With our Neighbourhood Plan started in 2015 nearly ready, I had planned to quote part of an article from the Gazette written in the mid 1970’s based on an interview with someone living in Inner Hope, but without giving the date. Sadly my filing system let me down, the folder containing cuttings had masses, but not…
I could not find anything last month that compared with the current lockdown; the snow of 1947 and the less dramatic snow of about 40 years are simply not comparable. This month however the 75th Anniversary of VE Day could not be ignored! During the war, there were many changes in the parish, initially a…
The picture in the Delving into the Past, The Gazette 14.2.20, of Kingsbridge Cottage Hospital, (which was built on land donated by Mr Ilbert of Bowringsleigh,) reminded me how lucky we are to have such a good local hospital where so many people from the parish have been looked after. Then I thought of two…
Well, may be not quite, officially Old Masters were artists painting before 1800, but artists have been drawn to Hope Cove since the mid 1800’s. Thanks to research started by Mike Clark, we know about renowned artists who came to Hope Cove and Galmpton. In the mid 1800’s The Earl of Devon encouraged his tenants…
Oh dear, it seems I didn’t press the vital button to post the November contribution, and have recently been bogged down in post Christmas clear up. Now I am now thinking about the celebrations of the past when there was a more balanced and resident population. In addition to events at The Cottage there were parties…
The gales have been fierce this November with wind speeds of 100mph recorded at Prawle Point, but in past years, there have been some more notable November storms in Hope. The earliest I know of was one on the 7th November 1588 when The Armada hospital ship the San Pedro el Mayar was lost. The…
Being the season of ghost stories and bonfires, I thought I’d look for stories involving the parish, but came up with virtually nothing. There was a bonfire of course as part of the alarm system to warn the Nation of the approach of the Spanish Armada in 1588. The bonfire was at the end of…
As parking and the numbers of cars in the parish is currently a hot topic, this month I am looking at the situation years ago. Before piped water came, water was delivered by horse and cart, and butcher Adams also delivered meat on horse back into the 1940’s. Shoeing and repairs were done at the blacksmith…
Just a brief early post because next weekend, the Bank Holiday, the History Group is holding an exhibition in the Fishermen’s Reading Room. The theme this year is events with a 9 in the year, so do not miss a display about the Louis Sheid wreck in 1939, information on the Eddystone Lighthouse, and war…
Everybody’s mental picture of Hope Cove must include the Breakwater, it is such a beautiful image,but it was not always like this. As long ago as 1823 the local fishermen wanted a breakwater to give shelter for their boats, and looked at building on to the the old Quay on Quay Sands. (see June blog)…