Pinces Gardens, Exeter: historical images sought

I am a local resident and member of Exeter Parks Watch. I am currently involved in arranging for the placing of an information board in Pinces Gardens, St.Thomas about the history of the park, which has been owned by Exeter City Council since 1912.  This park was once the home of the Lucombe Nurseries (later Lucombe, Pince & Co) which, in its heyday in the mid 19th century, was one of the most important nurseries in the country with a huge number of glasshouses and formal gardens. I have searched high and low locally but I have been unable to find any photographs of the nursery from the mid to late Victorian period. It still continued to operate as a nursery after 1890 when it was split up and sold off. I am also searching for any old pre-war photographs of the St.Thomas Bowls Club which was founded in the 1920’s.

I would be extremely grateful if you could help in any way, either by providing images or pointing me in the right direction where I might find something useful.

Please contact me on hebbard@cooptel.net
- reproduced with permission