Axe Valley Illustrated, 1903

This little book from the series of Mate’s Illustrated Guides provides a fascinating snapshot of Seaton life a century ago. One of the most interesting features is the advertising for local shops and business. All the advertisers proudly display photographs of their premises in their late Victorian splendour and tempt the public with such delights as Gosney’s Neuralgic Mixture, Devonshire Marble Novelties, Axe Vale Hunt Cigarettes and Bread manufactured on scientific principles. Among the services on offer were Horses broken to saddle, a Daily Parcel from London and Every assistance given to Amateurs, Dark rooms at their disposal. Some of these shop premises can be identified today and a few of the traders’ names have survived.