A Little Bit of Chudleigh History
When a boy, my father, Donald William Stevens, used to show visitors through the Pixie caves for 1/2d per person, with the light from a candle for illumination. After WWII he followed in his father's (William Henry Stevens) footsteps of being a Chudleigh shopkeeper, and opened a shoe shop at 7 The Square, (or Fore Street as some preferred). This shop was in business for 39 years, and sold all types of footwear from Wellies, plimsoles and brogues, although there was not much call for ballet shoes! Due to ill health the business was closed, and sadly he died in 1989.
My mother continued to live in Chudleigh until her death earlier this year at the age of 85 years. How Chudleigh has changed recently would have made my father weep, I'm sure, with the lovely views he enjoyed from his bungalow, with the leat and daffodills in spring, but life must go on.
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RE: RE: A Little Bit of Chudleigh History
When I was teenager we used to cycle from Exeter to Chudleigh to go to the caves. I was never really brave enough to venture far inside as I suffer from claustrophobia. We would set out early in the day armed with a bottle of dandelion and burdock drink and a couple of sandwiches to keep us going. It amazes me now to think back, we used to cycle all over the place.It was nothing to cycle to Dawlish Warren for the day. It was a quick ride there, but a long way home.
Comment from Rosemary Morris on Friday, 27th November 2009.