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MAIDENCOMBE.NET AUTHOR Jim Campbell

MAIDENCOMBE.NET AUTHOR Jim Campbell
Maidencombe resident since 1960. Local historian and author of the 'Coves of Maidencombe'.
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TIDES

KESTREL CALLING

BUZZARD IN MY GARDEN

RESERVE

NST

The bowl of the coombe as seen from Sladnor heights

The bowl of the coombe as seen from Sladnor heights

Maidencombe point

Maidencombe point
as seen above Maidencombe cove.

Blog Archive

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

New arrivals to the combe

News from the Thatched Tavern that there are newcomers arriving in the village this Wednesday.  We will be welcoming them and giving everyone an update later this week.

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Saturday July 28th: Finally drying up

Photos taken Saturday afternoon which show the still sodden ground in the back of the beach car park.  A valiant effort was made Friday to mow here - with limited success.  Photo on left shows the muddy patch which has to be leapt to exit onto the orchard and Rock House Lane.  Conventional exit via the metal stile still with wellies only.

Friday, July 27, 2012

Green mowed

Just about dry enough for the mower to operate on the green and (limited) on far overflow car park.

Maidencombe Photo Competition

Entries still coming in for our Maidencombe Photo Competition.  Remember that entries will close on Tuesday July 31st.  Preliminary judging taking place this weekend. 

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Accident just waiting to happen

Information received of an accident between a motor bike and car at the top of Rock House Lane Wednesday July 25th.  Motorcyclist taken to hospital with skin abrasions but fortunate not to have been more seriously injured.  A resident from near where the accident took place confirmed that it was 'an accident just waiting to happen'.  He has contacted Highways who will be inspecting the spot with a view to putting in a 'SLOW' sign at the top of Rock House Lane.  Apparently there have been numerous cases of vehicles careering into Rock House Lane at reckless speed from the Teignmouth Rd (from Torquay side) and several near misses.

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Parasol time ...

.. at Headlands, Brim Hill this afternoon.

As forecasted in previous post ...

... new designation of bus stop markings laid down lunchtime today.  Additionally, information coming in to us that the lay by immediately sandwiched between the telephone box and bus bay will be changed to limited waiting.  Signage to this effect will shortly be put in place.

Other road news

On our nightly patrol around the combe noted the following:  Spray markings on the road around the bus shelter suggesting new designations in the offing ... small tarmac patch on Steep Hill just before Cross Orchard ...  the surface (chips embedded in tar) dressing recently applied down Rock House Lane has worryingly developed holes in it at various places - mostly on the hill.

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Highways quick off the mark

Highways made a visit to Brim Hill today and have laid down spray marks around the damaged section of tarmac.

Monday, July 23, 2012

Damage to Brim Hill

Left photo: Service vehicles parked most weekdays on Brim Hill.
Right photo: Looking back down Brim Hill, the damage caused by heavy vehicles (refuse lorries etc) forced wide to get round the parked vehicles.  Since this photo was taken a week ago, the surface has deteriorated further.
Highways have been informed of the damage and will be making a visit later this week.

Above the cove Sunday July 22nd

Could it possibly be?

Not a cloud to be seen in this photo taken from the top of the Goat's Path Sunday 16:45 hrs.  Even stranger, not a soul seen in our hour long walk around the combe.  When you reflect on when the summer actually happened as the autumn closes in, you puzzle away and can't exactly put your finger on it.  Well, with the weather widget forecasting a week of unbroken sunshine, make sure you note it down, as this could well be it ..

Saturday, July 21, 2012

Friday, July 20, 2012

Surface water still evident ..

.. flowing down beach approaches.

FRIDAY JULY 20: Apples coming on nicely in the orchard

A week after the deluge ..

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Wed July 18th: Essential roadworks ..

.. outside the Thatched Tavern - fortunately, the other roadworks outside Maidencombe Farm are now complete, so not too much of a problem for visitors/residents.

Wed July 18th: Dumped

What appears to be a clothes airing frame dumped in Rock House Lane between the Courthouse and Maidencombe Farm.  I've moved it to the side in case it 'dropped off a lorry'.

Wed July 18th: Double gates installed at village green entrance.

Double wooden gates have been installed by the trust at the entrance to the village green.  Formerly there were metal gates but one went missing some years ago.  Update on this to follow.

Wed July 18th: Vandalism on sign

New wood information panels put in place on post just below Mandhu Cottage. The vandalized plate can be seen on top of the post.  This has occurred more than once and what the agenda is here puzzles me.

Wednesday July 18th: Animal pen complete

Three galvanized gates put in place.  Signing this story off.

Saturday, July 14, 2012

Over the hill and far away ..

The coast path to Labrador beckons - as you breast the rise, Mandu (Mandhu sometimes) Cottage is on the left hand side.

Saturday July 14

The dry-stone wall (centre) is revealed  for the first time in many years by the new owners of Bowden Close - and very smart it looks.

Food for thought comments

If you would like to post comments on this article, you may do so here.
MAIDENCOMBE BEACH TO DISAPPEAR DUE TO RISING SEA LEVELS & EROSION

Friday, July 13, 2012

Unusual view of the car park July 13th

Dry for 24 hours but water still floods to the lowest point of the combe.

18:00 hrs Friday July 13th:  The 'overflow' car park sign is spot on as rain water still flows at quite a rate through the main car park.  Several more dry days needed to clear the saturated water table and let the rain water resume its underground flow to the sea.

REPOSTED Folly at Sladnor footage

Now complete clip (extra section at end of the clip) with synchronized audio and better resolution.

Thursday, July 12, 2012

COMBE WATER ESTIMATE

Just been down to the car park and cove and I've estimated that up to 100,000 gallons of rain water every 24 hours is draining into the lowest part of the combe and exiting via the now inundated drainage conduit (now seen as the waterfall) at the base of the cove steps.  All drains and drainage pipes are blocked.  The sign 'Overflow car park' is ironic to say the least.  It will take many days of dry weather to remedy the situation.

Folly at Sladnor footage (now reposted due to audio lag)

Filmed earlier this year (permission granted). Video heavily compressed from original 689 MB to 53 MB to enable posting.  Source:  Maidencombe Archives which is subject to copyright and cannot be copied or reposted without permission.  Audio is slightly out of sync with video due to compression and may be reposted later.

'SAILING INTO A RAINBOW'

In addition to the header photo of the rainbow over the combe, Ruth also snapped this remarkable double rainbow with a yacht caught inside the main rainbow on Wednesday July 11th. Click on the photo to get full size.

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

MEMORIES OF THE CAPTAIN

Outside Maidencombe Farm and the rapidly progressing house build of the Austin family.  I paused a moment this afternoon to recall the old Captain who had a tiny caravan just behind the gravel.  The Captain was the first ever resident of Maidencombe I met when I arrived in the combe in 1960.  'Old Bill' as he was affectionally known, knew all the secrets of Maidencombe and passed some of his knowledge on to me in his final years.  You could walk past his caravan late at night and he would always have the window open whatever the weather.  There's many a tale that can be told of the Captain's exploits ..

Even bird experts cannot agree ...

... why cormorants spread their wings (before you leap in with 'because they're drying them!' they have been observed doing it in pouring rain) ... this fine bird spotted in full wing pose for all of 5 seconds at Maidencombe Cove yesterday afternoon.  See thread:   http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=8605

Gully cleaning Wednesday July 11

I keep an eye out for my wall (hit by refuse lorry late last year) as the Tor2  road sweeper passes by down Brim Hill clearing gullies both sides .. vital with all the heavy rain we've had.

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Above Maidencombe Cove Tuesday July 10

AFTER 4 INCHES OF RAIN THE MAIDENCOMBE WATERFALL CAN NO LONGER BE CONTAINED ..

Just after this clip was taken, the heavens opened up yet again.
Monday  July 9th:  Entrance to the beach car park - surface water now evident and a tree whose roots are now unstable is in danger of toppling near the gantry.  UPDATE:  This tree immediately removed to ensure safety for vehicles and pedestrians.

BLOG CONTENT

BLOG CONTENT
The twinning of Maidencombe with Comeinbemad reflects the light-hearted nature of this gentle blog. The articles posted are written by the author alone and have no connection with any official body or association.

SLADNOR PARK CHALETS

SLADNOR PARK CHALETS
Eerily shrouded in mist, two of the lower chalets of Sladnor Park.

BURNING OF THE BAMBOO MAN JUNE 5 2016

AN ODE TO SLADNOR PARK

(sung to the tune of 'Home on the Range')

Oh give me a park where the badgers can roam
Where the deer and the wildlife reside
There never is heard the developer's word
To disturb where the denizens abide

Oh give me a park where the diggers are banned
And the architect can't earn his fee
Where the noise of the town
Is a far distant sound
And conservation is all it can be

For when houses are built
The council covered in guilt
And all the animals forlorn
Now the only sounds to be heard
Are vehicles absurd
And the cries of a motherless fawn

Jim Campbell

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OUR MAIN LINK - CLICK ON IMAGE TO REDIRECT

OUR MAIN LINK - CLICK ON IMAGE TO REDIRECT
THE ENDANGERED CIRL BUNTING - SYMBOL OF THE MAIDENCOMBE COMMUNITY GROUP

PUTTING MAIDENCOMBE ON THE MAP

PUTTING MAIDENCOMBE ON THE MAP
Blogging Fusion Blog Directory

STAT

MOST VIEWED POST ON THIS SITE

MOST VIEWED POST ON THIS SITE
The old Toll House on the west side of the A379 Teignmouth Road, stands at the junction of Claddon Lane with the A379 about 50 yards from Ridge Road and the former position of the black and white Solomons Post sign (see side panel right). This early photo shows the open porch (lower left) - now blocked off and the blanked out toll-board recess (top right). Under the angled roof on the right, there is a small shop and working post office. The building probably dates from 1827 when the new road was built. Originally named Solomon's Post Gate when there was a gate across the road for the toll collector to open upon payment.

RAMBLING GROUP WRITE-UP OF WATCOMBE TO MAIDENCOMBE WALK

Found this interesting little site with a rambling group's write up of walks. CLICK HERE FOR MAIDENCOMBE WALK ARTICLE

MAIDENCOMBER SLADNOR VIDEO AND WRITE-UP

YOUR LOCAL WEB APPROVES DREAMINCOMBES

YOUR LOCAL WEB APPROVES DREAMINCOMBES
After scrutiny by a panel, this site has been added as a reputable source of information about Maidencombe.

ARCHIVE: MAIDENCOMBE TIMELINE EVENING AT THE THATCHED TAVERN

The first Timeline evening took place Wednesday evening March 20th at the Thatched Tavern. Local lad Ziggy Austin's brainchild, it was an endeavour to map out the history of Maidencombe on a ten metre paper scroll. The initiative was first mooted and widely supported on Ziggy's Maidencombe Residents Facebook page. Residents and non residents were asked if they could research local history on the area and bring along any material such as postcards or text to place on the scroll.
The first evening was well attended and as can be seen in the photos on the left, a great deal was achieved.
Longest residing villager, Alan Hunt attended to add his considerable knowledge and was supported by his 'young' student Jim Campbell with a mere 53 years of residence under his belt.
The pub opened up the restaurant area for the occasion and were most generous in providing sandwiches for the studious throng.


SOLOMONS POST AT THE JUNCTION OF TEIGNMOUTH ROAD & RIDGE ROAD

SOLOMONS POST AT THE JUNCTION OF TEIGNMOUTH ROAD & RIDGE ROAD
No known images of this iconic Maidencombe landmark exist. Post war and up to the late 1960's, sign posts were wooden posts painted black and white. This is a close reconstruction of the sign where buses would actually pull in to for passengers to alight or board.

A UNIQUE VIDEO

A video of one of my foxes being treated for Sarcoptic mange - taking the medication on the food by hand. She recovered completely and my thanks go out to the Derbyshire Fox Rescue who supplied the medication.

DRAMATIC EROSION OF THE SOUTHWEST COASTAL FOOTPATH

Worth a look as Maidencombe's section of the SWCP is also very much under threat.

From myfoxesandbadgers site

ARCHIVE: DANGEROUS STATE OF CLIFF FACE

ARCHIVE: DANGEROUS STATE OF CLIFF FACE
Photo taken from the beach cafe above Maidencombe cove and the arrows indicate the cause for concern. A minor land slip has already taken place and the Environment Agency had a look Christmas eve in case the cove had to be closed.

ARCHIVE: Entrance to Crossways at Maidencombe Cross

ARCHIVE: Entrance to Crossways at Maidencombe Cross
After a catalogue of antisocial behaviour displayed by motorists illegally entering a private area, the police recommended that the entrance be made narrower. A sad indictment of society.

THE FOLLY AT SLADNOR PARK

THE FOLLY AT SLADNOR PARK
Constructed between 1830-1833 by Mrs Groves who inhabited Sladnor Manor House at the time. The hexagonal tower and accompanying arched outbuilding were built of Devon red sandstone. A projecting castellated cornice crowned the gothic apertures and single faux crossbow slit at ground level. A most interesting aspect of the folly is the purpose-built pony and trap winding carriage-way which Mrs Groves carved through the north western woods of the estate to facilitate her passage to and from the folly. The structure is now in poor condition and it is earnestly hoped that Richmond Villages, the new owners of Sladnor, will be able to make safe the folly to enable residents to enjoy in years to come.

FEATURES OF MAIDENCOMBE

Some of the features we will be mentioning:

ROCK HOUSE GAZEBO
THE CASCADE
THE IRON STILE
THE CASTELLATED FOLLY
THE BAT RETREAT
THE PUMP HOUSE
THE PILL BOX
THE 190 OAK
SMUGGLER'S LANE

GRADE 2 LISTED ROCK HOUSE GAZEBO

GRADE 2 LISTED ROCK HOUSE GAZEBO
Circa 1850. Constructed of Devon red sandstone with unfortunately, as is the case with the Sladnor Folly, some cement patching. Sited at the eastern end of the garden, overlooking the sea. A single storey structure with faux castellated parapet. It has a one-window front incorporating a gabled porch on the front to left with a segmental headed and arched doorway. There is a matching arched window to the right. Reportedly, the structure had a flight of external steps for access to the flat roof with commanding views of Lyme Bay. The interior is clay-tiled laid.