In 1819 Abraham Hawkins wrote “Kingsbridge and Salcombe with the Intermediate Estuary”. It was a consideration of subjects ranging from Natural History; notes about the great and the good of the time, and a description of the coast from Bolt Head to Hope Cove. It was the first attempt at a local guide and other…
William Thomas Jarvis 1894–1969 A long time ago I was having a conversation with an old friend about how all young people these days know all the answers. “However,” she said, “My daughter is so naïve she doesn’t even know the questions.” I am often reminded of that. Daily as a child playing in the…
At the age of five it was time for me to go to school and along with most children in the village I went to Malborough School. My near neighbour Tricia Yeoman, being the same age, joined at the same time. I think we were the only new children at that time from Hope Cove…
I have written before about how most people these days have still and video cameras on their phones and how we have all unwittingly become recorders of history. We spend time worrying about new additions to the village but little – it would seem – to what we have lost. Below is listed a few…
Devon and Cornwall are like brothers. There is nothing the inhabitants like better than getting one over the other county. However there is more that unites them rather than dividing them and a look back in history gives clues as to why. After the Romans left Britain Devon and Cornwall existed as a single entity…
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…
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…