De-Vey Family (Established c1867)
Dates
- Existence: Established c1867
Biography
The De-Vey fairground family started with George De-Vey, a fairground showman born in France on 10 December 1867. The De-Vey family moved to England shortly after George’s birth.
In 1902 George married Martha Anderson, the daughter of the fairground showman known as ‘Professor’ Anderson. George joined forces with his father in law and they started to purchase fairground rides. The business grew from strength to strength and as well as the travelling amusement rides and shows, Anderton and Rowland and De-Vey owned four cinemas. They organised their season into two separate fairground sections one from Bristol to Plymouth, including the Regatta fairs of Devon, and the other covering Plymouth and Cornwall.
George and Martha had three sons, George Jnr., Ernest and Nelson, who took over the business when their father died in 1931.
At the outbreak of the Second World War George, Ernest and Nelson were conscripted, leaving George’s wife in charge of the family business. Most of the equipment was put in storage, except for their set of Dodgems, which she kept working to support the family. After the war they continued travelling around all the major fairs in Devon, including Exeter, Plymouth, Torquay and Barnstaple and in 1954, they celebrated 100 years in the business.
In the twenty first century the family firm is being managed by the fourth generation of the De-Vey and Rowland families.
Found in 5 Collections and/or Records:
Anderton and Rowland Collection
This collection contains copies of original photographs and photocopies of newspaper cuttings relating to the Anderton and Rowland families and their business on the fairground.
Copies of Newspaper Cutting Advertisments, 1921 - 1931
Photographic reproductions of newspaper cuttings advertising Anderton and Rowland's attractions in Bodmin And St. Austell.
Copies of Photographs and Negatives of the Anderton Rowland Family and Business, 1894 - 1962
Black and white copies of photographs and negatives relating to the families and their business on the fairground including images of rides and transport, and photocopy of reference album.
Newspaper Cuttings, 1921 - 1931
Photographic reproductions of newspaper cuttings advertising Anderton and Rowland's attractions.
Photographs, 1894 - 1962
Black and white copies of photographs and negatives relating to the fairground.