Edition 7 - August 1990

Vi Kingdon - President

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DEVON HISTORIC CHURCHES TRUST

As September comes round again with quieter roads and weather [hopefully] idea. for walking or cycling - keep a free day on SATURDAY; 8TH SEPTEMBER to join in our local effort.

All round the country, people who do not want to see their lovely old churches and chapels fall into disrepair and decay through lack of funds, gather together on this day and join in a sponsored walk-run-cycle or pony-ride on behalf of the Historic Churches Fund.

The aim is to have an interesting day visiting as many churches and chapels as you can - wherever you are.

Housewives : Get a sponsor form and while you are in Ilfracombe or Barnstaple doing your week-end shopping, call in at a few churches on your way - possibly buildings which you have never visited before, with lovely architecture and interesting historical features.

Youngsters and Youth Club members - get out your bikes or go in a group - have a picnic on the way - get out into the villages and visit the lovely old churches there. Or join us locally in visiting Ilfracombe, Combe Martin and our own village churches here in Berrynarbor. See how many you can visit on this day!

Most of the churches and chapels will be manned by people who can tell you about the history of their church and who will welcome you and possibly provide a refreshing drink.

All the money you raise from your sponsorship will go initially to the Devon Historic Churches Fund, then half will come back to the church or chapel of your choice and the other half will be kept for grants through the D.H.C. Fund to churches and chapels who are in need and who apply.

Several churches and chapels in our own area have been given grants in this way over the past couple of years.

We shall look out for you on the road - so have a FUN DAY and join us on

SATURDAY, 8TH SEPTEMBER. 10.00 a.m. - 6.00 p.m. Good walking, cycling or riding!!

Sponsor forms from:

Win Collins

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BERRYNARBOR YOUTH CLUB

After a very successful Coffee Morning at Easter, the Youth Club has been able to purchase games equipment to the value of £90 - thanks to everyone who supported it and to the effort that everyone put into making the bonnets - over 40 in all which made the judging very difficult. Thank you Helen Armstead.

While on the subject of thanks, we should very much like to thank Lynne and Phil [The Globe], who kindly donated £45 with which we have bought a basketball set.

We had a trip to Cascades at Croyde, which was enjoyed by everyone and also a lovely evening at The Globe when a lot of parents joined us. Youth Club has now finished until the Autumn, when we hope to start rehearsing for our Christmas Variety Show.

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MANOR HALL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

Berry Revels Evening, Tuesday 14th August, 6.30 - 9.00 pm Manor Hall. Any donations [raffle prizes, cakes (or any baked goods), help on the day, ideas , bottles, tombola prizes, etc.] will be gratefully accepted. Contact Joy Morrow, Fuchsia Cottage [882531]. Your help is needed too!

Berry Revels Craft Fair, Wednesday, 15th August, 10.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. Manor Hall. Refreshments served. Come along and bring your friends and visitors - do your Christmas shopping early!

Berrynarbor Horticultural and Art Show, Saturday, 8th September, 2.00 p.m. Manor Hall. Watch for schedules in mid-August at the Post Office, Manor Stores and Butchers. Please support this event!! Especially the flower, wine and art sections.

The above three events are in aid of our Village Hall. The kitchen project is in hand and work should begin around the middle of August. The next major project is portable staging so your support is needed. Any donations will be very welcome.

Would anyone having any information regarding the damage to the gas heater near the kitchen please contact one of the Committee Members. Thank you.

Thank you to everyone who helped make my Coffee Morning such a success, especially Alan Denzey and Ron Toms for their 'labour of love'. £141.50 was raised in aid of the Chapel in Berrynarbor.

Joy Morrow

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OLD BERRYNARBOR - VIEW NO. 6
Capel Cottage, Berrynarbor. 120. Garratt [c1925]

 

This must be one of the most photographed cottages in Berrynarbor. It has also been called "Wayside Cottage" [c1908] and "Rayburn Cottage" [c1920]. In about 1903/4, Mrs. Snell lived here, as a widow, with her four children, Arthur, Nelly, Walter and Mabel. Mrs. Snell took in the washing for the Reverend and Mrs. Churchill at the Vicarage. Later, Sir Reginald Beatty Wolseley and his wife, Lady Marion Elizabeth Wolseley, lived here until he died on the 9th July, 1933, at the age of 61. Lady Marion was completely heartbroken and followed her husband's coffin, dressed in white. Through tragic circumstances, she followed him less than a year later on the 23rd June, 1934. Her feelings are reflected in the inscription on his grave - where she, too, is buried - which has a pillow as its headstone and lies just inside the top gate of the churchyard.

"In tender memory of my beloved husband, Reginald Beatty Wolseley, 10th Baronet of Mount Wolseley, who went above 6th July 1933 aged 61

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you. St. John 14.27 M.E.W."

The tiled roof showing on the left is where the village Blacksmith, Sam Harding, lived.

Tom Bartlett
Tower Cottage, July 1990

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KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY

I wonder how many readers have come across "White's 1850 Devon"? If you have, you will know that this Directory of 1850 "has long been recognised and used as one of the major source books for the local historian in Devon. It is a veritable mine of information on towns and villages, industries and agriculture, ports and inland communications, customs and charities. Much can be learnt even from the list of traders and leading citizens in each town and village."

Reproduced below, by kind permission of David and Charles, Publishers, Newton Abbot, Devon, from White's Devon by William White, 1850, is the entry for Berrynarbor.

In compiling this Directory, as in the compilation of his other directories [Suffolk 1844/1855, Norfolk 1845, Lincolnshire 1856, Yorkshire I & Il 1837 and Hampshire 1859] William White and his assistants claim that "every parish and almost every house in this extensive county has been visited."

Little is known about William White except that his involvement with directories began in Newcastle in 1829. He moved to Sheffield in 1830 and began publishing on his own account, mainly covering the northern and eastern parts of England. His Devonshire Directory was his first venture outside these areas, but the reason for this was unknown. At some time, William White was joined by his son, also William, who took over on his father's death in 1868. However, he did not survive his father long, dying two years later in 1870, when the business was taken over by his brother.

 

It is interesting to note from the entry that many of the names given are the same as those of today's residents, presumably they may be their great-great [or even great] - grandparents! Although I cannot claim any of them to be my relatives, I can, however, claim that William White was my great-great-grandfather; my mother, Barbara Pickup, nee White, being his great-granddaughter. As a family, we have no further information on him, but a copy of his portrait [the original being in the possession of a distant cousin] hangs in our sitting room.

 

White's Directory is now out of print - a reprint was published in 1968, but copies are available in the local libraries and an original, published in 1850, is in the Ilfracombe Museum.

Judie Weedon

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DISTRICT COUNCILLOR'S REPORT

You will have seen in the last edition of the Newsletter, a request for some new items for inclusion. My intention is to make this a regular report on my activities in the District Council and on some of the other public bodies I am privileged to have been appointed to.

What better time to start than at the Annual District Council Meeting in May, when all the Chairmanships and other positions are elected for the year ahead. My job last year was to Chair the Board of Works that runs the District Labour Unit and it was pleasing to be reappointed.

In the widest sense, perhaps two of the more interesting days were:

1. A meeting with Michael Portillo, the Minister with responsibility for the Community Charge. There is a gap between the views of Local and Central Government on this charge, but while we both agree it is far too high, there is hope that a way can be found to reduce it.
2. The Government have appointed me as one of only 10 members of the South West Water Company's Customer Service Committee, and we gathered to hear the results of trials held in various venues across the country on the metering of water supplies. There is a long way to go yet on this exercise and as yet no commitment has been made to any new way of charging us all for our water services.

From a local point of view, the most important issue to arise was a prolonged debate on the future of the Big Meadow Camping Site. The present proprietor is anxious for touring caravans to be allowed on the site.

District Councillors on a site visit called for an Officer Report and that came out against the admission of caravans.

Our own Berrynarbor Parish Council were strongly supportive of the Officer view, but a District Council Working Party meeting on Friday, 13th July, are to recommend the Parent Planning Committee change the long-standing policy.

My view is that the present policy is correct in this very important and highly visible place. Your opinion is important and I should be delighted to hear from you or, of course you could write to the Director of Planning at the Civic Centre, Barnstaple.

Graham E. Andrews
District & Parish Councillor
Tel: Combe Martin 883358

Meetings attended 21.5.90 to 15.07.90: 69

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LOCAL WALKS

The section of coast path behind the coastguard cottages to Rillage Point, around Samson's Bay and onto Widmouth Head, overlooking Watermouth, provides a short; easy walk on fairly level ground, from which an interesting variety of plants and birds may be observed.

On an unusually windy afternoon in late June, we set out from the picnic area/ opposite the golf course where cars may be left. One soon gets off the road and onto a path parallel to it along which grow ox-eye daisies, mallow, St. John's wort, hemp agrimony, tufted vetch; yellow toadflax and meadow sweet.

Heading seawards from the coastguard station, in the short grass, we found a colony of spotted orchids with lady's bedstraw and cinquefoil.

From here we caught sight of a cormorant on a rock. Later, as we rounded Samson's Bay, we were to see another in flight. On another rock at Rillage Point were two great black-backed gulls.

On the cliffs the sea pinks had mostly 'gone over' but there was Scurvy grass, furry yellow kidney vetch and a few graceful sea campions and blue sheep's bit.

Along the path around Samson's Bay were wild roses, restharrow and bird's foot trefoil, and perching on top of small trees and shrubs were several linnets and stonechats. The latter with their pretty plumage - chestnut pink chests and black heads with a white half collar - often drew our attention by their distinctive sound [like stones being tapped together]. And of course, there were the ubiquitous jackdaws!

On reaching the fence before heading off around Widmouth Head, you will discover a spectacular view of Watermouth Harbour and Combe Martin Bay with the Hangman. This must be one of the best views of Watermouth and the Warren. Looking to the right, we could see the llamas sharing a field with sheep and cows.

If you decide to turn back here rather than proceed with the steeper section of the path, you will have found plenty of nature and scenery to enjoy.

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ST. PETER'S CHURCH BERRYNARBOR

Eucharist, 10.30 a.m. Holy Communion [2nd Sunday only], 8.00 a.m, Thursday, 10.00 a.m. [Communion at home by request to Preb. R. Eppingstone]. Evensong, St. Peter Ad Vincula, Combe Martin 6.30 p.m.

• 5th August - Prayers for the Queen Mother at the Eucharist
• 7th August - CHURCH FAYRE for local charities, 6.00 p.m. Manor Hall. Too many stalls, entertainments & competitions to list, but Dear Churchpeople, your contributions of goods and prizes to P.C.C. soonest, please.
• 11th-12th August - Preb. Eppingstone will say prayers at the Tattoo in Ilfracombe & hopes you'll be there.
• 14th Sept - Preb. and Mrs. Eppingstone on holiday for two weeks. The Rev. and Mrs. Dean-Hall in residence and taking services.
• 30th Sept - The Harvest Thanksgiving. ROHE hopes you will leave lots and lots of vegetables and fruit for him to arrange when he gets home on the Friday.
• 3rd Oct - Harvest Evensong and Supper

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AT-A-GLANCE DIARY

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SCHOOL NEWS

The School is hoping to make up a local record of life in Berrynarbor, so that future generations can learn from the experiences and knowledge of people in the village now. If you have memories of Berrynarbor and its environs which you would be prepared to share with the children, please write a note to the school giving us your name and address so that one of the children can invite you to come to the school to talk with him or her in order that they can write your memories for our 'Berrynarbor in the Past' book.

We envisage the book having four sections - Pre-War Berrynarbor, Wartime Berrynarbor, Recent Past [since the War] and Berrynarbor School.

We hope that you can summon up some of your memories - sad, amusing, interesting; and everyday events from all walks of life - to help the children learn about our area in this century. The book will be preserved in the most permanent way possible for use a long time into the future.

Please pass on this plea for help to any of your friends and relatives who live outside the village and if they cannot visit, a letter would be most appreciated.

We hope to see lots of people in the autumn for a cup of coffee and a chat and you might even meet some old friends who share your memories! Please contribute if you possibly can.

Pam Cruse

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SNIPPETS

Best Kept Village Once again we have reached the finals. Thanks to all who do their 'bit' to keep it so nice. Let's hope we can go one better this year, and make it a FIRST!

Sunday School The outing on Sunday, 15th July, was to Watermouth Castle and what a wonderful time they had - panning for gold, down in the dungeons, waffles and tea and lots of fun in the music room. They would like to thank Mr. and Mrs. Haines and their staff for making the visit so memorable and such fun.

Congratulations to Ivan and Bill Huxtable of Woolscott Farm who are justifiably proud to have sold a small herd of 10 cattle [8 Devons] to Mr. Thomas of Brightley Barton, Umberleigh, who was the Champion Cattle Judge at the Royal Smithfield Show.

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EDITOR'S NOTE

Thank you again to this issue's contributors, and although there are some articles in hand for the October issue, don't sit back - keep writing!

Congratulations, Thanks, For Sale and Wanted, Snippets, etc. are always welcome, so pop 'the gossip' in the boxes in the Post Office and Manor Stores for the October Issue by the 15th September at the latest, as well as that article telling us about your holiday, hobby or humorous happening!

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21

LETTUCE SOUP

Served hot or cold, with warmed wholemeal bread, this makes a delicious light lunch or supper for 4

Recipe tested in a 650-watt oven. Adjust the timings accordingly.

Wash and shred the lettuce finely. Melt the butter in a large micro-proof bowl on high for 1 minute. Add the onion. Cover and cook on high for 4 minutes until softened, stirring once. Add the lettuce and mint. Cover and cook on high for 4 minutes, stirring once. Stir in flour, then gradually add the milk and stock. Cook on high for 6 minutes, stirring twice, until thickened. Allow to stand for 3 minutes. Pour into a liquidiser or food processor, blend until smooth. Or pass through a fine sieve. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper according to taste. Stir in single cream or fromage fraise. Cook on high for a further 5 minutes, stirring twice, until heated through. Garnish with fresh mint leaves to serve.

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