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Holne
Holne maps
Historic maps of Holne and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Holne maps
Holne area books
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Memories of Holne
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Devon memories
An Interlude in Buckfastleigh And Buckfast
I remember being a pupil at the little Buckfast school, now St Mary's primary. I presume it was the same then but can't remember. It was in the early to mid 1950s and I have a photo of what I think is a school play there. I think that I am in the photo but cannot be sure. Anyone remember milk tablets? We lived in Buckfastleigh at the time, my mother, my sister and me. It was a very dark and pokey little terrace cottage at the western end of the town. I can remember we had a copper basin in the backyard that mother used to do the washing in. As far as I recall she filled it with water and lit a fire underneath it. For a while too, we lived in a caravan in the small park by the bridge near the railway station. Not sure what's there now.
Sparnham House, 36 West Street
I was living in Sparnham House in 1960, but don't recall the umber mine you mention, though my father (Brian Baker) did say there had been one, once. Outside Sparnham there used to be a tap which was supplied by a natural spring and during the long winter of 1963 it was, at times, the only piece of plumbing that wasn't frozen. There was a tunnel under the garden which I was never allowed to explore; I always assumed it was something to do with this spring, but perhaps it was the umber mine? My father died when I was nine, and we moved away from Ashburton shortly afterwards, so that tunnel has always been a tantalising mystery to me.
The house had been a coaching inn many years before. When my father bought it there were evidently huge numbers of old bottles in the back garden. He levelled the heap and planted a lawn on top, so there's probably an interesting experience awaiting anyone who cares to dig a... Read more
Sparnham House
Whether or not Sparnham House was an old coaching inn (I doubt it) or not, it is noteworthy of being the long-time residence of John Hannibal (or sometimes Henry) Foaden and his wife Elizabeth nee Husson. They were married in the summer of 1867 and moved to Sparnham House shortly after. They had at least six children; two sons and four daughters. John lived in the house till after the First World War and died in 1924 at the age of 87. John was a builder and will be remembered as the constructor of the first grandstand at Buckfastleigh (Dean Court Farm) racecourse (1883).
Heather And Gorse Clog Morris Entertain at Widecombe-In-The-Moor
It was a fine summer evening in June and the dancers and musicians of the Heather and Gorse Clog Morris team met at The Old Inn at Widecombe to put on an entertainment of morris dancing and music.
Although the village appeared quiet this was deceptive as no sooner had we all struck up some lively tunes in front of the Inn than a very large party of school children appeared! They were visiting from their junior school in Shaftesbury and gathered round along with their teachers to watch the dancing. The clog dancers looked splendid in their blue and white dresses and shiny black clogs and put on a good display of garland and stick dances. The Heather and Gorse band provided a medley of toe tapping jigs and polkas and I joined in the music making with my small piano accordian.
The school children applauded and asked to join in so we showed them the moves for a dance to include them all and... Read more
Our Honeymoon
These pictures bring back delightful memories!
We spent a week of our honeymoon in the 16th century mill at Lydia Bridge. Across the lawn was a view of the brook and early spring flowers. We stepped outside to the sound of the waterfall across the narrow, winding road. From the bridge on closer inspection the waterfall was spectacular. A path along the brook led to the ancient church where we wandered around the cemetery and the historic interior, and then explored the village of South Brent, little changed since these pictures were taken. No tourist traps here! At the local pharmacy, we bought Hummel type, Leonardo Collection, figures as souvenirs and gifts for our wedding party; we ate at the tea room, feasted in the pub, and cooked local produce in our quaint, antique studded cottage.
Up the hill from our cottage, the lane twisted and turned sheltered on both sides by tall hedgerows. With only enough room for one car, occasional pull-offs beside the road allowed... Read more
My Early Years
When I think of Devon, and in particularly Bellever I think of home.
I lived in Bellever from the age of 4 to 13, after moving with my family (dad Denis, mum Gracie, sisters Cyndy, Alison and Elaine, and brothers Bill and Steve). The thing I enjoyed most was swimming in the river, and going for walks on the moors and through the woods. In the summer my family used to spend every Sunday by the river. It's where my dad taught me to swim, I can remember saying to him "look I'm swimming" but secretly having my hands on the bottom. Our extended families used to come for visits. and we would pack a picnic and go whortleberry picking, up on Bellever Tor, and my mum and aunts would make pies and jam with the fruit. I can also remember going into bluebell wood with my sisters and brothers to pick bluebells and primroses for our mum.
We all enjoyed the snow, I think the main reason... Read more
Staverton Elizabethan Fayre
The Staverton Playing Fields were the location for the Elizabethan Fayre on August Bank Holiday Monday. Lots of entertainment was arranged including a jazz band, the Babelfish Ceilidh Band, Dog Racing, Punch and Judy, the South Hams Dog Agility team, and the Heather and Gorse Clog Dancers. I was there with my piano accordian to provide some music for the dancers and I think my job providing music was a lot easier than the effort needed by the dancers to perform on the soft grass!
It was a huge event and the tea tent seemed to have queues all afternoon. Fortunately there was no rain so many people chose to sit outside on straw bales with their teas while watching the entertainments.
The dancers provided two spots and at the finish of the second spot had just enough remaining energy to organise a giant Cicassian Circle dance for the crowds - most of those who joined in seemed to be mothers with small children but we... Read more
