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THE MACALLAN – 32 YEARS OLD - 1970. CONSIGNED IN THE WEST COUNTRY Sold in Edinburgh for £5,000 ENQUIRIES 01392 425264 exeter@bonhams.com Bonhams The Lodge, Southernhay West, Exeter, Devon, EX1 1JG
Countryside, History, Walks, Events, thebonhams.com/exeter Arts & all things Devon at: DEVONSHIRE magazine.co.uk
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Coming in 2015 cornwall | dorset | somerset
eventhub Current HUBs eastdevon | southdevon middevon | dartmoor | northdevon | westdevon exeter | sidmouth | westdorset | lymeregis reconnecthub
WHAT'S ON?
EventHub gives your events massive exposure by sharing your events with magazines and websites across Devon. Over 860,00 views in 2014 (audited) Over 5,000 registered orgʼs
CONTRIBUTORS
Nigel Jones, Ted Gosling, John Fisher, Helen Mulvaney, Amanda Merchant, Averil Quinain, Janet East, FCR Esgen, Natalie Bucklar and Hazel Fergie.
FARE THEE WELL TILL MORN Itʼs a miracle, watching the sun disappear, hoping itʼll return by dawn. Itʼs a light show that never ceases to amaze. Hope Coveʼs probably the only place youʼll see the sun set directly over the sea on the South Devon coastline. Right - as viewed over a glass in the Cottage Hotelʼs bar - strangely melancholic, totally unforgettable.
Shepherds delight at Hope Cove
A Hub for all of Devon It’s already starting to feel like Christmas, the barrage of TV adverts is underway. Time to nip out and buy the tree I suppose, all sustainably grown of course!
EDITORIAL
Nigel Jones - Editor 01395 513383 nigel@devonshiremagazine.co.uk Beech Royd, 6 Bennetts Hill, Sidmouth Devon EX10 9XH
ADVERTISING
Hannah Trim 01392 580440 & 01395 513383 hannah@devonshiremagazine.co.uk
PRODUCTION Charlotte Fergie
charlotte@devonshire magazine.co.uk
2016 is looming on the horizon and naturally it’s worth pondering on the year about to dissolve. Hope it’s been good for yourself, you’ve been in good health, and indeed it’s been a good year altogether?
DEVONSHIRE
Devon coverage: South | West | Dartmoor Biggest glossy Devon coverage! 20,000+ magazines (audited) available at over 1,000 high quality outlets from Lyme Regis to Plymouth & Bideford to Barnstaple. Outlet Google map: http://bit.ly/K7JN4E
Here at the DEVONSHIRE office we’ve been hectic as usual. In this issue - you can read our Staycation piece about the Cottage Hotel which is situated at Hope Cove, probably the only place on the south Devon coastline where you can watch the sun set over the sea. We’ve also incorporated a photographic feature on this beautiful part
DEVONSHIRE DEVONSHIRE THE BEST OF DEVON
SOUTH & WEST ISSUE
DEC & JAN 16
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MAGAZINE ISSUES
Published Feb, April, June, Aug, Oct, Dec.
COPYRIGHT All material within this magazine are subject to copyright. Excepting adverts, all images within the magazine are copyright to N.Jones unless otherwise specified.
Higher Uppacott is currently not open to the public, so this article’s a great opportunity to find out more about it. The news here is that the What’s On website platform we’ve developed has now achieved full Devon coverage with 6 regional websites (10 in total across Devon). It’s great news for all the organisations who want to ensure they can get the word out about their events, and also for the public - there literally is no other facility such as this in Devon with the level of event detail and transparency that the EventHub provides. If you’re organisation isn’t registered to add events, you’re missing out. Read more further on in this mag. If you’re a magazine publisher, contact us and we can arrange login for you to download events directly into your magazine listings. It remains for me to wish you an enjoyable festive season. Our next issue’s out in February 2016, so a very premature Happy New Year also!
ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION
DISCLAIMER The publishers of this magazine are not responsible for any costs, loss or damage suffered by any person, persons, or company as a result of any advertisement or article in this magazine. Adverts are accepted on the understanding that descriptions of goods and services are fair and accurate. All artwork is accepted on the strict condition that permission has been given by the owner for use in this publication. The opinions and comments expressed are purely those of the originators. We do not endorse any products or services advertised within this magazine. Whilst every effort is made to ensure that information is correct, the publishers take no responsibility for any errors or omissions. Any person or persons undertaking the circular walk featured within this publication does so entirely at their own risk. If you take children or dogs on the walk, they will require supervision. We strongly advise that prior to travelling to any of the events listed in our What's On sections, that you call the event organisers to check that the event is running at the times and dates specified.
variant of the Devon Longhouse as Dartmoor National Park’s Keith McKay pointed out. You’ve probably driven past it on your way up over Dartmoor and noticed this unusual building (below).
Nigel Jones (Editor)
s Fire & Ice - by Richard Adam Hybrid Gallery, Honiton
of coastline, which is just round the corner from Salcombe. Devonshire magazine’s John Fisher cogitates on Christmas in the West Country and we’ve also visited Higher Uppacott, a 14th century Devon Longhouse situated up near Poundsgate on Dartmoor. In reality it’s a Dartmoor
What's On? south ¦ dartmoor ¦ westdevonhub .co.uk
PS - if you wish to be kept informed of our Staycation, historic, wildlife and countryside features, the easiest way is to Like us on the Devonshire magazine Facebook page. Alternatively, you can go to devonshiremagazine.co.uk and subscribe to our e-newsletter. @DevonshireMag
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DEC15 & JAN16 ISSUE 22
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DEVONSHIRE
Proudly flying the flag for Devon!
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3. Editor's Letter
32. 'Inspiration'
The latest from the Editor.
By designer Susan Folwell.
5. Letter Box
39. But here's the thing
Regional news snippets.
By Devonshire's John Fisher.
7. Nelson's Column
40. Higher Uppacott
By local author John Fisher.
14th Century Dartmoor Longhouse.
8. What's On!
46. All of Devon at last
Brought to you by EventHub.
News from the EventHub.
14. Art Exhibitions
50. The Old Vet'nary
Major art events across Devon.
'Cops but no Robbers' by K. Watson.
20. Staycation
50. Wilson
The Cottage Hotel, Hope Cove.
By Richard Woodward.
30. Gift Ideas
51. Yellingham Farm
Great gifts by local artisans.
''Three in a Bed - Oh no!'' - J. East.
Countryside, History, Walks, Events, the Arts & all things Devon at: DEVONSHIRE magazine.co.uk
Letterbox YOUR NEWS TO THE EDITOR - LETTERBOX@devonshiremagazine.CO.UK
The Artisans and Artists Candle Local Devon interior design company Artisans and Artists have a multi-sensory approach to interiors and often include fragrance and the softness of candlelight as part of an interior design scheme. Over the years they have sold high-end scented candle products as part of their accessories offering but have not always found that the products on offer tick every box in terms of what they as designers would want from a scented candle. “Often the scent and purity credentials of a candle can be perfect but the container can be unattractive, or vice versa.“ says Susan Folwell their Design Director. The company set about researching and developing their ideal scented candle and have now launched their own product
Milestone Year!
produced for them in France - a superior quality, long burn time, refillable scented candle that looks effortlessly chic in traditional or contemporary interior settings.
Long-established, Devon-based independent retailer Lawsons is proud to announce the launch of a brand new website, offering a mobilefriendly design and enhanced search to significantly improve customers’ online shopping experience. An easy navigation system divides products into clear categories, and the ability to further filter products by brand, colour, material and price all helps customers find exactly what they are looking for. 2014 was a milestone year for Lawsons, with the company celebrating its 110th year of trading and Mr John Lawson receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Plymouth City and Waterfront Awards. The new introduction of the website marks another exciting year for the Lawsons.“We are a long-standing company with core values, but we do recognise the importance of innovating, adapting to technology, and new ways of doing business” said Liz Lawson, Managing Director (pictured above). “Last year saw almost a third of UK sales being completed on mobile phones or tablets, so it was important to adapt to this.”
Inspired by the shape of the base of a flame, the refillable beech holder is available in Natural or Black and comes beautifully boxed. Candles are available in three fragrances: Lait de Figue - greenfig / Lounge - vetiver, amber and sandalwood / Thé Noir - tea and lightly smoked lime. Available from the Artisans and Artists showroom in Ashburton. See these great candles at: www.artisansandartists.co.uk
Gold Award Winners! The team at Blueriver Cottages in Dartmouth have been working hard creating a big presence in the self-catering industry. This year they entered their first ever competition with the Herald Express in the Best Self-Catering and Serviced Apartments category. After extensive form filling and showing one of the judges around their holiday properties, they were short listed out of 5 nominees. Nominations were made and at the awards ceremony the Herald Express awarded them with the GOLD Award! Itʼs been an amazing 6 years since starting the business,
Visit www.lawsonshop.co.uk
the hard work and dedication of the team has paid off by winning their first competition. The Team are proud to support the Childrenʼs Hospice South West by donating £1 for every single booking. A massive
Easily find out Whatʼs On across Devon
congratulations and well done to the whole team at Blueriver Cottages! - Editor Visit www.bluerivercottages.co.uk
REGIONS:
The great news is that Devon now has a What’s On website for every region of the county. The hub cast network of websites has recently opened the final regional website of the series - westdevonhub. Coming in 2016 will be a live music website, an arts/exhibitions based site and also a county level site that will display events such theatre, ballet, music recitals, opera, comedy. These websites will draw data from across the 6 regions, boosting event exposure for organisations in a highly focussed way.
eastdevonhub
ALSO NOW: exeterhub
southdevonhub
sidmouthhub
middevonhub
lymeregishub
northdevonhub
westdorsethub
westdevonhub dartmoorhub
What's On? south ¦ dartmoor ¦ westdevonhub .co.uk
A Christmas retreat As the Christmas season approaches and retailers promote their ‘Black Friday’ deals, the Sharpham Trust is asking people to take a moment to reflect on alternatives to the usual annual shopping binge. The Trust is offering a wide range of mindfulness courses and themed retreats taking place on the beautiful Sharpham Estate on the River Dart near Totnes. Visit www.sharphamtrust.org or go to the southdevonhub.co.uk What’s On website.
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THE BEST OF DEVON
The Devonshire website
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The figures provided are as a result of official manufacturer’s tests in accordance with EU legislation. A vehicle’s actual fuel consumption may differ from that achieved in such tests and these figures are for comparative purposes only.
DEVONSHIRE MAGAZINE
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Countryside, History, Walks, Events, the Arts & all things Devon at: DEVONSHIRE magazine.co.uk
A point of view!
Nelson’s Column
by JOHN FISHER
part in bringing huge amounts of snow to the UK. This time round it could be the strongest in decades”. So we have been warned. But what are the chances of a White Christmas this year? Well the weather wise tell us that “somewhere in Devon” a snowflake has fallen to earth on Christmas Day 39 times since 1962which means that there is about a 5050 chance of snow this Christmas, but where that elusive snowflake might fall is anybody’s guess.
Heading into snow? IT HAPPENS EVERY TWO TO SEVEN YEARS, the Pacific current El Nino - which means ‘the boy child’ - because it was first observed at Christmas time – and it’s linked to major global climate events around the world.
If you want to talk widespread coverage - what Good King Wenceslas would have called deep and crisp and even - then Devon has only had that kind of White Christmas four times in that same period.
The last time the El Nino current behaved the way it did earlier this year it heralded the winter of 2009/10 when December temperatures plunged and we experienced the coldest Christmas in Devon for over 100 years: and according to the tv weatherman Thomas Shafernaker, “In 2010 the El Nino played a
Not that Wenceslas had a white Christmas Day necessarily. The carol only says that he looked out on the Feast of Stephen – Boxing Day. Christmas Day itself in 10th century Bohemia could have been warm and sunny for all we know. There is nothing so unreliable as weather – then or now.
Ill met by moonlight BECAUSE SIXTY DARTMOOR PONIES have been killed in road incidents this year they are being painted with reflective stripes in the hopes that some of them will be saved from being killed by vehicles. The paint is being applied to privately-owned ponies to see how durable it is: reflective beads will be added to the paint later. Conservationists said motorists would not see the animal, but an “alien glow” which should slow them down. Rob Steemson, Dartmoor National Park’s head ranger, said, “These horrible incidents would not happen if motorists drove with greater care and anticipated that Dartmoor grazing stock regularly wander on to the roads.”
Photo: Karla McKechnie
The idea has been imported from Finland where reindeer are already protected in the same way. JOHN FISHER
Devon Christmas Scrabble warning ANY READER suckered into playing Scrabble with a seriously old Devonian over Christmas would be well advised to bone up on the rules before the game starts.
bar of The Weary Badger, somewhere in deepest Devon:
Whilst ‘foreign’ words are out, there are plenty of dialect words still around and in use in Devon which some old-timers might claim as ‘common parlance’ in an attempt to chalk up points.
Photo: Tony Hisget
Here are a few you might care to watch out for, all vouched for by A Guide to Devon Dialect by John Downes (published by Tabb House, Padstow) and all much in use this side of the
What's On? south ¦ dartmoor ¦ westdevonhub .co.uk
chonchables frawzey mommet goocoos vuzzyvurze zog yucks blunkin robin urdick mump-aid grubbish Demshure
icicles celebration scarecrow bluebells chestnuts to nod off hiccoughs snowing robin redbreast foolish person hungry Devon
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CINDERELLA at THEATRE ROYAL
LATE NIGHT SHOPPING at VARIOUS TOWNS
HOWARD JONES at EXETER PHOENIX
Forthcoming Events December 2015 & January 2016
Events listings powered by: hub cast
Ballet BALLET THEATRE UK PRESENTS THE SNOW QUEEN 15 Jan - Join Ballet Theatre UK in their beautiful re-telling of Hans Christian Andersen‚, Barnfield Theatre, Barnfield Road, Exeter, 7.30pm.
southdevonhub .co.uk There's also dartmoorhub, middevonhub & eastdevonhub
Children SANTA'S STORYTELLING EXPERIENCE Until 13 Dec - A treasure hunt, storytelling and a special visit from Santa, Hannahs at Seale-Hayne, Howton Lane, Newton Abbot, 11.00am to 4.00pm.
© James Forshall
Have you checked out the mobile version of
NORTH POLE EXPRESS Until 22 Dec - Climb aboard the North Pole Express to see Santa, Trago Mills, Stover, Newton Abbot, 10.00am to 4.00pm.
Exeter Cathedral Choristers
FAMILY FESTIVE TRAIL Until 24 Dec - Get into the Christmas spirit with the festive trail around the house & garden, Saltram House & Gardens, Plympton, Plymouth, 10.00am to 4.00pm.
FATHER CHRISTMAS COMES TO DROGO 12, 13, 19, 20 Dec - Father Christmas will be making a very special visit to Caste Drogo, Castle Drogo, Castle Drogo, Drewsteignton, 11.00am to 4.00pm.
Choirs You can even search down to village level! 8
The Snow Queen
A CONCERT FOR ADVENT 05 Dec - Seasonal music by Palestrina, Lauridsen, Rutter,
Countryside, History, Walks, Events, the Arts & all things Devon at: DEVONSHIRE magazine.co.uk
Howells, Poulenc and others, West Devon Chorale, Buckfast Abbey, Buckfastleigh, 7.15pm to 8.45pm.
SHALDON SINGERS CHRISTMAS CONCERT 05 Dec - Music by Vaughan Williams and Lauridsen, and carols for choir and audience, Shaldon Singers, St Peter's Church, Shaldon, 7.00pm to 9.30pm.
"ANGELS AND SHEPHERDS" 05 Dec - Start your Christmas in style with the Torbay Singers' Concert, St Matthias Church, Torquay, 7.30pm to 10.00pm.
MUSIC FOR THE SEASON 09 Dec - EXe Singers and the City of Exeter Railway Band Concert, eXe Singers, St Paul's Church, Starcross, 7.30pm to 9.30pm.
December 2015 & January 2016
Forthcoming Events MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY 12 Dec - An evening of Seasonal Music and Carols, Sir Joshua Reynolds Choir, Harewood House, Plymouth, 7.30pm to 9.45pm.
BRENT SINGERS 12 Dec - Saturday evening concert at the church with Phillip Arkwright conducting, Brent Singers, St Petroc's Church, South Brent, 7.30pm.
BIG NOISE CHORUS XMAS CRACKER 12 Dec - Start christmas on a high with the fabulous big noise concert! Big Noise Chorus Torbay, St Matthias Church, Torquay, 7.30pm to 9.30pm.
CHRISTMAS CONCERT 16 Dec - Christmas Concert Music by Bruckner. Lauridsen, Stopford, Willcocks - & MORE! Alvington Singers, Salcombe Church, Salcombe, 7.30pm to 9.30pm.
THE COLLATI SINGERS CHRISTMAS CONCERT 16 Dec - Conduced by Trefor Farrow, FREE, The Collati Singers, St John's Church, Totnes, 7.30pm to 9.30pm.
Classical Music PLYMOUTH PHILHARMONIC CHOIR 06 Dec - Sunday evening concert. Conductor Christopher Fletcher, Plymouth Guildhall, Armada Way, Plymouth, 7.30pm.
CAROLS IN THE CATHEDRAL 09 Dec to 10 Dec - The Exeter Philharmonic Choir, directed by Andrew Millington sing carols, Exeter Philharmonic Choir, Exeter Cathedral, Exeter, 7.30pm to 9.30pm.
Kingskerswell Parish Church, Kingskerswell, 7.00pm to 10.00pm.
ALI BABA AND THE FORTY THIEVES 27 Dec to 09 Jan - Exeter Little Theatre Company, Barnfield Theatre, Barnfield Road, Exeter, 2.00pm.
A CHRISTMAS CONCERT
HARBERTONFORD'S XMAS CRAFT FAIR
05 Dec - An evening of a capella favourites from the sensational Glorious Chorus, Friends of St Michaels, St Michael's Church, Chagford, 7.30pm to 9.00pm.
06 Dec - The Village Hall, Harbertonford, 10.30am to 4.30pm.
Community CHUDLEIGH CHRISTMAS FAYRE 03 Dec - Chudleigh's Christmas season kicks off in style, Chudfest, Chudleigh Town Centre, Chudleigh, 5.00pm to 8.30pm.
JAMIE SMITH'S MABON 04 Dec - One of Britains brightest and best live celtic roots bands returns to Devon, Jamie Smith's Mabon, Chudleigh Community School Hall, Chudleigh, 7.30pm to 10.15pm.
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY 04 Dec - An Evening of Seasonal Music and Carols, Sir Joshua Reynolds Choir, Rock Methodist Church, Plymouth, 7.30pm to 9.30pm.
Joey the Lips
ST NICHOLAS FAIR 05 Dec - Christmas Fair, St Stephen's Church, St Stephens Church, Exeter, 10.30am to 1.00pm.
CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION DAY $ 05 Dec - Join us at Riverside Mill for a day of crafty Christmas festivities! Devon Guild of Craftsmen, Riverside Mill, Bovey Tracey, 10.30am to 4.30pm.
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY!
TAVISTOCK TOWN HALL 05 Dec - Plymouth Gilbert and Sullivan Fellowship present "Ring Forth Ye Bells", Tavistock Town Council, Town Council Offices, Tavistock, 7.30pm.
A GERMAN CHRISTMAS
Hannahs at Seale-Hayne, Newton Abbot, TQ12 6NQ
HANDEL, MESSIAH
Comedy CHRISTMAS CABARET AND BOOGIE $ 04 Dec to 11 Dec - A series of Christmas party nights with a vintage twist, Hannahs at Seale-Hayne, Howton Lane, Newton Abbot, 7.00pm to 12.00am.
MARK THOMAS 12 Dec - It is his usual odd mix of theatre, stand up, activism, World Unlimited,
A UNIQUE DESTINATION
Expert and professional repairs to all types of clocks and watches. A wide rage of watches and clocks also available for sale.
D. J. Offord
01626 364766 5 Union Street Newton Abbot
CHRISTMAS AT THE CONTEMPORARY CRAFT FESTIVAL Until 05 Dec - We welcome Christmas and celebrate Small Business Saturday with 10% off! Contemporary Craft Festival, Littlecote, Bovey Tracey, 10.00am to 4.00pm.
Bistro, Live Music, Health & Wellbeing Centre, Artist’s Studios, Gallery, Shops, Farm, Children’s Trail, Outdoor Activities, Conferencing, Accommodation
MOOR FORESHORE CRAFT & GIFT FAYRE, & GROTTO
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK FREE ENTRY
AN INSPIRING CHARITY
Clock and Watch Repair
TOTNES LATE NIGHT CHRISTMAS MARKET
Dame Hannah Rogers Trust a registered charity no. 1148882
What's On? south ¦ dartmoor ¦ westdevonhub .co.uk
Fairs
06 Dec - Wildlife Photographer Brian Sedgbeer has pictures for sale at this event, BRS Images, Bovey Castle, North Bovey, 12.00am to 5.00pm.
Name
Telephone: 01803 325 825 www.discoversealehayne.org
18 Dec to 19 Dec - A craft & gift fayre with a range of high quality items & Santa's Grotto, Moor Foreshore, Tavistock Town Hall, Tavistock, 10.00am to 4.00pm.
BRS IMAGES AT BOVEY CASTLE CHRISTMAS FAYRE
20% off your food Subject to terms and conditions. Valid between 5th January and 29th February 2016. Can only be redeemed against food in the Bistro when you spend over £10. Voucher can only be used once and requires customer name and email.
12 Dec - Choral music by Bach and Praetorius plus traditional carols, Brent Singers, St.Petroc`s Church, South Brent, 7.30pm to 9.00pm.
Craft
DM16
11 Dec - Handel's Messiah, as it might have been performed in Powderham Castle in 1740s, Music in the Castle, Powderham Castle, Kenton, 7.30pm to 9.30pm.
10 Dec - An evening of Seasonal Music and Carols, Sir Joshua Reynolds Choir, Saltash Wesley Methodist Church, Saltash, 7.30pm to 9.30pm.
08, 15, 22 Dec - Totnes Christmas Late Night Shopping and Totnes Late Night Market, Totnes Christmas Markets, Totnes High Street, Totnes, 3.30pm to 9.30pm.
BRS IMAGES AT OLD INN CHRISTMAS MARKET 12 Dec - Wildlife Photographer Brian Sedgbeer has pictures for sale at this event, BRS Images, Old Inn, Widecombe In The Moor, 11.00am to 4.00pm. CONTINUED OVERLEAF
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middevonhub
dartmoorhub
southdevonhub
westdevonhub
eastdevonhub
northdevonhub
ZION TRAIN $
Festivals
19 Dec - Zion Train are a Dub phenomenon, Exeter Phoenix, Brandninch Place, Exeter, 8.00pm to 11.00pm.
MUSIC EXETER COLLEGE FESTIVAL OF CAROLS 03 Dec - Celebrating the festive season with our musical students/, Exeter College (Queen St), Exeter Cathedral, Exeter, 7.30pm to 10.00pm.
SINGING CONCERT 08 Dec - Exeter College BTEC Extended Diploma Performing Arts, Barnfield Theatre, Barnfield Road, Exeter, 7.00pm.
ST. AGNES FOUNTAIN $
BRASS BAND TURKEY & TINSEL CONCERT 07 Dec - Turkey & Tinsel Concert, Brixham Town Band, Livermead House Hotel, Torquay, 7.30pm to 9.30pm.
VIGILANCE CAROL SERVICE 15 Dec - Vigilance carol service on the quay, Brixham Town Band, Old Fishmarket, Brixham, 7.00pm to 8.30pm.
FOLK ROOTS & ACOUSTIC
10 Dec - A magical Christmas concert, Hannahs at Seale-Hayne, Howton Lane, Newton Abbot, 7.30pm to 10.00pm.
THE CHORAL ENGINEERS & TRIO OF MEN 05 Dec - The Choral Engineers and Trio of Men perform ‘Long Time Coming', World Unlimited, Kingskerswell Parish Church, Kingskerswell, 7.00pm to 10.00pm.
CLARE TEAL'S FESTIVE FIESTA 11 Dec - This is one of the funniest and most entertaining Christmas concerts around, Barnfield Theatre, Barnfield Road, Exeter, 8.00pm.
THE CHANGING ROOM
SHOPPERS CAROLS 12 Dec - Brixham Town band play carols for shoppers, Brixham Town Band, Morrisons, Paignton, 10.30am to 1.00pm.
07 Dec - Celtic-infused, original folk, World Unlimited, Kingskerswell Parish Church, Kingskerswell, 7.00pm to 10.30pm.
HEAVY METAL BARNFIELD BAR PRESENTS..DECEMBER 05 Dec - Barnfield Bar Presents...A Merry Heavy Christmas, Barnfield Theatre, Barnfield Road, Exeter, 7.30pm.
JAZZ CHRISTMAS GALA 05 Dec - With Claire Martin, vocals, Andy Williamson & the Big Buzzard Boogie Band and, Exeter Festival Chorus, Great Hall, Exeter, 7.30pm to 10.00pm.
PLYMOUTH JAZZ CLUB 06 Dec - Sunday evening jazz- The Matt Carter Trio with Leigh Coleman, Plymouth Jazz Club, The Royal British Legion Club, Plymouth, 7.30pm.
JAZZ CAFE NIGHT 14 Dec - A great jazz night out with the Hot House Four, The Smugglers and Pirates Experience, The Quay, Brixham, 7.00pm to 11.00pm.
PETE CANTER TRIO 18 Dec - Fine saxophonist and trio in the conservatory, Pete Canter, City Gate Hotel, Exeter, 7.30pm to 10.20pm.
BRIDGE JAZZ CLUB 06 Jan - Pete Canter & Friends Jam Session £6 or £4 jammers, Pete Canter, Exeter Phoenix, Exeter, 8.30pm to 11.00pm.
PETE CANTER TRIO 29 Jan - Fine saxophonist and trio in the conservatory, Pete Canter, City Gate Hotel, Exeter, 7.30pm to 10.20pm.
ROCK ROCK N ROLL OUTLAWS 31 Dec - Return of Rock and Roll Outlaws, as they welcome in the new year, Tavistock Wharf, Canal Road, Tavistock.
1913-2015
Cydney Brown
STAN HACKING BAND CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR
Over One Hundred Years of Service in South Devon
FARMERS & COUNTRY
12 Dec to 13 Dec - The ever popular Stan Hacking Band Christmas Spectacular Concerts returns, Barnfield Theatre, Barnfield Road, Exeter, 7.30pm.
BATH CHRISTMAS MARKET - Thurs 10th Dec, £25 LAST MINUTE SHOPPER HONITON MARKET & OTTER NURSERIES - Thurs 17th Dec, £18
A BRIEF HISTORY OF CHRISTMAS
COLETON A-GLOW - Fri 11th Dec, Coleton Fishacre
16 Dec - Acclaimed historical musicians Blast from the Past presents Christmas, Barnfield Theatre, Barnfield Road, Exeter, 8.00pm.
dressed for Christmas £23 inc (NT £15)
POST CHRISTMAS MYSTERY DRIVE - Mon 28th Dec, £21
FOUR DAY TRIPS FOR £40
SHOPPERS CAROLS 19 Dec - Brixham Town band play carols for shoppers, Brixham Town Band, Sainsburys, Paignton, 10.30am to 1.00pm.
Book all four of these trips and get them for £10 each! TAMAR VIEW & TAVISTOCK - Weds 13th Jan, £19 TAUNTON & BICKLEIGH MILL - Tues 26th Jan, £19 SIDMOUTH & THE DONKEY SANCTUARY
Weds 10th Feb, £19 PLYMOUTH & LOOE - Thurs 25th Feb, £19
Live Music THE SELECTER $ 18 Dec - Legendary 2-Tone artists, The Selecter, Exeter Phoenix, Brandninch Place, Exeter, 8.00pm to 11.00pm.
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Markets
6 Daneheath Business Park, Heathfield, Newton Abbot, Devon TQ12 6TL 01626 833038 | bookings@greycars.com | www.greycars.com
Countryside, History, Walks, Events, the Arts & all things Devon at: DEVONSHIRE magazine.co.uk
BUCKFASTLEIGH FARMERS MARKET Thurs - At the Globe Inn car park every Thursday morning, 9am till 12 noon, Buckfastleigh Farmers Market, Near Globe Inn, Buckfastleigh, 9.00am to 12.00am.
MANATON PRODUCE MARKET 17 Dec & 21 Jan - A great market selling locally grown produce. 10.30am until 12 noon, Manaton Produce Market, Manaton Parish Hall, Manaton, 10.30am to 12.00am.
INDOOR MARKET TORQUAY INDOOR CAR BOOT Sun - Weekly Sunday afternoon indoor car boot, Torquay Town Hall, Castle Circus, Torquay, 1.00pm to 4.00pm.
MARKET DAYS SIDWELL STREET MARKET Until 23 Jan - Open air market from Monday to Saturday, Exeter City Council arts/festivals/event, Sidwell Street, Exeter, 8.30am to 4.30pm.
December 2015 & January 2016
Forthcoming Events face to face with the remains of our oldest ancestors, Torquay Museum, 529 Babbacombe Road, Torquay.
WHATEVER THE WEATHER Until 10 Feb - RAMM's major winter exhibition explores a theme: the weather, Royal Albert Memorial Museum - RAMM, Queen Street, Exeter, 10.00am to 5.00pm.
THE QUEST FOR THE THREE HARES 03 Dec - Illustrated talk by Cultural Environmentalist, Dr Tom Greeves, Devon Rural Archive, Shilstone, Modbury, 7.00pm to 8.30pm.
LIVING EACH SEASON 10 Dec - Living Each Season: Dementiafriendly activities at RAMM, Royal Albert Memorial Museum - RAMM, Queen Street, Exeter, 10.30am to 12.30am.
HOME FRONT FASHIONS Paddy's Whiskers
Heritage WORLD WAR II HANDLING SESSION Until 29 Dec - Explore and handle authentic and replica Second World War objects, Royal Albert Memorial Museum - RAMM, Queen Street, Exeter, 11.00am to 3.00pm.
EXHIBITION: BRITAIN'S FIRST HUMANS $ Until 31 Dec - Opportunity to come
18 Jan to 15 Apr - Part of a four-year programme focusing on WWI's impact on the southwest, Royal Albert Memorial Museum - RAMM, Queen Street, Exeter, 10.00am to 5.00pm.
Seasonal EXETER CHRISTMAS MARKET Until 19 Dec - Cathedral Green will once again be brought to life by the Christmas market, Exeter Christmas Market, Cathedral Green, Exeter.
ENJOY THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS
COLETON AGLOW
Until 24 Dec - Rekindle the true spirit of the season. Santa arrives on the 28th November, Pennywell Farm & Wildlife Centre, Lower Dean, Buckfastleigh.
04 Dec to 31 Dec - This Christmas Coleton Fishacre's garden is aglow with festive and dramatic li, Coleton Fishacre, Brownstone Road, Kingswear, 4.00pm to 8.30pm.
CHRISTMAS AT THE ABBEY
THE ADVENTURE OF THE CHRISTMAS PUDDING
01 Dec to 20 Dec - Discover traditions old & new and step back in time into a Tudor Christmas, Buckland Abbey, Yelverton, 11.00am to 4.00pm.
CHRISTMAS MARKET IN CASTLE STREET, EXETER
04 Dec to 31 Dec - Discover Agatha Christie's story, Greenway National Trust, Greenway Road, Galmpton, 11.00am to 4.00pm.
KINGSBRIDGE CELEBRATES CHRISTMAS
03 Dec to 05 Dec - Series of markets in the city centre designed to offer quality Christmas gifts, Exeter City Council arts/ festivals/event, Civic Centre, Exeter.
05 Dec - Get into the festive spirit. Eat, drink and be merry in festive Kingsbridge, Kingsbridge Celebrates Christmas, Town Square, Kingsbridge.
CHRISTMAS SHOPPING EVENING
CHRISTMAS CONCERT $
04 Dec - Ivybridge Donkey Sanctuary Christmas Shopping evening, The Donkey Sanctuary Ivybridge, Filham Park, Ivybridge, 7.00pm to 10.00pm.
05 Dec - Join the UoP Choral Society and Sinfonia in this spectacular Christmas Concert, Peninsula Arts, Minister Church of St Andrew, Plymouth, 7.30pm to 9.30pm.
CHRISTMAS PARTIES IN PLYMPTON
ROYAL MARINES CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR
04 Dec - Christmas party nights at Baringdon Hall, Boringdon Hall, Colebrook, Plympton, 7.30pm.
SOUTH MOLTON FESTIVE FAYRE 04 Dec - A Friday evening of festive fun for all the family across the town, South Molton Business Asscociation, Meet George Hotel, South Molton, 4.30pm to 9.00pm.
05 Dec - Festive military splendour will return to Plymouth Pavilions, Plymouth Pavilions, Millbay Road, Plymouth, 7.30pm.
HATHERLEIGH SILVER BAND 05 Dec - The band will be playing carols at Saturday's Ruby Country Market, Hatherleigh Silver Band, 41 Market Street, Hatherleigh, 10.00am to 1.00pm. CONTINUED OVERLEAF
We’re on our way! Blueriver Cottages are docking at the Anchor Centre… Come, say ‘hello’ and have a glass of mulled wine to celebrate our expansion!
Don’t miss out! Saturday 5th December Anchors Aweigh!
Thinkin g of let ting your pr operty?
Blueriv Cotta
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01803 83 5 Anza 3682 c Stree Dartmo t uth Devon TQ6 9D L
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Unit 3, The Anchor Centre, Kingsbridge, TQ7 1SB
www.bluerivercottages.co.uk
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December 2015 & January 2016
Forthcoming Events SANTA IN THE CAVES
CHRISTMAS PARTIES IN PLYMPTON
06 Dec to 24 Dec - Meet father Christmas a fun family adventure around the beautiful caves, Kents Cavern, Cavern House, Torquay, 10.30am to 4.00pm.
12 Dec - Christmas party nights at Baringdon Hall, Boringdon Hall, Colebrook, Plympton, 7.30pm.
DARTMOUTH FATSTOCK SHOW
12 Dec to 13 Dec - Take a unique train journey to visit Santa in his underground grotto, Morwellham Quay, Tavistock.
08 Dec - Traditional event. Exhibits of cattle, sheep, pigs, dead poultry, cream, eggs, Dartmouth Fatstock Show & Market, The Old Market, Dartmouth.
PLYMOUTH UNIVERSITY ORCHESTRA $ 10 Dec - Enjoy a musical performance by the Plymouth University Orchestra, Peninsula Arts, Main Hall, Plymouth, 8.00pm to 9.30pm.
HATHERLEIGH SILVER BAND CHRISTMAS CONCERT 10 Dec - The Band's concert will be on Thursday evening in the Community Centre, Hatherleigh Silver Band, Bowling Green Lane, Hatherleigh, 7.30am to 9.30pm.
HATHERLEIGH SILVER BAND
Christmas is coming!
SHALDON WATER CARNIVAL CHRISTMAS MARKET $ 05 Dec to 06 Dec - 2 day Christmas market, Shaldon Water Carnival, River Teign, Shaldon.
FATHER CHRISTMAS 06, 13, 20 Dec - Meet Father Christmas as he takes a rest from his festive duties, Coleton Fishacre, Brownstone Road, Kingswear, 2.00pm to 3.30pm.
11 Dec - The band will be playing Farmer's Carol Service at Friday's HatherleighMarket, Hatherleigh Silver Band, 41 Market Street, Hatherleigh, 7.00pm to 8.30pm.
CHRISTMAS FAIR 12 Dec - Ivybridge Donkey Sanctuary Christmas Fair, The Donkey Sanctuary Ivybridge, Filham Park, Ivybridge, 10.00am to 3.00pm.
CHRISTMAS SPECIAL
HATHERLEIGH SILVER BAND 13 Dec - Plenty of festive spirit as the band perform at the Dingles Carol Service, Hatherleigh Silver Band, Milford, Lifton, 3.30pm to 5.00pm.
PLYMOUTH UNIVERSITY CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT $ 15 Dec - The public are invited to join this traditional service of carols and readings, Peninsula Arts, Plymouth University, Plymouth, 7.30pm to 8.30pm.
CHRISTMAS CONCERT 17 Dec - Thursday Christmas concert with conductor- Phil Watson, Dartmouth Orchestra, Flavel Art Centre, Dartmouth.
CHRISTMAS MARKET IN CASTLE STREET 17 Dec to 22 Dec - Series of markets in the city centre designed to offer quality Christmas gifts, Exeter City Council arts/ festivals/event, Civic Centre, Exeter.
CHRISTMAS PARTIES IN PLYMPTON 18 Dec - Christmas party nights at Baringdon Hall, Boringdon Hall, Colebrook, Plympton, 7.30pm.
Where reaching your potential is a realisation not a dream
Blundell’s Preparatory School Open Morning Friday, 5th February 2016 Please join us at 9.30 am on Friday, 5th February when the Head Master, teachers and children will be on hand to give you an insight into our school. There is the added opportunity available for children to spend an inspirational morning discovering life at Blundell’s Prep. For more information and to reserve your place please contact the School on 01884 252393. Did you know that your child can join our Nursery from the age of 2?
TEL: 01884 252393 EMAIL: prep@blundells.org WEB: www.blundells.org/prep Blundell’s Preparatory School Tiverton, Devon EX16 4NA
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Countryside, History, Walks, Events, the Arts & all things Devon at: DEVONSHIRE magazine.co.uk
December 2015 & January 2016
Forthcoming Events
Selling top quality produce from local suppliers
Dean Court
LUPRIDGE SINGERS
Theatre
19 Dec - Saturday evening concert by the Lupridge Singers, Lupridge Singers, Holy Cross Church, Newton Ferrers, 7.30pm.
MUSICALS
GALA CHRISTMAS CONCERT $
CHRISTMAS CHAOS!
19 Dec - This is a concert of the true Christmas classics, Peninsula Arts, St Eustachius Church, Tavistock, 7.30pm to 9.30pm.
17 Dec to 23 Dec - PaddleBoat Theatre Company Think your Christmas is chaotic? Think again! Barnfield Theatre, Barnfield Road, Exeter, 2.00pm & 7.00pm.
PLYMOUTH JAZZ CLUB
PLAYS
20 Dec - Christmas Party with John Shillito's Select Six, Plymouth Jazz Club, The Royal British Legion Club, Plymouth, 7.30pm.
CHRISTMAS HOUSE PARTY Until 01 Jan - A generous portion of song, dance & comedy to tickle your taste buds! Babbacombe Theatre, Babbacombe Downs, Torquay, 2.30pm.
CHRISTMAS SPECIAL 20 Dec to 24 Dec - Take a unique train journey to visit Santa in his underground grotto, Morwellham Quay, Tavistock. 20 Dec to 03 Jan - Paigntaon Pantomime Productions bring you Jack & the Beanstalk, Palace Theatre Paignton, Palace Avenue, Paignton. 31 Dec - New Year's Eve Party with the "Enjoy Yourself" Jazz Band, Plymouth Jazz Club, The Royal British Legion Club, Plymouth, 8.30pm.
ALADDIN 10 Jan - A Magical Panto full of Eastern Promise, Palace Theatre Paignton, Palace Avenue, Paignton, 3.00pm.
We stock a wide range of fruit, vegetables, dairy products, cakes, preserves, pickles, chutneys, jams, olives, free range eggs, local wine, beers, Devon Cider and a variety of fruit juices.
A CHRISTMAS CAROL
JACK AND THE BEANSTALK
PLYMOUTH JAZZ CLUB
Farm Shop & Kitchen
04 Dec to 03 Jan - A magical new adaptation of Charles Dicken's much-loved Christmas classic, Northcott Theatre, Stocker Rd, Exeter.
ALADDIN 07 to 08 Dec - Fasten your seat belts as we take off on a magical carpet ride, alos 06 Dec at 2pm, Barnfield Theatre, Barnfield Road, Exeter, 10.00am.
SEE MORE ON
southdevonhub
n Meet the new owners: The Maso family of Sladesdown Meat in Ashburton, who specialise in free range meats. Pop in to say hello!
Donʼt forget to visit our Farmhouse Kitchen for breakfast, lunch or a spot of afternoon tea (last hot food 3.15pm).
Open (Mon-Sat) Shop: 9am-5pm • Kitchen: 9am-4pm
01364 642199 • Lower Dean, Buckfastleigh, TQ11 0LT
THE
Sea Trout Inn
Warm welcome, exceptional food
‘Stunning Family run 15th Century Coaching Inn close to the beautiful River Dart, 11 luxury en-suite bedrooms, cosy bars, log fires, beer garden and award winning restaurant. Let our family welcome your family to Devon’s best kept secret ‘ Situated in the picturesque South Hams village of Staverton near Totnes the Sea Trout Inn hotel and restaurant is an idyllic country retreat. There are 10 well appointed en-suite rooms plus our Annex Suite adjoining the Inn, all available for bed and breakfast. Perfect for couples and business people alike. The Sea Trout Inn offers an ideal place to stay, relax and wine & dine with friends, family or business colleagues.
01803 762 274 Staverton, Totnes, TQ9 6PA info@theseatroutinn.co.uk www.theseatroutinn.couk
What's On? south ¦ dartmoor ¦ westdevonhub .co.uk
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Forthcoming Art Exhibitions December 15 and January 16
Robert Lenkiewicz - 'The Dance' - Brownstone Gallery
Jan Phethean - 'Where the Blackthorn Grows' - Artmill Gallery
GALLERIES CHRISTMAS GIFTS EXHIBITION
ARTIST REFLECTIONS
Until 18 Dec - Our resident artists have put together a seasonal selection of gifts., Hannahs at Seale-Hayne, Howton Lane, Newton Abbot, 10.00am to 5.00pm.
Until 07 Dec - We've invited artists to create reflections on our collections., Royal Albert Memorial Museum RAMM, Queen Street, Exeter, 10.00am to 5.00pm.
THIS IS NOT A DREAM
EXETER'S FINE ART COLLECTION
Until 18 Dec - Plymouth University Faculty of Arts and Humanities MA degree show, Peninsula Arts, Peninsula Arts Gallery, Plymouth, 10.00am to 5.00pm.
Until 06 Jan - Featuring topographical prints, drawings and watercolours of Exeter, Royal Albert Memorial Museum - RAMM, Queen Street, Exeter, 10.00am to 5.00pm.
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Art · Homeware · Giftware
Greetings Cards Art • Homeware • Giftware Picture Framing Greetings Cards • Picture Framing FRAMES & BOXES, BANK STREET, NEWTON LATE NIGHT ABBOT, TQ12 2JW · 01626 335965
CHRISTMAS SHOPPING
So youfacebook.com/galleryfab have plenty of chance to find the perfect pressie, we will be open for late night shopping on Dec 02, 09, 16 & 23. Keep up to date on our Facebook! Frames & Boxes, Bank Street, Newton Abbot TQ12 2JW 01626 335965 facebook.com/galleryfab
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EXHIBITIONS
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Andrew Coates - 'Sounds of the Sea' - Marine House
Open Tues - Sat 10.30 - 5.00
Sun 2.00 - 4.30
www.brookgallery.co.uk
01395 443003
NEXT MAJOR SHOW
baxters dartmouth
Events listings powered by:
happy handmade christmas
for a chance to get your ART GALLERY EVENTS in this listings section, you need to enter your events into the HUB - it's free
until 24 dec
Shows in Exeter and Budleigh.
everything we sell is handmade in the UK by individual artists and makers so give something different this christmas, you will be keeping creative people making and your recipient will be delighted not to have another boxed gift set! we also have a comprehensive online shop.
For this, other talks and events visit: www.brookgallery.co.uk
12 foss Street, darmouth tq6 9dr info@baxtersgallery.co.uk 01803 839000
Night & The City 03 Dec to 10 Jan - A selection of etchings and paintings by John Duffin. His work is based on the modern environments of cities and towns.
Countryside, History, Walks, Events, the Arts & all things Devon at: DEVONSHIRE magazine.co.uk
southdevonhub .co.uk
You’re potty if you don’t! Just go to REGISTER
whitespaceart In our Gallery Award Winning Picture Framers Need Christmas present ideas? FAB love a challenge and will frame almost anything! A loved ones favourite record, baby’s first shoes, signed sportwear, medals, ceramics and much more. Make sure you get your pressies to us in time for Christmas! Bank Street, Newton Abbot, TQ12 2JW 01626 335965 galleryfab.co.uk Mon to Fri 9am-5.30pm Sat 9am-4.30pm
Little Gems 2015
Until 02 Jan 16 - Our annual exhibition of small paintings and other delights featuring several gallery artists: Sarah Bowman, Vanessa Bowman, David Brayne, Marilyn Browning, Colin Carruthers, Vanessa Cooper, Mark Hall, David Morgan, Greg Ramsden, James Tatum. 72 Fore Street, Totnes TQ9 5RU 01803 864088 10am-5pm Tues to Sat www.whitespaceart.com
Sarah Bowman - 'Robin' - White Space Art
WINTER ARTS FAIR 2015 Until 22 Dec - Local Art and Craft for sale daily, Green Hill Arts, Fore Street, Moretonhampstead, 10.00am to 4.00pm.
PRESENT MAKER
A SUNDAY AT STUDIO 36
01 Dec to 13 Dec - An exhibition of arts and crafts by members of the South Hams Arts Forum, Harbour House, The Promenade, Kingsbridge, 10.00am to 5.00pm.
Until 29 Dec - Studio 36 Open Sunday. Art, music and studio cafe., Studio 36, 36 Denmark Road, Exeter, 11.00am to 6.00pm.
MAKE2015 - CHRISTMAS CRAFT EXHIBITION
BECKY BETTESWORTH ARTIST SIGNING @ GALLERYFAB
Until 03 Jan - The annual Christmas craft exhibition showcasing the UK's best designer-makers, Devon Guild of Craftsmen, Riverside Mill, Bovey Tracey, 10.00am to 5.30pm.
02 Dec - Enjoy free drinks & nibbles whilst you meet Becky and get your posters signed!, GalleryFab/Frames & Boxes, 10 Bank Street, Newton Abbot, 4.00pm to 9.00pm.
CHRISTMAS EXHIBITION
WINTERFEST SUNDAYS AT HADDON GALLERIES
Until 30 Jan - Christmas Art Exhibition., Artmill Gallery, 83 Hyde Park Road, Plymouth, 9.00am to 5.00pm.
06 Dec - Join us for a celebration of art on Sunday 6th December 2015., Haddon Galleries, 6/7 Victoria Parade, Torquay, 10.00am to 4.00pm.
EXHIBITION OF PAINTINGS BY LOCAL ARTISTS
ARTIST REFLECTIONS
Until 31 Jan - Original paintings in oil, acrylic, pastel and watercolour by local artists., Mayflower Galleries, 21 West Street, Tavistock, 9.30am to 5.00pm.
08 Dec to 07 Feb - We've invited artists to create reflections on our collections., Royal Albert Memorial Museum - RAMM, Queen Street, Exeter, 10.00am to 5.00pm. John Duffin - 'Arrival 3 - Paddington Station' - Brook Gallery
7 Lucius Street, Torquay TQ2 5UW 01803 428626 07522 509642
Season of Colour - Until 05 Dec
For lovers of the abstract feat: Michael McCord, Eileen Jackman & Lynne Sherrard Miscellanea ll - 08 to 24 Dec Several artists will be coming together to bring you this diverse and thought-provoking open exhibition. Torbay to London - 06 to 29 Jan A roaming exhibition taking 20 Devon artists to the Capital. juliebrandon@artizangallery.co.uk www.Artizangallery.co.uk
83 Hyde Park Road, Plymouth PL3 4JN Tel: 01752 255020
thebrownstongaller y thebrownstongaller y WINTER EXHIBITION
GALLERY & FRAMING CENTRE
A mixed show featuring our Gallery artists
Anthony Amos, Fred Yates, Yvonne Coomber, Robert Lenkiewicz, Charles Jamieson, Michael Hill.
EXHIBITIONS Christmas 2015
Until 20 Jan 16 At Artmill we always look forward for our Christmas Show. This year has several new artists as well as a line up of your favourites, alongside ceramics, sculputre and jewellery. Open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm Sat 10am-4pm
art art
p r i nt s p r i nt s
s c u l p t u re s c u l p t u re
j ewel l er y j ewel l er y
36 Church Street, Modbury, Devon PL21 0QR tel - 01548 831338 36 Church Street, Modbury, Devon PL21 0QR tel - 01548 831338
What's On? south ¦ dartmoor ¦ westdevonhub .co.uk
Christmas Sparkle Special Glass show on now from top artists. See full page display overleaf.
www.steamgallery.co.uk 01297 625144
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Forthcoming Art Exhibitions December and January
COVES QUAY GALLERY FINE ART EXHIBITION 11 Dec to 19 Dec - Brs Images has been invited to exhibit at this exciting bespoke event., BRS Images, Ullacombe Farm Shop, Bovey Tracey, 10.00am to 4.00pm.
REDEFINING PRINT 01 Jan to 10 Jan - Part of a two-year funded project with Double Elephant Print Workshop, Royal Albert Memorial Museum RAMM, Queen Street, Exeter, 10.00am to 5.00pm.
EXETER'S FINE ART COLLECTION 07 Jan to 04 Apr - Featuring topographical prints, drawings and watercolours of Exeter, Royal Albert Memorial Museum - RAMM, Queen Street, Exeter, 10.00am to 5.00pm.
WARNING! ARTISTS AT WORK 14 Jan to 23 Jan - Cherry Lyons and Wendy Chudley are Artists in Residence at Harbour House, Harbour House, The Promenade, Kingsbridge, 10.00am to 4.00pm.
EXHIBITION: LINE UP Charlie Johnson - 'Stag' - GalleryFAB
16 Jan to 16 Mar - Exhibition presenting monohrome objects in styled groups., Devon Guild of Craftsmen, Riverside Mill, Bovey Tracey, 10.00am to 5.30pm.
John Duffin - 'Arrival 3 - Paddington Station' - Brook Gallery
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Countryside, History, Walks, Events, the Arts & all things Devon at: DEVONSHIRE magazine.co.uk
Peter Layton - ‘Red Burano Sailform’ - £3150 and £2995
Amanda Brisbane - ‘Fish’ - 32x46cm - £465
Christmas GLASS SPARKLE!
Can anything be more seductive than beautiful handmade glass objects lovingly made by top British glassmakers?
Stuart Akroyd - Large Vase - £212
In Steam Gallery at Beer we have built a reputation for presenting the finest selection of creative glass. What fine Christmas presents they make, glowing on even the dullest winter’s day.
E&M Glass - Ship’s Decanter - 26cm - £105
You can choose from objects for everyday use such as drinking glasses or perfume bottles all the way to the most exquisite masterpiece in glass to form a centrepiece for a room. Come and enjoy the inspiration of choosing something special and unique at Steam Gallery. You can also check many items on our web. We’re open every day except Tuesday right up to Christmas and open again the day after Boxing Day.
Lucy Batt - Cutler - 12cm - £815
Bruce Marks - ‘Tall Birds’ - £750 each
Siddy Langley - Ammonite Paperweight - from £42 each
Bob Crooks - Perfume Bottles - £67 each Bob Crooks - Drinking Glasses - £33 each
What's On? at south ¦ westdevonhub .co.uk A sister of Marine House Beer¦ dartmoorwww.steamgallery.co.uk
17 Telephone: 01297 625144
EWAN WALTON Fine Artist
ʻJackʼ
ʻHenryʼ
ʻDaisy and Patchʼ
Top dog animal paintings on commission www.ewanwalton.com www.facebook.com/ewanwaltonart 18
Countryside, History, Walks, Events, the Arts & all things Devon at: DEVONSHIRE magazine.co.uk
thebrownstongaller y What a year! As 2015 draws to a close, we take a look at the stunning exhibitions that have filled the gallery with some of the best contemporary art around. Here are some of our highlights. Internationally renowned Scottish artist, Charles Jamieson, offered us his exquisite take on the beautiful South Hams. Humour and warmth radiated from the vibrant canvases of Fred Yates (1922 - 2008), a modest artist who loved the people and places of France and the West Country.
Bantham Boathouse - Charles Jamieson
Leading abstract artist, Jerry Browning, who studied under Patrick Heron and Terry Frost showed his maturity and experience with a fabulous collection full of movement, shape and colour. The distinctive work of Anthony Amos (1950 - 2010), who was honoured by the Royal Society of Marine Artists, has continued to garner acclaim from both collectors and critics. The gallery has a permanent, dedicated space for his remarkable talent.
Harbour - Anthony Amos
Flowers in my Garden - Fred Yates
Rythmic Blues - Jerry Browning
And on to 2016... Our WINTER SHOW will continue through February before we launch our SWAc EXHIBITION on 10 March.
SOUTH WEST
ACADEMY EXHIBITION
We look forward to welcoming Academy artists for this major event, which will showcase the wealth and diversity of artistic talent in the South West. Please phone the gallery or go to our website to be added to our mailing list. We’ll keep you updated on events and news.
10 MARCH - APRIL 2 2016
36 Church Street, Modbury, Devon PL21 0QR tel - 01548 831338 What'swww.thebrownstongallery.co.uk On? south ¦ dartmoor ¦ westdevonhub .co.uk
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The Herzogin Cecilie cabin - actually made from the timbers of the ship that ran aground on Ham Stone in Soar Mill Cove in 1936.
S TAY C AT I O N
Cream tea on the balcony anyone?
Cottage Hotel's reception desk
Yes, that's the hotel just on top of the beach!
Hope Cove Near Kingsbridge South Devon
the
Cottage Hotel 01548 561555 hopecove.com
A traditional hotel situated in the perfect position, being a short amble down to the beach and also where you can watch the sun set over the sea. It can be really hard work sometimes, finding a hotel to fit the bill. What I mean is that if you're like me, a view certainly is going to be part of the experience, equally the situation in terms of proximity to the beach is another very important factor (assuming a seaside holiday). I had no such problem when booking a weekend stay at the Cottage Hotel because you're totally spoilt in these respects. The hotel is beautifully positioned, actually it's perched facing directly out over the beach
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affording truly delightful views. What's great is their garden path takes you pretty much directly down onto the Hope Cove beach. Of course, South Devon's renowned for beautiful countryside and certainly the rugged coastline ticks many boxes. With Salcombe round the corner walking eastwards, and Thurlestone to the west, there are many peaceful walks to be enjoyed without needing to get back in the dreaded car!
Arriving at the Hotel, we were greeted warmly and the porter helped us with bags to the room. Many of the rooms have balconies with spectacular views and the rooms were well equipped. The Cottage Hotel is what I'd class as a traditional, family-run hotel. It has an interesting history over the 88 years it's been run as an hotel. Of course, originally the property was a cottage that's organically grown over the years. The Ireland family that now run the hotel, took over the hotel in 1973, and it's now Sarah and William Ireland who preside over it. In terms of history, it's said that Emperor Heile Sellasie stayed at the Hotel whilst in exile. Also,
Countryside, History, Walks, Events, the Arts & all things Devon at: DEVONSHIRE magazine.co.uk
the Herzogin Cecilie, a clipper, ran aground in 1936. This beautiful ship had run aground on Ham Stone in Soar Mill. It'd previously won the famous 'Grain Race', but it was the cargo that ultimately was her downfall. Seaweed entered the holds and the swelling grain burst her apart! During the war, in 1941, a girls school in Eastbourne was evacuated to the Cottage Hotel. In 1944 the hotel was requisitioned by the RAF for fighter pilots that flew Spitfires and Hurricanes from Bolberry Down Airfield. You can see some of their graffiti cut into the panelling during one particularly boisterous evening spent in the lounge whilst enjoying drinks.
Dining is great at the Cottage Hotel, the food's lovely and the views are truly sublime. Their dining room looks directly out over Hope Cove.
The Cottage Hotel is ideally where you'd like every hotel to be situated, perched right on top of the beach - it's a premium spot!
Yes, that actually is an old boat that's been chopped in half for the bar. It was Chris Phippin's who passed away recently. It's was a well-know local crabber called Allora.
Reader Offer Lovely views abound - the room above is the bar, a great place to watch the sun set over the sea. The atmosphere at the Cottage Hotel is relaxed and friendly. The newly refurbished bar is a lovely place to read a newspaper and enjoy a drink, and dining is excellent, with a good range of menu options and extensive wine menu. The standard of food is high and again, there are superb views out across Hope Cove to be enjoyed whilst dining. There's also a terrace where you can enjoy one of their cream teas, weather permitting. They've recently published a guide for walkers, called 'The Cottage
The Cottage Hotel's WALKER'S COMPANION available from the Hotel
Hotel - Walker's Companion', which is available at the Hotel and is there to help you explore the area. It's a really good idea and I'm sure many more hotels will be doing this sort of thing in future to enable guests to get the best from their stay. What's great about the Cottage Hotel is that you can leave the car parked and get out to enjoy the truly stupendous walks and vistas. It really does make your break totally stress free! Overleaf is a photographic spread, showing some of the glorious coastline >>
What's On? south ¦ dartmoor ¦ westdevonhub .co.uk
3 Night Break £186 per person until 24th March 2016* *(Sea-view Double/Twin en-suite room including Dinner, Bed and Breakfast and VAT plus welcome glass of Prosecco on arrival and a copy of our new walkers companion book, (5 self guided walks centred on Hope Cove). We look forward to welcoming you.)
To access this offer you need to quote
DEVONSHIRE magazine
The Cottage Hotel, sitting just above the beach
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Hope Cove - the view from the Cottage Hotel's garden. Path on left above takes you down to beach or onto the coastal path, either to Salcombe or Thurlestone beach.
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Countryside, History, Walks, Events, the Arts & all things Devon at: DEVONSHIRE magazine.co.uk
The beach is lovely, no big crowds, peaceful, great for paddling or even a swim. In the distance, the coastal path follows the headland. Ultimately you can reach Salcombe with a bit of effort.
Looking for a low-stress What's break?On? Ssouth T AÂŚ dartmoor Y C A TÂŚ westdevonhub I O N at devonshiremagazine.co.uk .co.uk
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An extremely cute cottage just off the shore
Youngsters enjoying a frollick in the briny!
Thurlestone beach to the left, the coastal path is lovely 24
Countryside, History, Walks, Events, the Arts & all things Devon at: DEVONSHIRE magazine.co.uk
Lovely wild pathways abound
Hope Cove - the view from the Cottage Hotel's garden. Path on left takes you down to beach or onto coastal path Getting close to sun down as viewed from The Cottage Hotel, Hope Cove
Part of the beach at Hope Cove. The causeway's good fun to walk at high tide. What's On? south ÂŚ dartmoor ÂŚ westdevonhub .co.uk
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Birds spotted on the beach at Hope Cove. Don't forget to bring your binoculars or telephoto lens for your camera. Top - Egret. Middle - Black headed gull. Bottom Cormorant.
Cormorant on rocks, drying wings. There's all sorts of speculation about this activity, some think it's to warm up after getting cold in the water (thermoregulation), others say it's done to dry its wings, presumably for flying. Apparently, cormorant feathers are wettable to help reduce buoyancy when swimming underwater for prey.
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Looking for a low-stress break?
S T A Y C A T I O N at devonshiremagazine.co.uk
Wish to discover more of Devon?
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Much of the unique content from this magazine as well as current and previous issues can be seen on the Devonshire magazine website as we continue to add our content. It's a high quality portal for all things Devon, relating to wildlife, countryside, history, monuments, walks, churches etc, it's all there to be enjoyed, on desktop, tablet or even mobile.
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Countryside, History, Walks, Events, the Arts & all things Devon at: DEVONSHIRE magazine.co.uk
Towns Visits
Beauty Spots
Historic Houses
Countryside Walks
Battles & Sites
Churches
Hope Cove's probably the only place on the entire south coast of Devon where you can see the sun set directly over the sea - it's truly spectacular!
Outdoor Pursuits
Motoring
Farming & Rural
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Wildlife
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Victoria Sewart
Contemporary Jewellery Gallery
Christmas Collections
Come and see our dazzling jewellery collections this Christmas! Including exciting work from 6 new designers.
Gift Ideas
from Devon
Gifts can be tricky to find, but we are lucky to have a great range of independent businesses who strive to source unique and stylish items you won't find anywhere else!
A super quality candle for your home at Christmas
“unique collections”
“rare, self indulgent” “innovative designs”
“luxurious wearable pieces”
For more Jewellery, Online Shop and Jewellery Making Classes visit us at:
victoriasewart.com 01752 220011 39 Southside Street, The Barbican, Plymouth
victoria sewart
These candles by Artisans and Artists, come in a refillable beech holder, available in Natural or Black and comes beautifully boxed. Candles are available in three fragrances: Lait de Figue - greenfig / Lounge - vetiver, amber and sandalwood / Thé Noir - tea and lightly smoked lime. Available from the Artisans and Artists showroom in Ashburton. Tel: 01364 653276 www.artisansandartists.co.uk
Tavistock Audio
Love your Music Your local HiFi specialist We stock: Naim • Quad • Yamaha • Audiolab Wilson Benesch • PMC • Kudos • Usher Michelle • Project • Ruark digital radios We also have a selection of Headphone accessories and Vinyl both new and second hand.
We wish all our customers a very Merry Christmas! 01822 618940
8c West Street, Tavistock PL19 8AD info@tavistockaudio.co.uk www.tavistockaudio.co.uk
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Countryside, History, Walks, Events, the Arts & all things Devon at: DEVONSHIRE magazine.co.uk
BRIGIDFOLEY
Est d. 1973
NEW STOCK ARRIVING DAILY Shop online at www.brigidfoley.co.uk 8 Paddons Row, Tavistock 01822 612203
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4 33 74 64 01
CHRISTMAS AT THE THREE CROWNS
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INSPIRATION
Interior designer Susan Folwell of Devon based Artisans and Artists talks about new fabric collections, inspiration, monkeys, flamingos and why the Left Bank of Paris is home from home for the Ashburton based interior design company.
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Inspired New Collections The approach of winter has seen the launch of some inspired new fabric and wallpaper collections. Nina Campbell's new Fontibre and Bargello Velvets collections feature designs, colourways and names inspired by places visited by Nina’s great uncle, the watercolourist Stratford Hely-Hutchinson Keightley. The monkey illustrated on the Barbary Toile is particularly engaging and reminds me of growing up in the Far East where monkeys, enticed by the banana trees, were regular visitors to our garden, I must confess to having something of a fascination with monkeys as a result.
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Matthew Williamson, a designer known for his love of travel, presented his new Cubana Collection of fabrics and wallpapers. Colours direct from the catwalk conjure up the glamour and excitement of pre-revolutionary Cuba in the era of Hemingway. Flamingo Club depicts a nonchalant flamingo peering through exotic flora and is available in six colourways on fabric and seven on wallpaper, any one of which is sure to deter the winter blues. The design team at Black Edition have
Countryside, History, Walks, Events, the Arts & all things Devon at: DEVONSHIRE magazine.co.uk
Images 1. Nina Campbell's Barbary Toile from her new Fontibre Collection for Osborne and Little. Fabric and wallpaper available in 5 colourways.
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2. Matthew Williamson's Flamingo Club from his Cubana Collection for Osborne and Little. Fabric available in 6 colourways and wallpaper available in 7 colourways. 3. Named after a castle on the River Tagus, Nina Campbell's' Belem wallpaper from her Fontibre Collection for Osborne and Little is available in 5 colourways. Also by Nina Campbell for Osborne and Little is the Bargello Velvet on the sofa, named after the Renaissance palazzo in Florence, available in 5 colourways, from the Bargello Collection. 4. Inky florals and weathered paint effects in the Kansai Collection from Black Edition. Kansai floral fabric (velvet or linen) and wallpaper both available in 3 colourways. Antica paint effect printed velvet in 3 colourways also available as a wallpaper in 4 colourways plus 2 colourways in flock wallpaper.
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5. Black Edition's Iroko wallcovering which is available is 6 colourways and their Mistra wide-width decorative sheer fabric which is available in 6 colourways.
also looked to high end fashion for colour themes and combined these skilfully with Japanese inspired florals printed onto velvets and linens. Kansai is an experimental collection that merges art with innovative layering and contemporary photography in a bold and vivacious palette, the results are elusive inky florals, elegantly weathered paint
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effects and atmospheric abstract landscapes. Iridos, also from Black Edition, is a modern collection of lightweight weaves, sheers and semi sheers inspired by oxidised metals and earthy minerals presented in a metallic palette of copper, silver and gold that works perfectly with their
new Iroko wallcoverings collection of intriguing and deconstructed designs that add a contemporary twist to classic damasks. Inspiration is vital for anyone involved in a creative profession whether curating or creating - and these new collections clearly show that inspiration comes in many forms.
La Rive Gauche - A Home from Home In our studio we are inspired by our clients and the houses that they ask us to work on. The setting of a property and the dreams of its inhabitants combine to fire our imagination, we add to this our experience and technical ability and then draw further inspiration from the materials that we work with, the films, art and theatre that we see, the books that we read, the music that we hear, the changes in the seasons and nature's wonderful offerings, as well as the places that we visit at home and abroad. We cannot, however, always explain every element of the design process - there is a little bit of magic that happens along the way. We visit Paris regularly on buying trips for the showroom and projects
(it is a short and convenient hop from "La Rive Gauche" shares characteristics Exeter airport), staying on the Left with our adopted home town of Bank in the 6th arrondissement. In Ashburton - the shops are individual, fact we now stay in a particular hotel the antiques and art galleries are that opened a few years ago and we fascinating, it is foodie and the even book the same room. We regard architecture is eye catching. We can buy superb macarons at Ladurée on this creative area of Paris as a source of inspiration and a home from home. Rue Bonaparte on the Left Bank and we can buy them in the award winning Our preferred hotel, the Hotel Ashburton Deli. da Vinci, is a compact and bijou Renaissance inspired hotel housed The Left Bank is also full of creative in a typical Left Bank building with an enterprises such as fabric companies, intriguing history - the Mona Lisa was designers, architects, artists, antique temporarily stored here when stolen dealers, florists and perfumers and from the Louvre in 1911, hence the what drives these enterprises is inspiration for the hotel's name and the passion and inspiration of the its interior design. individuals who create and manage them. Continued overleaf...
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INSPIRATION A Curious Mind
One of the bedrooms at the Renaissance inspired Hotel da Vinci, Paris.
BELOW A Few of Our Favourite Places to Stay, Eat, Drink, Shop:
ADDRESS BOOK ASHBURTON
PARIS • Hotel da Vinci hoteldavinciparis.com • Semilla Restaurant 54 Rue de Seine, 75006 • Hotel Costes Restaurant and Bar hotelcostes.com • La Société restaurantlasociete.com
• Moorish Restaurant moorishrestaurant.co.uk • Number 14 14 North Street • Taylor's Tea Rooms 5 North Street
• Ladurée 21 Rue Bonaparte, 75006 • Stéphane Olivier Antiques stephaneolivier.fr • Galerie Epoca epoca.fr
• Francolins 17 West Street • Ella Artisans Baker 9 West Street • The Ashburton Deli ashburtondelicatessen.co.uk • The Fish Deli thefishdeli.co.uk • Kate Higham Jewellery kate-higham.com • Yume Martin Jewellery yumemartin.com • Tom wood Antiques & Curios 7 St Lawrence Lane • Etc Etc Antiques 19 North Street • East Street Antiques 8 East Street
• Galerie Geraldine Banier geraldinebanier.fr • Deyrolle deyrolle.com • 7L Bookshop librairie7l.com
• Alchemy Antiques 22 East Street
• de Gournay degournay.com 15 Rue des Saints-Pères, 75006
• North Street Gallery 22 North Street
• L'Officine Universelle Buly buly1803.com
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Another key ingredient for any creative enterprise or individual is curiosity ... why that colour / will that texture make for a great result / if we combine those two materials will it work? ... endless research, questions and curiosity, to that end I decided to combine some research with errands and shopping in order to ask some of the creatives who are also lucky enough to live or work here in Ashburton what inspires them. Popping into Moorish Restaurant to buy some of their fabulous drinking chocolate I find Owen the owner / chef is busy in the open kitchen along with his sous chef, he doesn't stop preparing food as he answers my question about what inspires him. "The Mediterranean, in particularly the Eastern Mediterranean, the Levant, those flavours. Yes it is about seasonal freshness but it is also about endless research and thought about what flavours go with what, Olga (his Spanish wife who runs the restaurant with him) and I may be in London or Spain and see something that makes me consider a new recipe - ideas come from everywhere.", he tells me as he places a tray of freshly prepared large and lovely looking lamb meatballs into the oven. A few doors down Ella the Artisan Baker is busy in her open kitchen bakery as she tells me that she draws inspiration from her roots, that her parents were flour millers and had a windmill in Lincolnshire where, aged 15, Ella opened her first bakery at the mill. Nowadays people queue to purchase bread and cakes from Ella's Ashburton bakery, testament to the passion and skill that goes into the creating and baking. "Oh definitely the seasons, look the John Dory are just arriving, that will inspire us to think about what we can cook." says Nick at The Fish Deli with a smile as he gestures towards his young fishmonger who is expertly filleting a large John Dory. This award winning deli is a feast for the senses and never fails to please. We have not one but two jewellery designers in Ashburton and they can be found in their respective studio / showrooms creating unique and special designs. Yume Martin shows me her new Neptune's
Countryside, History, Walks, Events, the Arts & all things Devon at: DEVONSHIRE magazine.co.uk
Treasures collection and confirms that she continues to be inspired by nature. Kate Higham tells me that she is inspired by "the sum of all of my passions, interests and loves.". Kate's partner, Tom Wood, can be found in his antiques and curios emporium next door to Kate's studio - this is a veritable treasure trove and Tom not only finds the most amazing treasures he is also inspiring when he tells you the background story to a piece. "For me I can only see objects in terms of shape and colour, whether ancient or modern, valuable or not, if a piece appeals to me I will buy it.", Tom tells me in answer to my question as he places the most delightful small, carved monkey into my hand - he knows about the monkey fascination and knows that I am very unlikely to leave the shop without purchasing the piece.
The colourful palette of the macarons available from The Deli, Ashburton
Next stop is North Street Gallery to collect four pictures purchased at a recent exhibition. Christopher Johnson is the curator at the gallery and I ask him what inspires him to choose particular work to exhibit and the inspiration for the gallery's displays of work. "It only takes one really good piece of work to inspire a whole exhibition, whether it's a solo or group show there will usually be that killer piece that inspires how the whole exhibition will be presented, as soon as I see that piece I can see the whole show.". Different answers to the same question but essentially saying the same thing - creativity is about an innate desire and ability to create, to draw together different threads of inspiration, experience, research and thought to produce something that resonates ... and then to do it anew. www.artisansandartists.co.uk
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HOUSE & HOME
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Mike Lovell of Plymstock Carpets and Flooring is pleased to be one of the specially chosen independent installers range. to offer the high quality He answers some of the most common questions from his customers. Q: What is Amtico?
Tel: 01752 493355
Q: How does it perform? You can have the real look of wooden floors without the maintenance required of sanding, sealing polishing etc. The Amtico range of tiles look as good as ceramic, however they are warmer and softer to the touch with special design strips in between the tiles. These strips allow the grout lines to be added however will not discolour and stain like most grouting in between normal floor tiles.
Amtico is the UK’s original luxury design floor company. It is unrivalled in its design capability and offers my customers the opportunity to create a totally unique floor. With over 4000 design options, we can create the ultimate experience in bespoke designs which will compliment any room type - we can look at the decor and furniture etc. to create a floor with unique and creative designs and colours which will compliment the room.
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Countryside, History, Walks, Events, the Arts & all things Devon at: DEVONSHIRE magazine.co.uk
HOUSE & HOME devonshiremagazine.co.uk
But here’s the thing...
Bird’s eye view of Dawlish IT IS, WITHOUT DOUBT the best-known stretch of railway track in Britain – and it also happens to be part of the view from the all-seeing eye of the Dawlish Beach camera. Most recently it captured this wonderful image of a kestrel zooming in to check out its reflection in the lens, but even more spectacularly perhaps it has also recorded
www.dawlishbeach.com
“THE FIRST FALL OF SNOW is not only an event, it is a magical event. You go to bed in one kind of world and wake up in another quite different, and if this is not enchantment then where is it to be found?” JB Priestley
young woman ‘sent to the country’ by your parents to escape the amorous advances of William, Prince of Wales? The answer, as far as Sarah Catherine Martin was concerned was to put quill pen to paper and write The Droll Adventures of Old Mother Hubbard, and her Wonderful Dog, the children’s nursery rhyme which was published a year later and is 210 years old this month.
Devon’s sad tale of Old Mother Hubbard
Poor Sarah. When she was 17, Prince William Henry (later to be William IV), aged 20 - and an impetuous lad so history tells us - fell madly in love with her and went as far as to apply to his parents for permission to marry her, a commoner. Both sets of parents were horrified and Sarah was packed off to Devon and the home of her sister, Judith Anne at Kitley House, Yealmpton, near Plymouth.
WHAT TO DO on a wet afternoon in rural Devon in 1804 if you were a pretty and educated
William married eventually of course but co-habited with the actress, Mrs. Jordan
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a sizzling night time shot of a meteorite plunging into the ocean on the near horizon Take a bird’s eye view for yourself of the around the clock watch at their webcam.
for 20 years and they had ten illegitimate children together. Sarah never married and probably got off lightly by the sound of it.
William IV (1765 –1837) father of the nation with Mrs Jordan
The only known picture of Sarah (1768–1826)
JOHN FISHER
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Countryside, History, Walks, Events, the Arts & all things Devon at: DEVONSHIRE magazine.co.uk
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Countryside, History, Walks, Events, the Arts & all things Devon at: DEVONSHIRE magazine.co.uk
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Countryside, History, Walks, Events, the Arts & all things Devon at: DEVONSHIRE magazine.co.uk
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What's On in Devon? There's now a website for every region
hub cast
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ALSO NOW: exeterhub
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Call us on 01395 513383
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Coming in 2016 These new sector, county level based sites will be launched providing unparalleled information.
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DEVON
ART
LIVE MUSIC
A great new county level website, with data feeding in from across the 6 regional hubs. Focussing on theatre, music recitals, opera, ballet, shows, comedy, etc.
We're big on art, with most of the main galleries now entering their events into the regional hubs. A county level art based website, pulling event information from across the network.
A proper county level live music website, we'll display gigs from across the region. Also we'll have a 'performers for hire' section as well as one for venues.
Countryside, History, Walks, Events, the Arts & all things Devon at: DEVONSHIRE magazine.co.uk
DESKTOP
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DEVON HAS NEVER CLAIMED to have invented Christmas of course, but it was certainly a Devonian who gave the world the first Christmas Tree, a thousand and more years before Prince Albert bore the great family celebration into Victorian parlours and Dickens decorated it with his immortal A Christmas Carol.
by JOHN FISHER
The on-going magic of Christmas in the West Country The blessed Boniface later become the patron saint of brewers thereabouts which must have come as something of the icing on the Christmas cake to a nation famed, then as now, for its fondness of fermented brews.
The man was Saint Boniface of Crediton - where the church still honours his memory with a festival every December - who took an axe to a pagan oak tree in distant Bavaria some1200 years ago at the time of the Winter Solstice and felled it at a single, saint-like, swingeing swipe. Miraculously a fir tree, an evergreen symbol of everlasting love, sprang up in its place and the awe-struck pagans, suitably gob-smacked, gave up their old beliefs, embraced the Christmass, decorated the tree with offerings and danced round it, probably hand in hand. Sound familiar? 48
Another son of Devon, this time the poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge found himself close on the heels of Boniface and in the same part of the world at Christmas 1798. This is how he reported on the on-going magic of the season that Boniface had sparked, in a letter to his wife, Sarah: “On the evening before Christmas Day, one of the parlours is lighted up by the children, into which the parents must not go; a great yew bough is fastened on the table at a little distance from the wall, a multitude of little tapers are fixed in the bough ... and coloured paper etc. hangs and flutters from the twigs.
Under this bough the children lay out the presents they mean for their parents, still concealing in their pockets what they intend for each other. Then the parents are introduced, and each presents his little gift; they then bring out the remainder one by one from their pockets, and present them with kisses and embraces”.
Cheers! The Ghost of Christmas Present
Countryside, History, Walks, Events, the Arts & all things Devon at: DEVONSHIRE magazine.co.uk
Some 45 years later that same magic all but overwhelmed Dickens himself as he created the characters of Scrooge, Bob Cratchit and his family and the Ghosts of Christmasses Past, Present and Yet-to-Come. Dickens’s biographer, John Forster wrote how the story gripped its creator as his story unfolded:
“He wept over it, and laughed, and wept again, and excited himself to an extraordinary degree. He kept Christmas that year with an extraordinary zest; ‘such dinings, such dancings, such conjurings, such blind-man's buffings, such theatre-goings, such kissing-out of old years and kissing-in of new ones, never took place in these parts before' “. He had lived and worked in Exeter as a young man of course - and met his wife, Catherine in the city - returning in 1858 to give a public reading of his Christmas tale to a packed house. The Flying Post reported:
“Mr. Dickens possesses great dramatic ability, wonderful powers of facial expression, and a rich sonorous voice, of which he is a perfect master, changing it from the rough tones of Scrooge to the sweet and delicate key of Tiny Tim with an easy and remarkable facility." We have so many Christmas myths, legends and traditions, so here are just a few to mull over this holiday season: and what are Devon’s myths if not truths in the robes of poetry? First and foremost of course must be the tale of how the West Country saw Joseph of Arimathea cross from St. Michael’s Mount, via Yesse Tor on Dartmoor and travel to Wearyall Hill, above Glastonbury in December AD63. Here he planted his staff and there he founded the first Christian church in these islands.
The staff took root and blossomed – don’t ask us how - and a thorn blossoms each midnight still on 6th January each year, Christmas Eve in the old Julian calendar. A cutting is sent to the Queen’s Christmas table at Sandringham. It was a widely held belief – and practice – in the West Country that farm children, taken into the barn an hour before midnight on Christmas Eve might witness the oxen kneeling and turned to the east. Thomas Hardy captured the magic of that scene in a poem. Those same lucky children, wrapped in love, might also be carried to the orchard, where each beehive was bedecked with a sprig of holly, to listen to the bees who might just be humming a Christmas carol.
How many of Devon’s unwed maids we wonder will be peeling an onion and placing it beneath their pillows this St. Thomas’s Day, 21st December? Those who believe in this kind of magic may well have a sleeping vision of their future husband in this traditional pre-Christmas Special of a dream.
meaning to be whole or healthy: when pronounced wash-ail it’s a shure shign that ish high time to come back in for a cocoa.
It is of course what Little Jack Horner stuck his thumb into whilst sitting in a corner and pulled out a plum, crying “What a good boy am I!” But dig a little deeper and we discover that the corner was the West of England and Jack was Thomas Horner, steward to the last abbot of Glastonbury before the dissolution of the monasteries.
Before Devon’s Sir Walter Raleigh introduced the turkey into England (the first flocks disembarked noisily at Dartmouth) its place was taken on the groaning board by the boar’s head, traditionally carried to the table by a servant dressed in blue with an apple in his mouth. The boar’s head that is. A number of good old fashioned pubs in Devon this Christmas will be burning ‘ye ashen faggot’ in their fireplaces - a bundle of green ash sticks bound together with nine bands of hazel. Lit on Christmas Eve and kindled from the remains of last year’s faggot it’s a harkback to pagan Devon. Each time one of the bands bursts (with a loud ‘crack!’ bumpers of cider are clunked and raised “To Christmas!” (How many of those toasters know that a ‘bumper’ is a hangover from Catholic England when we drank the health of the Good Father, the Bon Père ?)
The story goes that prior to the abbey's destruction, the abbot sent Horner to London with a huge Christmas pie that concealed the deeds to a dozen manors as a bribe to tempt Henry VIII not to confiscate church lands. Feeling peckish on the journey however Horner dipped into the pie and took out the deeds to the manor of Mells in Somerset, which he kept for himself. Believe that as you may, the rest is nursery rhyme. Cider has always flowed like, er, cider in Devon at Christmas time, traditionally on Twelfth Night when the wassailers went walk-about through dormant cider apple orchards in search of the Apple Tree Man – the most fruitful of this autumn’s trees. Once found they soaked his roots in cider and sang. The word wassail stems from the Anglo-Saxon waes haeil,
Mistletoe of course is very pagan and all about fertility and the like and was therefore embraced by the Victorians who needed any excuse they could find after Victoria came to the throne to let their hair down a little over Christmas time. But Devon folk should still beware of bringing it into the house before Christmas Eve – and then only by a man. And just make sure that every last twig of it – along with every holly leaf - is taken out before Twelfth Night else ill fortune will attend in the year ahead. Twelfth Night was the finish of the holiday and ‘the end of misrule’, when serfs and servants were indulged by their lords and masters in the spirit of goodwill which prevailed throughout this magical time of the year. So before that comes to pass there is just time – and a little space remaining - to wish a magical Christmas and a healthy and happy New Year to everyone. And remember: these are the good old days! JOHN FISHER
Before there was Christmas pudding, Devon ate plum porridge, a mutton and beef broth thickened with currants, raisins, wine, spices and prunes and eaten with the roast on Christmas Day. And if that didn’t give you an appetite for Christmas pie, nothing would. So what then is Christmas Pie?
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The Old Vet’nary by Ken Watson
Cops but no Robbers
P
lymouth was home to the three services, who all employed dogs, but these were dwarfed in terms of veterinary work by the Police Dogs. Part of the cultural shock of moving from Sidmouth to Plymouth was the constant wailing, night and day, of police sirens. The reason for much of the work with Police dogs was that the handler, all PC’s with a sergeant in charge, identified and bonded with his dog. They had many reasons for keeping their dogs healthy. In fact they were all paranoid about it. A sick dog could not work and the handlers took it personally. They were all German Shepherds who devote their affection and loyalty to one person, their handler. If a dog could not work, then the PC was put back on the beat, a demotion. Unfortunately German Shepherds were very prone to hip and spinal weakness and their working life often ended at 7 or 8 years. I have known handlers go to great lengths to disguise their dog’s weakness. When searching old building they often have to climb up steep stairs or ladders. More than one copper, after a discrete look around, has lifted his dogs up the steps. After all that training it must be daunting to think of taking on a new dog. If he could get one! There were no breeding centres and they were dependent upon the public donating unwanted young dogs. I was often instrumental in finding them. The Plymouth squad once put on a publicity stunt by marching around the
streets with their dogs, but one who could not find a dog, walking with an empty collar and lead, stiffened with wire, held before him. Another PC had the misfortune to have two trainee dogs in succession develop fits. He was in such a state about this that I was moved to write to his superiors to emphasise that it was not his fault. But through all this the dogs were a delight and loved their work. There was the problem of what to do when the dog was retired. They had all lived with their handler’s family and the mutual bond was so close that it was often difficult to separate them on admission for some surgical procedure, let alone a permanent retirement separation. Happily many PC’s were able to keep their dog but this could cause difficulties when the new trainee came along. Out of all this maelstrom of dogbonding, male machismo and old wives tales about treatment, I was supposed to extract payment for all this work. I can only say that dealing with the policed financial department was a nightmare, only beaten by MAAF where you were lucky if you were paid inside 6 months. Yet I enjoyed it because I loved working with German Shepherds, that most lovable, albeit temperamental, breed of canines. The Police always insisted on priority attention and the sergeant would telephone me to say he was sending
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Part Time Clinic at Yealmpton a dog for treatment. I would watch out for him and usher him into my consulting room as soon as possible. All this close contact with the police, both with dogs and also the many accidents I attended could have its downside. My wife once opened the front door to be confronted by a posse of police with dogs, one of which was practising jumping over my rose bed, who happened to be “just passing”. I was not in! On the other occasion I was just returning to work after lunch and had reached the
by Richard Woodward
Countryside, History, Walks, Events, the Arts & all things Devon at: DEVONSHIRE magazine.co.uk
main road when a police car roared up behind me with lights flashing and sirens wailing. I pulled into the side thinking “what have I done now?!” Instead of pulling in front of me it double parked beside me, the window ran down and a face I knew well said “How’s my dog doing?” His pet dog was hospitalised for treatment. At that time the other services had mainly guard dogs but MOD Ernesettle, where they stored the naval ammunition, brought me into contact with a remarkable lady. No spring chicken even when I first knew her, she manager when at home to look after her disabled brother and several cats but at work she fed and cared for an army of stray cats as well as working in the canteen. I hope you have spotted the connection. It was my experience that in any such establishment there was a humble soul like her who dedicated themselves to such a time consuming task. Unrecognised by society they seek no plaudits but the satisfaction and love of what they do. Anyway this lady would ring me up and say that she would catch and bring an ailing cat to the back of the cycle sheds at a certain time, whence I would carry out any necessary treatment. Thus she was able, with a twinkle in her eye, to tell everybody, “Oh Mr Watson and I have been meeting behind the cycle sheds for years”. - K. Watson
Janet East is the proprietor at Yellingham Farm, also running a Farmhouse B&B establishment www.yellinghamfarm.co.uk 01404 850272
by Janet East of Yellingham Farm
Three in a Bed - Oh no! My Bed and Breakfast diary is my bible, my life, my everything. It was looking a complete and utter mess and had more lines going through the pages than Clapham Junction Station. New bookings, cancelled bookings, dietary requirements, allergies, kids names, dogs names, aunties middle name, husbands inside leg measurement – too much information. I understand my scribbles, but the rest of the family need to know as well so as to avert any misunderstandings. It was a very busy weekend with all rooms booked. A newly married couple in the large double, a brand new guest in the small double, especially requested by a single lady (which always intrigues me – the mind boggles!) and in the twin room my regulars from Surrey, Angela and Geoff. They have been staying with us since the Foot and Mouth outbreak in 2001 and are part of the family – Geoff is a fantastic man who can mend and fix anything – a dream come true. When Geoff rings to book a holiday, it is like music to my ears: “Hello Janet, shall I bring any tools down with me?” My answer is always the same “Edward continues to be excellent in the culinary department but somewhat lacking in the maintenance department, so bring every tool you possess”. He chuckles but realises his 3 night “holiday” will be very busy. To show our appreciation for his hard work we always take them out for a meal. Tonight was the night. The newly weds were arriving late and I gave
them explicit directions to their room and talked them through the lights, the keys, the temperamental shower (on Geoff’s list), the window that sticks (on Geoff’s list). The single lady was due anytime. As usual I was late and flew upstairs to wash and change and quickly reminded Edward that the single lady who had just arrived and was driving through the gate, was in the double room – check the diary for any oddities – bound to be an allergy or two! With instructions bellowed at the top of my voice, I disappeared. We piled in the car and I breathed a sigh of relief as I looked forward to a quiet meal and having a long chat with Geoff, checking on progress with his never ending long list of jobs. I was driving and after a couple of miles, I asked Edward what the single lady was like and was she happy with the room.
the chances of 3 in a bed when we got home was a real possibility. Please do not let this nightmare happen – I had this vision in my mind of the conversation that might ensue between my guests – so who wants to sleep in the middle? I swung into the farm gate and to my utter relief there was only one car in the yard. I got out, rushed upstairs, took a deep breath and knocked gently on the door. After huge apologies, offers of discounts, and more apologies, I quickly moved my dear guest to her rightful room. She was still very pleased and soon I had her settled in. Meeting her for the first time, I could understand why she required a double bed – a single one might just have been a tight squeeze! A quick call to the restaurant explaining that we were unavoidably delayed and I was soon back at the wheel, driving towards a stiff G&T.
“She absolutely loves the room and was surprised how big it was”.
“Edward, you are driving home”. No argument there.
Laughing, I replied “She must be a tiny lady if she thinks the small double is large”.
The next morning, life was back to normal, Geoff was busy on more of his tasks, whistling away and I was having a chat to my single lady who was checking out and who, thankfully, was amused by the previous nights adventure. As I’ve said before, I do seem to attract a special type of single lady. What came next took all my will power not to collapse in a heap laughing.
Edward was suddenly quiet before replying, “You said put her in the double, which I did – the large double”. I slammed on the brakes, the car came to a shuddering halt and a torrent of abuse came forth from my mouth to which there was no reply, in fact silence all round. My diary did look a mess but it clearly stated which room my single lady should occupy. I turned the car around at speed and flew back through the lanes, still shouting at anyone who was listening that
“Thank you so much for everything Janet - a near perfect stay” Oh no. Near perfect, but not perfect. Without further ado I enquired as I always love to know if something is wrong then I can put it right, or at least try.
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“Well, the room was lovely, the homemade biscuits, the fresh flowers, Edwards excellent breakfast - it all made my stay special. There was just one small problem. As you can see I am well built and I happened to sit rather too quickly onto the wooden toilet seat and couldn’t move without the toilet seat moving with me - there is a small split in the seat and it pinched the cheek of my bottom”. Bless her! I could not believe what she had just said and my mind was working overtime imaging the sight she had just described. With my bottom lip trembling, and fighting back a “cheeky” smile, I said thank you for letting me know and I hoped there was no permanent damage and I would rectify the problem immediately. As I waved her car into the distance, I went and found Geoff who hadn’t seen her leave. With a deadpan face, I said that I had an extra task for him... “Could you please help my single lady, as she has a small problem, well in fact it’s quite a large problem” “Of course Janet. What is it?” “The single lady is upstairs in the small double room walking around with the toilet seat attached to her rear end – could you, in the most sensitive way, remove it for her”. It’s the only time Geoff has ever refused to do a task for me! Janet East
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