nd February 1932 but only to hire out caravans for self towing. The cars in those days had stout "bumpers" and so bolting on a temporary tow bar was no problem.

Tony was joined by his brother Gerry the following year. They then introduced the availability where people could hire a caravan and stay. 1934 saw the start of the village proper but only for holidays, not for permanent residence. As a matter of interest the two brothers were known as the "Wild Men of the woods".

A road was built called Heatherfield, handbuilt by one labourer from stone on the site at a cost of £400 and there was enough left over to start building the restaurant/ dining room which was later named the "Red Indian" restaurant and later still was changed to the "Log Cabin". This was built entirely from materials on the site. In 1935 the size of the hire fleet was increased. In 1936 the hire fleet was further increased but as business was not always constant the brothers cut and sold logs to tide them over. An old railway carriage was added to the accommodation. A rough and ready collection of sheds were built as workshops. The main Workshop was started in 1936 but in 1939 war broke out.

The War Years

Tony volunteered for the RAF and Gerry was called up into the army. By a remarkable coincidence both brothers were demobilised on the 10th June 1946. Tony was awarded the DFC for his exploits as a pilot.

No business was possible during the war years. The Log Cabin was let for the duration. Brookside area was sold off to Bernard Boutwood who became a partner from 1947 - until 1951.

Post War Years

Immediately after hostilities, a house was built behind the restaurant and occupied for some years by the two brothers and their families. At this time there were only the two brothers, a secretary and one man in the workshop, trying to do everything. Sell and hire out caravans, forge towing brackets, make and serve meals in the restaurant.

Due to a shortage of houses, residential caravanning began. There were few regulations and customers, if they bought a caravan, could stay on site. No services were offered. They obtained water a from a well by the restaurant. They dumped their own rubbish and emptied chemical toilets.

In 1947 Alan Moseley joined them later to become a director and Company secretary, also John Barr and three more men in the workshops in 1948.

Due to "persuasion" by residents a little church was made available by converting the old mess building at the side of the restaurant. The exact date of the building (now demolished) is not known. It was still in use until 1981 when Rev William Causton (Father Bill to many of us) was the "official" vicar. The new church was built here in the Workhops in 1980 and used from 1981 onwards. After consecration by the Bishop of Crediton the "Church" appointed a locum vicar.

In 1954 it was realised that residential caravanning was here to stay so they set about planning, providing and connecting all mod cons including central heating to all the caravans. This was one of the very first Parks in the country to do so.

A 30 pitch touring caravan site was established at the opposite end of the bowling green and opposite to the Village Hall. Pathfinder Company (now known as 'Avondale') sold "up market" class of caravans such as Carlight and Royales. The workshops by this time had 5 star status for repairing touring caravans.

There was even a caravan accessory shop on site. Today the Log Cabin restaurant is the present site office. The village later had its own shop and Sub- Post Office.

Mains water was connected as up to this time water was pumped around the site from 6 wells, 5 of them actually dug by Gerry and Tony. 1956 saw the connection of mains electricity and until then a limited supply to each van was supplied by the site from three Lister Diesel generators complete with the smells of their diesel exhausts.

1957 saw another milestone with the erection of the Village Hall. Opposite the Village Hall was the bowling green - which was built over and is now part of Six Acres.

Then in 1958 another milestone, the first TenWide, 32 feet by 10 feet built to the brothers own design by Willerby's of Hull. This first true Mobile Home caused quite a stir in the trade. Other manufacturers of large caravans continued to be used on site until, in 1969, manufacture was then started here in the village. The basic unit was 50'x 10'4" and the largest almost double this size. (50 X 20)

From the very start all main services were included, including central heating. The early homes were fitted with the oil-burning "Lincoln". Heated air was blown through ducts in the floor. Later the "Donair" system was used as it could also provide hot water. Current homes are fitted with liquid gas fired central heating with radiators. All homes installed in the last few years are double glazed and fitted with secure multi locking systems on doors and windows as standard.

In 1965 Pathfinder Village came second in the National Britain in Bloom competition. Quite an achievement for what was a comparatively "young" village. In 1967/8 Pathfinder Village won the South West cup for towns and villages with a population of less than 7000.

In 1989 Ordnance Survey recognised Pathfinder as a Village in its own right and it has been included on their maps since. The only Park Home Village in the UK to be so recognised.

In 1988 the Horton brothers retired and sold the whole village to Avondale whose touring caravans are well known. The Workshops were sold off to the incumbents, and were finally removed in April 2008.

Typical of the luxury homes now being installed. These days most units are 40 to 60 feet in length and 20 feet wide and generally speaking are installed at Pathfinder on good sized plots among te trees. Trees are felled as a last resort only if they proved dangerously near a property.

THE TOWN CRIER

Pathfinder Village for some years had its very own Town Crier - the wonderful Grace Hall, born in 1898 and passing away in 1994 at the grand age of 96. In 1993 she had the great honour of being made a Life Member of the Ancient and Honourable Guild of Town Criers. She won many competitions. It was claimed that Grace had the loudest voice of anyone in her time and held many records.