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.
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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

Sunday, December 20, 2015

CHRISTMAS SINGALONG: GOOD OLD BOYS SING RUDOLPH

Despite faltering (forgot the words) at halfway, the Good Old Boys (Zack, Kenny & Jim) and the Stoke Village Singers managed to ad-lib their way out of trouble. Olé!

CHRISTMAS SINGALONG: THE STOKE VILLAGE SINGERS PART 2

The Stoke Village Singers  are on again - this time with 'Having a wonderful Christmas time'.

CHRISTMAS SINGALONG: LADIES REMIX

Ladies get organised for their song

CHRISTMAS SINGALONG: THE STOKE VILLAGE SINGERS

In their rendition of 'Do they know its Christmas' ...
Some of the Stoke Village Singers in action

Saturday, December 19, 2015

CHRISTMAS SINGALONG HIGHLIGHTS VID CLIP

Lots of photos and vid clips to follow here.

Friday, December 18, 2015

CHRISTMAS SINGALONG THIS EVENING

The eagerly anticipated Christmas Singalong at the Thatched Tavern commences this evening at 7 pm. It promises to be most entertaining with staff reported to be dressing up for the occasion.

'Grand' update to the piano accompaniment
Musical accompaniment will be by piano and guitar and the carols will be interspersed with 'flash' raffles.

Tuesday, December 08, 2015

A MAIDENCOMBE TRADITION - THE CHRISTMAS SINGALONG

Now in its fifth year, the Christmas Carol Singalong from the Thatched Tavern takes place in ten days time on Friday December 18th.  More details of the evening to follow.

Saturday, December 05, 2015

'BLACK BOX' MYSTERY OFF MAIDENCOMBE SOLVED

The strange 'black box' being towed by MTS Victory.
Residents have been puzzled  about a large 'black box' which has been towed around the bay off Maidencombe for the past few days. 
I took a video clip of the tug and tow riding out the rough weather off Maidencombe this morning:

The UK flagged tug MTS Victory with tow arrived in Lyme Bay from Rotterdam on the 27th November and has been prescribing a series of circles across the bay ever since.  'Drift sheltering', as it is termed, is to ensure that the towline does not come under too much pressure.

The 'black box' is in fact a dry dock gate which is in transit to Devonport Dockyard at Plymouth - so mystery solved.

Friday, December 04, 2015

ARCHIVE RELEASE: OLD SLADNOR & NOTES

The first in a series of historical Maidencombe from my personal archive. Original hand drawn maps are protected with the Red Cruise logo.


EARLY 19th CENTURY SLADNOR
Before the forming of what was to become Sladnor Park, the area was divided up between three landowners.  Sladnor House (estate), as it was then named, consisted of five parcels of land and was owned by the Reverend Elias Webb. A tight grouping of four fields,
owned by George Nickels were part of the Cards Farm estate (a total of thirty fields) at the site of the future Cleveland Hotel and  Suite Dreams. The remaining solitary field, Furse Park to the far west was owned by Elias Blackaller Jr.

Boundary hedge fragments present today should be treated with caution as some are later 20th century placings. 

'Red Cruise' Old Sladnor map


FIELD NOTES

Great Meadow Grove House
The largest parcel of land, arable in nature and including the great manor house at the head of the rolling coombe, more widely known as Sladnor Manor House which was gutted by fire in 1994.  The shells of the stable block and staff quarters to the north still exist.

Grove
Abutting the northeastern boundary of present day Sladnor,  this would have been a small grouping of trees planted for cultivating fruits or perhaps walnuts (several specimens mentioned throughout the coombe by Alan Hunt and the late Harry Nickels).  Part of the boundary hedge can still be seen jutting out from Rockhouse Lane side.

Maiden Coomb Park
Probably Maiden Coombe Park (a few errors by the clerk have been revealed) and classified as arable in nature. Possible origin of the 'Park' addition to Sladnor.

West Slade

The position of this hilly arable strip lives up to the definition of a slade: a little valley or dell, sometimes resembling a ravine. A theory has been postulated that the combination of Maiden Coombe Park and West Slade gave rise to the present day Sladnor Park title.

Lower Yelland

Associated naming of Yellands across the Teignmouth Road to the southwest.

Furse Park
Perhaps Furze Park as duplicated in other plots to the north of Sladnor Park Road. A mixture of gorse and arable land.

Mead
Designated a meadow so likely naming from the Middle English medwe or Old English
mǣdw-, oblique stem of mǣd or mead.

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

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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.