The Beach 1918, Shaldon
The Beach 1918, Shaldon Ref: 68559
Memories of The Beach 1918, Shaldon
Shaldon Regatta
This view is a photograph just in front of the Ferryboat Inn at Shaldon - a popular haunt for the sailors and oarsmen taking part in the annual Shaldon Regatta. As part of the week long programme of entertainments there was an evening of morris dancing and mumming by the Ferryboat Inn.
It was a warn and dry August evening and crowds filled the tables on the beach in front of the Inn waiting for the entertainments to begin. First up were the Heather and Gorse Clog Dancers looking really smart in their blue skirts, coloured ribbons, white blouses and black waistcoats. Their shiny clogs stamped out the rhythm of the jigs and polkas played by the band, including me with my Hohner piano accordian. After a couple of dances it was the turn of the Grimspound Mummers who entertained the crowds with the traditional St Gorge mumming play.
Good fun was had by all and it was a lovely evening helped by great company,... Read more
Shaldon & local memories
Read and share memories of Shaldon and Devon inspired by Frith photos.
Blackpool Stores
As a child my annual family holiday was spent in Shaldon, first staying at The Teign Crest as a baby and small child, later at The Clipper. Two weeks of blissful freedom - shoeless and carefree. Not many cars in the village in the 1960s, so we children ran wild, only turning up at feeding times. Great family mackerel fishing jaunts, or trips up river to Coombe Cellars in the Hooks' boats. Fabulous clotted cream from Mary at the Dairy opposite The Clipper, and hot bread rolls from Petes the bakery (now a bistro).
The shop front in this picture of Fore Street is of 'Blackpool Stores' - possibly our own family name for an emporium that was an Aladdin's cave for my brother and I, selling everything from crabbing lines to cheap watches. I am convinced that the woman in the picture is my mother - disputed by some members of the family, but I'd know her back view anywhere!
The family have taken their holidays in Shaldon at... Read more
Dancing in The Street by The Ferry Boat Inn
The two Shaldon ferry boats were at anchor when our Morris Dancers performed in front of the Ferry Boat Inn this week. They looked just like this photograph - although there were no sails!
It was a lovely warm July evening with a good crowd of folks sitting at the beachside tables in front of the Inn watching the entertainment. I brought along my piano accordian to play for the Heather and Gorse Clog Dancers. There were a dozen dancers in their smart blue and white kit plus shiny black clogs all dancing to the polka and jig tunes played by the band of melodeon, accordian and drum. It was a lot of fun and people were having a good time.
We began dancing soon after 8 o'clock bathed in the evening setting sun, and kept going for more than an hour by which time the illuminations on Teignmouth Pier could be seen in the distance. A beautiful evening and one to remember.
Sydney Curnow VOSPER
From internet research, it would appear that the Victorian artist Sydney Curnow Vosper, who was born in 1866 at Stonehouse in Plymouth, died at this hotel in Shaldon 10th July 1942.
He painted what became a very famous painting entited 'Salem'. The painting shows the congregation inside a small Baptist chapel in Cefncymerau, Llanbedr, near Harlech, North Wales. The chapel was built in 1850. It would appear that Curnow Vosper often visited the chapel when he holidayed in the area. Because of this painting, Salem is perhaps the most famous place of worship in Wales. The painting has become a Welsh icon.
See
www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/ladylever/collections/salem.asp
Wedding Celebrations in Shaldon
Thursday 14th August 2008 was a sunny summer day for the wedding of a lovely Japanese girl, Nakki, to Ra - the son of one of the Heather and Gorse Clog Dancers - Jane.
Following the ceremony in Paignton, there was a barbeque party at Platway House which is an old mansion up the hillside above Shaldon with amazing views across the river just like the view shown here.
As both Nakki, the bride, and Jane, the groom's mother are dancers, there was plenty of entertainment in the Platway House garden from the Heather and Gorse Clog Dancers plus their merry band of musicians. We had a large tent but it was scarcely needed as not a drop of rain fell on this sunny day. I joined in the music with my piano accordian and the first dance was - of course - the "Wedding Reel" danced to the tune of "Portsmouth". It was great fun and a lovely way to celebrate a wedding.
The Most Beautiful Place to Grow up
I just ‘stumbled’ across this site whilst looking for information about Shaldon. How lovely to recall childhood memories. Viewing the photographs, the shot of the Ness House c1955. I grew up there; we lived at the Ness House throughout the 1950’s, I attended Shaldon Primary, was a choir boy at St Peter’s Church and a cub with the 1st Shaldon pack. I imaging one of the car parked outside the Ness House is my father’s, there weren’t that many about at that time.
I return to the Ness regularly, it still is the most beautiful place.
