Westward Ho! and Clovelly

-
Our first call was to Westward Ho!, neither of us having been here before. The day was dull and damp, so not many pictures but a record of our visit. This town is the only one in the UK with an exclamation mark in the title - due in fact to the author Charles Kingsley writing a book with that title and being honoured with the town being named after his book! Some honour I must say.


Why is it that the weather can be downright appalling, and there is still someone on the beach? 


I just loved the shape of these roofs on the seafront at Westward Ho! Having decided that Westward Ho! did not warrant too much time, we headed to our next stop of Clovelly - a beautiful village, which is privately owned, and a must on any Cornwall itinerary. 


Clovelly has been associated with just three families since the middle of the 13th century, a period of nearly 800 years.Earlier, at the time of Clovelly’s inclusion in the Domesday Book, it was owned by the King; it enjoyed many royal associations from the 9th century up to 1242, when it was acquired by the Giffard family. The Giffards were of Norman origin, and Walter Giffard came to England as one of Duke William’s closest advisors. Sir Roger Giffard then ‘subinfeuded’ (sublet) the Manor of Clovelly from Walter. The first recorded rector of Clovelly in 1262 was also a Giffard. 



As you can see from these images, the streets are not for motorised traffic, but careful pedestrians! 
Walking down the village street you will see many houses inscribed with the initials CH and FH and a date. The dates mark the renovation of the building to meet modern-day standards, but the foundations and outer walls are much older. The estate was left in 1936 a Betty Asquith who was the daughter of Constance Manners (née Hamlyn Fane) and Lord Manners. Betty and Arthur had four daughters. Mary, the eldest, married Keith Rous from the Henham Estate in Suffolk in 1943. She inherited the Clovelly Estate on Betty's death in 1962. Her son, John Rous, took over the running of the estate in 1983. 


If you need some help down, then maybe a donkey? Donkeys still live at the the top of the hill where children can have a donkey ride in the summer. Visitors have to park at the top of the hill next to the Heritage Centre as traffic is banned from the high street. There is a Land Rover service which ferries visitors up and down via a back road, for those not wishing to negotiate the steep hill on foot. This service takes visitors as far as the Red Lion beside the harbour. 
The street drops 400ft in the half mile down to the small harbour. That is a very steep road and needs a few stops on the way up! 


A cat and his window 


What about the sledge? Well, Nowadays all goods from groceries to furniture are transported by sledge. The sledges can be seen at the side of the cottages as you walk down through the village to the Harbour. 



...and some decorated doorways. 


Watching over it all. 


Looking down into the quaint harbour. 


Another view of the harbour. 


This schooner was replenishing its supplies as we looked around the village. 

Home    Forward   Back

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The lost Pubs, Inns and Taverns of Hadleigh

-
Image
Having been photographing some of the many Listed buildings in Hadleigh, I was surprised at the number of inns, taverns, pubs etc which have been in the town over the years. Then I came across a site called `The Lost Pubs of Hadleigh` and was taken by the idea of photographing all that I could find; bearing in mind that some have been demolished and some are noted, but there is no certainty as to where they actually were situated. There are 21 in total that are listed here, but I understand that there are others of more uncertain nature which may have been inns or pubs. However, here is my effort, starting with what to me was a big surprise! - the ex Council Offices. The Anchor - Bridge Street This pub / beer house managed to go through a few names in its time:  Between 1661 & 1835 it was called the Standard** Between 1837 & 1871 it was called the Barley Mow** Between 1871 & 1927 it was called the Anchor** One landlady was named as Elisabeth Scrivener, and is recorded a...
Read more

The hidden history of Little Wenham

-
Image
Little Wenham is a small village in Suffolk, England. It is part of the civil parish of Wenham Parva (the ancient name for Little Wenham) within Babergh district. A village with no public roads but fortunately some rights of way. Its most famous building, Little Wenham Hall, is largely hidden from view. To quote Sir Nikolaus Pevsner from his “The Buildings of England” series, “The house was built c.1270 - 80, probably for Sir John de Vallibus and his successor Petronilla of Nerford. It is of great historical importance for two reasons. The first is that it is built of brick, and represents one of the earliest uses of home-made brick in England. Flint is used only for the base of the walls and stone for the much rebuilt buttresses and dressings. The second point of outstanding interest is that the house is a house and not a keep. It is fortified of course, but it is in its shape and appointment on the way from the fortress to the manor house and so ranks with Stokesay and Acton Bu...
Read more

Loch Spelve and otters

-
Image
Located in the south-eastern ‘corner’ of Mull, Loch Spelve is a large tidal body of water bounded by an unclassified single track road which branches off at its western end with one track running back along the southern shores of the loch to Croggan and the main track running west to Loch Buie. Being just south of where we were staying, it looked a great place to explore. Definitely an `unclassified single track road`!  We had read of the otters being seen here. On arriving to park, we were cruising along the Loch side when we spotted a woman, loaded with camera gear coming toward us. On speaking to her, it transpired that she and her husband (both keen photographers), were in the area photographing otters. Soon afterwards she caught our attention and we followed her along the loch as an otter went about his business on the loch side. Magic!  Another view of the lock and an interesting tree by the side  Curlew on Loch Spelve sh...
Read more