Torquay weather and temp in Fahr.

MAIDENCOMBE.NET AUTHOR Jim Campbell

MAIDENCOMBE.NET AUTHOR Jim Campbell
Maidencombe resident since 1960. Local historian and author of the 'Coves of Maidencombe'.
Copyright © 2013 . All Rights Reserved.
Blog Directory & Business Pages - OnToplist.com

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

Sunday, June 30, 2013

OPEN WIDE

Candaa the vixen about to take a piece of raw meat from me early hours today.  As can be seen, it's a risky business. 

CANDAA THE VIXEN TAKING FOOD IN MY GARDEN EARLY HOURS TODAY

Candaa takes the food in decisive fashion as you can hear in this concise little video clip.  Clip courtesy of our sister site www.myfoxesandbadgers.blogspot.com

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

BATS IN ROCK HOUSE LANE - A LITTLE MAGIC IN THE AIR

Clip taken early hours today as I wended my way home.  There are strict laws protecting bats, whether it be roosting, nesting or even their existing flight paths.

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

SUMMER IN THE ORCHARD

That most important of insects - a bee - homes in on a Digitalis purpurea (common foxglove) now in full bloom in Maidencombe orchard.

Monday, June 24, 2013

PERIGEE FULL MOON O'ER MAIDENCOMBE (TO BE REVISED AS AUDIO OUT OF SYNC)

Taken from on top of my extension at 22:00 hrs Sunday evening.   This is the closest our moon will ever be to us as it is slipping away from earth by about an inch and a half every year.

Sunday, June 23, 2013

WE GET IN CLOSE

Early hours Sunday June 23rd and there's plenty of close up action out on our Night Patrol around the cliff paths and  combe.  My nerves  are tested as this vixen moves in to take food from my hand.   Footage being prepared.

Saturday, June 22, 2013

PERIGEE FULL MOON RISING TONIGHT

Maidencombe Moon watchers may be disappointed this evening as cloud cover looks to be 100% over the combe as an unusually large full Moon rises. 

Known as a 'Perigee Full Moon' it is so-named as the coinciding of a full Moon with the closest approach of the Moon to the Earth.

It is actually a bit of an optical illusion insofar as that the Moon only appears larger (about 14%) when it is low down on the horizon.

Much better viewing prospects for Maidencombe will be Sunday evening and I'll be out to record it on video with the powerful zoom qualities of my Canon Powershot SX40.

PC PROBLEM

Ran into severe problems with my PC and opted for a re-install of Windows 8.  Saved everything on external HD and  got OS back a few minutes ago.  Impulse power only at present but hopefully ready to post shortly.

Thursday, June 20, 2013

TIME CALLED FOR NOW

Flashback to December 2010 when Jim Campbell AKA Bluebird was duly elected head of the GOBRAS (Good Old Boys Real Ale Swiggers) seen above wearing the regalia of office.
Since then, illness and infirmity have taken their inevitable toll and a decision has, most reluctantly, been made to call time on alcohol consumption  for now - sharp intake of breath from the Thatched Tavern and Orestone Manor!

The deciding factor was yesterday evening's jog to Watcombe and back via the coast path.

'I knew I hadn't run for a few weeks but I was appalled at my state of fitness and decided that enough was enough.'

To follow:  'The Fight for Fitness'  

Monday, June 17, 2013

SQUIRREL ON A POLE

Just saw this fellow looking accusingly at me from only two yards away outside my window - quite unnerving, stared fixedly at me for some time!

Sunday, June 16, 2013

HULKS OFF THE ORESTONE


Saturday, June 15, 2013

DEER PHOTO SHOOT

She's now alerted after I 'call'.

Friday, June 14, 2013

DEER PHOTO SHOOT

With eyes half-closed and ears relaxed, the female deer exhibits no sign of alarm as I edge closer.

DEER PHOTO SHOOT

After 'capturing' this female deer on a vid clip (below) I set off with my Canon Powershot SX40 to see if I could locate her and get some stills.  It took about an hour to find her and this photo was the first indication of her position in the long grass.  I managed to get her to raise her head by 'calling' and got a beautiful photo which will be posted here first.

OH DEER!

I saw movement in the field from my window and thought it was a dog until I zoomed in for a quick vid clip. 

FLASHBACK TO 1971

Recently posted by my dear friend Trevor (far left front row) in the Herald Express.  The photo of the World Record breaking relay team of Torbay athletes was taken inside the ancient clubhouse at Torre Valley North. 
I have been stopped in the street by enthusiastic acquaintances and friends who still vividly recall the event to inform me that the photo had been republished.  I am pictured in the back row, far right as a 22 year old track athlete and the author of the event.  I can still hear the echoes of derisive laughter when I mooted the idea at a Torbay AC committee meeting convened to seek ideas for fund-raising.


Thursday, June 13, 2013

OPEN SEASON FOR DEVELOPMENT IN MAIDENCOMBE?

Residents cannot fail to have noticed the recent development activity in Maidencombe and details are emerging.   Warning signs of site activity have been placed on the Teignmouth Road below Solomon's Post and details of conversion and new build at Rock House have appeared in the Herald Express with accompanying notices put up last Saturday.

Concerned residents have watched these actions with dismay  and have asked whether this is 'open season for development' in Maidencombe.  Existing guidelines for new build in Maidencombe appear to fundamentally clash with the proposed submission by Maidencombe into the upcoming Neighbourhood Plan.  This anomaly will be raised at forthcoming meetings.

I have details of the rationale behind both the instances listed above. For obvious reasons I am not prepared to comment further at this stage.


AGM of the Residents Association

The 21st Annual General Meeting of the Maidencombe Residents Association was held in the Chapel of Brunel Manor Wednesday evening. 

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

DEADLY ASH DIEBACK DISEASE SPREADING RAPIDLY

Healthy ash saplings outside my window

A new threat to woodland has manifested itself in the form of the 'ash dieback' disease which although thought to have been introduced from the continent on the eastern seaboard,  has now appeared on the other side of the country.  Wales has reported its first case a few weeks ago and many more young trees are expected to succumb in the near future.

Tell-tale signs are the shrivelling and blackening of new shoots and saplings have little chance of survival.  Older trees have a fair chance of survival and a small percentage appear to have a natural immunity to the disease.

Andy Maltas, our resident tree expert will be on the lookout for the disease here in Maidencombe.

THE GAME'S AFOOT ...

A cryptic heading, but some will know what I am referring to as this day dawns.  Lack of posting due to workload the past few days, but from Thursday onwards, the site will undergo radical change as submissions from various sources are invited. 

Sunday, June 09, 2013

RETURN TO THE HOUSE THAT FELL DOWN THE HILL

A last look at Ridgemont House before it is ultimately demolished.   Bought for the 'knock-down' price of £155,000 (thought to have been valued at ten times that amount before safety fears) in February 2010, a large chunk of the garden slipped down the cliffs above Oddicombe beach only a week later.  Since then, there have been several more slippages resulting in the end of the house shearing off earlier this year which tumbled down the exposed cliff face.   A huge legal battle is ongoing.  The site has become quite an attraction for Torbay residents and tourists alike prompting fears that injuries may result as people have been seen ascending the unstable cliffs immediately below the ruined 'country pile'.  This video was shot from the safety of  adjacent woods.  Other houses nearby are now under threat.

Tuesday, June 04, 2013

MYSTERY SOLVED

I was puzzled at the rapid moving black image scudding low across the water behind the yacht (see 'A yacht came sailing by' vid clip two posts below) at about 31 seconds in.  So fast was it travelling that it was with some difficulty I managed to isolate the single frame.  The HD image above solves the mystery - in all probability it's a cormorant moving extremely quickly a few inches above the water.

Monday, June 03, 2013

BEE ON THE JUDAS TREE

JUDAS TREE SEEN FROM THE ORCHARD
Nigh on 500 years old, bees congregate on Maidencombe's Judas tree (Cercis siliquastrum) which is a feature of the village. This soothing and peaceful clip taken Sunday afternoon.

A YACHT CAME SAILING BY

A lazy early evening from Maidencombe cove as a yacht hoves into view. Look out for the black image moving across the video at about 31 seconds in.  See 'Mystery Solved' above.

Sunday, June 02, 2013

A TRUE MAIDENCOMBER

It's come to my notice that a villager has been doing great service by daily walking the beach and roads in the village collecting litter.   He's only taken residence near the beach car park in the past  year but has already become a highly popular and respected member of the community.  Our accolade goes to Arthur ...  member or non-member - he's a true Maidencomber!  And a few residents will know what I mean here.

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

Search This Website

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.