Hope and the surrounding areas in the 1920s From time-to-time conflict arises on social media regarding the shortage of social or affordable housing and the increasing number of holiday homes. It is a thorny subject. One side claiming that has always been much the same and it is true that census returns for the late…
The essay below was written in 1974 by a young woman called Hazel Leslie. Hazel was born in the village in the 40s. Her uncle was Bill Thornton a member of a well-known fishing family. Her family moved away in the 50s. Somehow the notes came into the possession of the wonderful local resident Elaine…
The arrival of the actor Jim Broadbent in Kingsbridge last autumn to shoot some scenes for a film “The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry” prompted some old memories. Who remembers the 1950’s TV series Quatermass (which terrified me) and later the first series of “Maigret” in the early sixties both of which starred Rupert Davies? The…
Snow at Christmas never really happened but the very dark nights and brilliant starry skies helped the Christmas feeling along. Curtains were drawn so room decorations could not be seen from outside and fairy lights outside the house were not a thing. Indoors trees were decorated with the usual stuff but also with clip-on candles….
Within the space of a lifetime the old road along the cliff from Outer to Inner Hope above Harbour Beach has been eroded away. In 2014 the Mouthwell Beach cliff path was claimed by the sea necessitating major work for repair. These are reminders that Hope Cove is under constant attack and it is sobering…
The origins of the names of the three villages in the parish are all ancient. Hope comes from the old Norse “Hop” meaning a small bay or inlet. South Huish is Old English for “southern household” and the name Galmpton has had many variations over the centuries, but the root of all the variations concerns rent-paying…
The 1841 census shows that only The Hope and Anchor, and the Bird in Hand (now the Cove) offered accommodation, but before the end of the 19th century, and before the Earl Devon of was forced to sell his property here, he encouraged local people to take in paying guests. The history group has copies of wonderful comments…
This is a long overdue “Thank you” to all the people who have been in touch after reading the blog…. We have had some marvellous new information from people who grew up in the parish and who came here on holiday. We always welcome your memories. I loved the memory of Mrs. Jarvis giving children…
When Emperor Haile Selassie was exiled from Ethiopia from 1936 to 1941, his presence in the UK was an embarrassment to the government, so he soon bought a house in Bath well away from London. He came with a big retinue of family and staff. He had two granddaughters who were sent to boarding school in…
This is a heads up for those who haven’t seen the parish news letter. The National Trust along with Historic England, and South Devon AONB are carrying out surveys of the scheduled monuments from Bolt Tail to Salcombe, including investigation of the Iron age (Promontory) fort on Bolt Tail. The last appraisal over 20 years…