Memories of Chudleigh
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Shared Memories of Chudleigh
 Chudleigh, the Square 1907 (ref: 58490) |
Year: 2007
Heather And Gorse Clog Dancers Entertain At Chudleigh
Chudleigh hosts a wonderful Christmas late night shopping evening each year when the Christmas lights in Fore Street are switched on. The shops stay open until late evening and their windows twinkle with fairy lights and decorations. Shops, cafes and pubs are crowded and stay open late in the evening, and the place is transformed into a fairyland of old-fashioned entertainment and street traders. The Heather and Gorse Clog Morris Dancers and went along to provide part of this entertainment and I played my piano accordian in the band and my wife Elizabeth was one of the team of dancers. We took our one-year old granddaughter Anna in a puchchair and made sure she was well wrapped up to keep warm! We had a big band of squeezeboxes and drums. The dancers looked magnificent in their smart kit of black waistcoats, bright blue skirts and shiny black wooden clogs as they danced six times during almost an hour long performance. The best spot to play and dance is the wide road in front of Kingsley House. Handy for a traditional glass of mulled wine or a beer for any thirsty performers! Nearby there were other entertainers singing Christmas carols so it was a truly lovely evening. We have lovely memories of this traditional entertainment and hope that not only do the Christmas shopping evenings continue to thrive but that the local support for both the shops and the performers continues too as we had a great time dancing and playing music. Our granddaughter loved the twinkling lights and was fascinated by the music and dancing in the streets. Last edited: 25/10/2008 18:33 by John Howard Norfolk |
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 Chudleigh, the Pixies Cave 1907 (ref: 58497) |
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. Last edited: 11/09/2006 06:04 by Richard Stevens |
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