New book on Devon published (From Mid Devon Star)

New book on Devon published

1:57pm Friday 10th August 2007 in News By Stephen Ivall

A new illustrated book about the secret and not so well-known places in Devon has been published this week. Called appropiately the Hidden Places of Devon it contains a wealth of interesting information on the history, the countryside, the towns and villages and the more established visitor attractions, but it also focuses on promoting the more secluded and less well-known places of interest and places to stay, eat and drink.

Did you knowK h Culmstock is a pretty village set around the River Culm. Lovers of RD Blackmores novel Lorna Doone will be particularly interested in Culmstock since it was here that the author lived as a boy during the years that his father was the Vicar. One of his playmates in the village was Frederick Temple and the two friends both went on to Blundells School in Tiverton where they shared lodgings. Blackmore was to become one of the most successful novelists of his time; Temple entered the church and after several years as Headmaster of Rugby School reached the pinnacle of his profession as Archbishop of Canterbury.

h Lynton is connected to its sister village Lynmouth by an ingenious Cliff Railway which, when it opened on Easter Monday, 1890, was the first of its kind in Britain. A gift from Sir George Newnes, the publisher and newspaper tycoon, the railway is powered by water, or rather by two 700-gallon water tanks, one at each end of the 450 feet track. When the tank at the top is filled, and the one at the bottom is emptied, the brakes are released and the two passenger carriages change place.

h The little church of Dean Prior stands on a slight rise beside the A38. The vicar here at the time of the restoration was the poet and staunch royalist, Robert Herrick. Herrick apparently found rural Devon rather dull and much preferred London where he had a mistress 27 years his junior. Perhaps to alleviate the monotony of his Devonshire existence, he made friends with a pig which he took for walks and trained to drink beer from a tankard.

Well worth a visit!

h Standing at the mouth of the Kingsbridge Estuary, the captivating town of Salcombe enjoys beautiful natural settings in the country. Sheltered from the prevailing westerly winds by steep hills, it also basks in one of the mildest microclimates in England. In the terraced gardens rising from the waters edge, its not unusual to see mimosa, palms, and even orange and lemon trees bearing fruit.

h A remarkable architectural curiosity in the village of Combe Martin is The Pack o Cards Inn, built by Squire George Ley in the early 18th century with the proceeds of a highly successful evening at the card table. This Grade II listed building represents a pack of cards with four decks, or floors, thirteen rooms and a total of 52 windows. Inside there are many features representing the cards in each suit.

The author is David Gerrard who was a television documentary director and scriptwriter for more than 20 years, The Hidden Places of Devon is available from all major bookstores, independent bookshops and through Internet booksellers.