Littleham, Cottages 1890

Photo ref: 26277

More about this scene

ONE of the great joys of Exmouth is its beautiful setting, caught magnificently between the sea, the long Exe estuary and the wilder countryside of heath and cliff that so defines east Devon, offering wonderful places to explore beyond the confines of the urban seaside resort. Exmouth began as a suburb of the nearby villages of Littleham and Withycombe Raleigh, though both have now become suburbs of the newer town. Littleham retains its village feel, though only a few ancient cottages have survived to cluster around the even older church. Here is the tomb of Lady Nelson, perhaps the most famous of the many visitors who came to Exmouth and decided to stay. Beyond is Sandy Bay, Littleham's own beach, once a smugglers' cove but now the setting for one of England's largest caravan sites, often echoing with gunfire from the Royal Marines training range on nearby Straight Point. Wisely, those who planned the growth of suburban Littleham built its modest shopping centre away from the heart of the old village. Between the church and the neighbouring resort of Budleigh Salterton are miles of clifftop walks and lonelier countryside. Long may these areas remain free and undeveloped. Below the heathlands is the absolutely delightful church of St John in the Wilderness, a haven of peace and tranquillity for all who seek a break from the excitements of the bustling resort of Exmouth; and nearer to the estuary is the strange house of A La Ronde, a trip back in time to those heady days of Georgian elegance and eccentricity.

An extract from Exmouth Photographic Memories.