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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'.
Copyright © 2013 . All Rights Reserved.
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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, March 24, 2020

UNUSUAL VISITOR OFF MAIDENCOMBE

 Data supplied by: https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/our-organisation/the-fighting-arms/royal-fleet-auxiliary/tankers/rfa-tidespring

RFA Tidespring’s role

RFA Tidespring is predominantly deployed on replenishment at sea operations. These involve refuelling Royal Navy ships while they are on operations, delivering vital supplies, and transporting specialist personnel, including Royal Marines Commandos.

RFA Tidespring undertakes a range of other maritime operations, including policing shipping lanes and providing humanitarian aid. It also has capacity for a large Chinook helicopter on the flight deck, making it more versatile than previous tankers.

Thursday, March 19, 2020

A LONE MAIDENCOMBER'S CORONAWAR DIARY

My situation is tricky but not desperate - yet.  A ninety eight year old mother, six rescue cats and a tortoise who didn't want to hibernate are wholly dependent on me for the duration of the Corona war. Resourcefulness must be brought into play if my household is to be kept functioning at 'normal' capacity. Here then is my CoronaWar Diary..

Rule 1 supermarkets are to be avoided*, there's more available from your previously much maligned and ill-used corner shop.  A visit to Sainsbury's at the Willows last night amply demonstrated the point. Only three of anything (two for the toilet rolls and #1 Hoarder items) seemed like a good idea but most shelves were still forlornly empty and 'serving' [sic] to ratchet up the panic levels even more.

Pet food non-existent and my shopping basket (don't bother with a trolley) consisted of two cans of red salmon; a bottle of sunflower oil to bake my unavailable potatoes; a six pack of white finger rolls (still available on a daily basis - thumbs up) and two packets of basics digestive biscuits for when we go into bunker mode.

Asda next and a bit of luck - an employee is unpacking the pet food stocking trolley and three boxes of Felix senior sachets are like gold dust in my basket. Strawberries (Mum's favourite) and bananas are available but as was the case at Sainsbury's:
No milk today, it wasn't always so
The company was gay, we'd turn night into day

How right you were Herman.

Up to the Coop at St Marychurch and though a hefty £1.50, 4 pints of skimmed milk and two chocolate eclairs (another Mum's favourite) are the last shop of the day.

DAY 1 done and the confidence number (out of 100) is 90.

* The reserving of the first hour for the elderly/at risk at some supermarkets not helpful (yet) for me as I tend to be up until the early hours most nights tending for Mum and 7am is usually when I get my head down for three hours or so shuteye. Also not sure if queueing in close proximity with other shoppers a good idea.







Sunday, March 15, 2020

COVID-19 IN OUR COMMUNITY

And so it begins. A brief visit to my local post office to take out money and a member of staff, usually friendly, is standing back from the counter and seems ill at ease. Small talk is rebuffed and monosyllabic comments are forthcoming.

The seriousness of the situation for all is clear, the emergence of Covid-19 is a threat not seen since 1939 and the start of the second world war.

For the next few months at least, lifestyles will be drastically changed and social interaction will be curtailed, almost to the point of extinction for some of the most vulnerable.

For the elderly among us, the threat is even more serious, so what can we do to make ourselves as safe as possible?

With an ailing and exceedingly frail mother of ninety eight, my courses of action are clear and without resorting to panic measures, I have ceased going out Mondays for my social activities on the hash or having a beer or two at the Church House down the road.

The 'hot spot' of Torbay with cases reported from pupils at Churston Grammar and health workers from Chelston Manor practice, mean that the virus is close by and inevitably spreading.

My groceries were being delivered twice weekly, however, the selfish panic buyers have now used up all slots for over a week and that option is no longer available. This is a great hardship for carers and the elderly who will now have to venture out in order to buy essential items. 
If there is a vulnerable resident near you, please be kind enough to ask them if there is anything you can get them when you go out. THIS MAY BE VITAL FOR THEM in the near future. 
I make sure that I do not touch my face for the duration of any outing and until I have thoroughly washed my hands on returning home. Ensure regularly washing hands after that as the virus can survive on surfaces for some time and you might have brought contaminated items with you back into your home.

The best time to visit shops is about half an hour before they close when few shoppers are out.

One vital activity that is unaffected is my running, a saving grace indeed and the opportunity to stay reasonably fit and maintain the immune system.

As a community, it is incumbent upon us to look after the elderly and infirm around us. If you live near such a neighbour, please enquire regularly if they are in need of assistance. Such an enquiry would also be deeply reassuring.

Although not guaranteed, the young and healthy have a significantly better chance of shrugging off the virus, whereas the elderly with health issues are at far greater risk. For us, it will be a severe test of our resolve.

I have never known such a potential threat to life and normality is a commodity that may not be restored for many months to come.

Take care out there.

Saturday, March 14, 2020

GRACE 1 TUG and ALMERODE OFF MAIDENCOMBE

Video shot on 7th March: Thank you Martin Pols for identifying the barge as the Almerode being towed by Grace 1 (Vanuatu flagged).  The vessels are now underway and making 5.2 knots some 20 miles southeast of Salcombe. We haven't seen  these type of dubious sorties for some time but this inlet is a well-used location for sheltering en route for their destinations off the African coast.

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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
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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.