Born in a stately home!

After WW2 Flete House in Devon was a nursing home. This is where I was born. At the time we lived in a council house.

Batson, Devon, UK

 This hamlet is near where I grew up as a child.

Where I come from - NOT amateur radio

Going back very many centuries (mid 1500s) I can trace my family history continuously to Hope Cove in South Devon. 

It is probable that one of my ancestors thousands of years ago manned the promontory Iron Age fort visible in the distance in the photo. Quite humbling.

Coastal train - NOT amateur radio

Last week I went by train to see my brother in Devon. For several miles, the track hugs the coast near Dawlish and Teignmouth and the views are spectacular. 

In the next 100 years this will probably be washed away. The line to Plymouth and Cornwall will probably have to go inland, north of Dartmoor at great expense.  Stations like Dawlish, Teignmouth, Newton Abbot and Totnes could well suffer.

Where I come from - NOT amateur radio

 

This is near where I come from in South Devon. In the distance is Bolt Tail with an Iron Age fort. One of my ancestors probably helped man it. 

Where I come from - NOT amateur radio

Until I left university, I lived in South Devon, not far from where the photo was taken. I have definitely been hereabouts since the mid 1500s (family history research) and probably for thousands of years before that.  On the promontory in the distance is an iron age fort. One of my distant ancestors probably manned it!

Although I have lived in East Anglia for most of my life, I still feel my spiritual home is in South Devon.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bolt_Tail .

Donovan's, Kingsbridge, Devon - NOT amateur radio

Kingsbridge is where I lived as a teenager.  Most of the shops are on a steep hill. One of these is Donovan's that sells mainly furniture. I think it dates back to the mid 1800s. Since I was young (a long time ago!), it has not changed much and I hope it doesn't. This photo was taken a few weeks ago when I was down there staying with my brother.

Bowringsleigh - NOT amateur radio

The weekend before last my brother in Devon had his church fete in the grounds of this fine house shown in the photo. It is called Bowringsleigh House. As you can see the weather was perfect.

Devon tomorrow - NOT amateur radio

All being well, I hope to travel to South Devon tomorrow by train to see my brother. My wife is staying here. I am coming back on Monday. 

This will mean fewer posts on this blog and means I cannot be on the radio.

Salcombe, Devon - NOT amateur radio

This photo shows where I lived as a young child. At the time we just took it for granted. Salcombe is in the distance on the left.

Much later, I realised just how lovely it was. These days it is a very expensive place to live with many second homes. House prices are ridiculously high, so much so that locals are priced out.

Near where I come from - NOT amateur radio

This is Blackpool Sands in Devon (not THAT Blackpool!!). It’s near where I come from in South Devon. 

It is a private beach with restricted access.

South Hams, where I grew up - NOT amateur radio

This is where I grew up and lived until I got a job in Cambridge. It is still very beautiful. 

This is Bolberry Down.

Where I come from - NOT amateur radio

My birthplace and where I lived as a child and teenager was in South Devon. We can trace our family back to the mid 1500s continuously in a village near this photo and we have a record of land being owned in the next parish in 1427!  It is pretty certain that some of my ancestors were hereabouts thousands of years ago. The photo is of Bolberry Down which is very close to where I lived.

Where I come from - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows where I come from in South Devon. As mentioned before we can trace our family history here continuously back to the mid 1500s. We were probably in this area 1000s of years ago.

Devon cliffs - NOT amateur radio

This photo was taken in 2012 and shows me in Bolberry Down in Devon.

Where I lived as a teenager - NOT amateur radio

This very old engraving shows Kingsbridge, Devon as it was over 200 years ago. 

Although it has changed quite a bit, the main town is still very recognisable. I lived there from 1959-1970. It is at the head of the Kingsbridge Estuary, that is actually a ria or drowned river valley. 

It is still a very beautiful area today.

South West Coast Path - NOT amateur radio

Sadly I am too old these days to do this walk, or even short stretches of it. I have walked many parts of it in South Devon, and as you might expect, there are some great views. Some do the whole lot over several weeks

See https://www.southwestcoastpath.org.uk/ .

Kingsbridge Estuary - NOT amateur radio

This photo of where I come from in Devon was on social media a little while ago. This not actually an estuary. It is actually a ria, a drowned river valley. One of my favourite walks was between Salcombe (bottom left) and Kingsbridge (top). It took me about 90 minutes then. It would take me hours now, if at all!

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ria .

Where I come from - NOT amateur radio

 

This is where I come from in South Devon. This unspoilt area is known as the South Hams.

Where I come from - NOT amateur radio

This photo was posted on the internet yesterday and shows where I come from in South Devon. Salcombe is left and this shows the Kingsbridge Estuary as the main focus. It is still a very beautiful part of England, and still very rural.