Ilsington memories
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Memories of Devon
Rock Inn
This was always known as Rock Inn, Haytor when I visited. I got to know a few of the local families, most of which are long gone. Courtier, Clifton, Morrish, Middleweek, Ford to name but a few. The Rock Inn was always very popular in the summer, cars often parked more than half-way up Inverness Hill at Sunday lunchtime.
There used to be a tennis court at the top of the garden opposite, never used as far as I know. I left Devon in 1975 and have never been back to The Rock Inn.
Pinchaford Stables
Just wondering if anyone knows what happened to Pinchaford riding stables in Haytor? I seem to remember heading up to the Rock Hotel circa 1973/74/75 for a shandy! Some of the very best times... Ii remember Caroline (Scoular) and Emma (Ginnett) - fan of Beau Bob/Bandit/Apollo and Bright Eyes as well as (of course!) as Bob (RIP) & Rosie, Jane, Nicky, Polly and Simon and George.
Bovey Tracey
I was born in Bovey at what is now the Old Library in East Street, but in 1937 was the Liberal Club. My Godfather Dick Smaridge lived just down the street at Number 14. After his son Eric was shot down in the War I mostly lived with him, as a sort of replacement son. He'd attended the old school at Edgemoor as a boy and had ridden there on a pony each day. We used to listen to Children's Hour on the BBC each day. He taught me to play chess and appreciate classical music, I sang in the Church choir from 1946-55 when Rev Duxbury was the much-loved Vicar. Many of the folk in Bovey were related to me, and I've always felt I 'belonged' to Bovey. Our earliest recorded ancestor was Robert Sture, who purchased a tenement in Bovey in 1541 and was a 'colyer' - presumably had a lignite-coal business. The tax and lay subsidy rolls show that he paid a lot of tax. In the... Read more
Watching The Coronation in The Rock Inn Haytor Vale.
We moved into Gorse Cottage, next door to the Rock Inn. Our cottage clearly shows on the left of the Rock Inn. The cottage was for sale for £500 but my mother, who was separated from my father, had no money. We watched the Coronation in the lounge of the Rock Inn. I was aged seven and had to sit still for hours, I was bored. My nanny was on holiday, and my mother wanted to watch the whole Coronation, so I had to as well. I have a photo of my mother and myself on the doorstep of Gorse Cottage. We lived there for the summer and it was fun, with lots of children for me to play with.
I Worked There!
It was a Trust House Hotel when I worked there in the bar for a few years up to 1964. By that time it was very much larger than the photograph shows. The manager was Mr. Trew. It never made any money due to the short season. When it burnt down about 1967/8 it was left almost derelict for many years until purchased by a wealthy businessman from Torbay who restored part of it and ran it more or less as a hobby.
The stables in the grounds were in use as a separate business most of this time until the buildings were converted to a Craft Centre about 1980.
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