Budleigh Past and Present

It’s five years now since I blogged about local blue plaques in an earlier post  here   wondering whether Budleigh Salterton should follow the example of other British towns and have a standardised blue plaque to honour notable residents of its past.   Unveiled: (l-r) Cllr Courtney Richards, Roger Saunders, Budleigh’s Mayor Cllr Chris Kitson, Clly Lynda Evans, Anita Jennings, Cllr Alan Dent, and blogger Michael Downes The latest to be remembered in this way is the architect Colonel William Hatchard-Smith. The plaque, on the town’s Public Hall, was unveiled on 23 May 2016 by the Mayor of Budleigh Cllr Chris Kitson in a ceremony attended by other local councillors and  by local resident and Friend of the Museum Anita Jennings, who originally made the suggestion that the architect should be honoured. Roger Saunders, Chairman of the Otter Valley Association, and I as a representative o...

Lavender House, one of no less than 50 houses in Budleigh Salterton designed by Hatchard-Smith   Instantly recognisable with their red and white decoration and their front doors set within brick arches, the houses built by architect William Hatchard-Smith (1887-1987) are still sought after and appreciated by their owners for their elegance and comfort, their sturdy construction and their attention to practical detail. Plans for one of the houses designed by Hatchard-Smith Lavender House, on Moorlands Road , is a four-bedroomed detached family residence built by Hatchard-Smith in the late 1920s when it was originally named Lavenderhay.   Set within what are described as beautifully landscaped gardens of approximately an acre it has recently undergone an extensive refurbishment programme while retaining much of the original charm and character. The stained glass memo...