Budleigh Past and Present

  Two Friends of Fairlynch will shortly be leading walks organised by the Otter Valley Association but open to all. On Saturday 30 November David Daniel will be the walk leader on what is described as a short and sociable three-mile walk on the commons to relieve those growing pre-Christmas pressures. The start is at 10.00 am at Wheathill Plantation car park (map ref SY041847).           A trek along Hawkerland valley  Image credit Rob Purvis On Saturday 7 December Brian Turnbull will lead a five-mile moderate walk starting at 10.00 am at Colaton Raleigh Church (map ref SY082872) , going down green lanes and over the commons, visiting Dotton, Hawkerland and Knapps land.  There is an optional lunch at the Otter Inn. For more details contact Brian on 01395 567339.           The Otter Inn, Colaton Raleigh To help you decide, click on http://www.otterinn.co.uk/ ...

    Kimmo Evans with a trophy recently presented to East Devon AONB     The idea of Winter Talks arranged in partnership by Fairlynch Museum and the Otter Valley Association, first suggested in 1979, is nothing new. As OVA Chairman Nicola Daniel pointed out while introducing the guest speaker at a joint event on 4 November the two groups have much in common: both are concerned with educating people about the history, geography, architecture and natural history of the lower Otter Valley .         Greater and Lesser Horseshoe bats, along with a few other types use the Beer Quarry caves to hibernate in the winter.  Image credit John Scott See  http://www.beerquarrycaves.co.uk/bats.html     Kimmo Evans, Community Development Officer for East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, had come to tell us why the AONB is celebrating its 50 years. He began by giving some background o...

    An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) is an area of high scenic quality which has statutory protection in order to conserve and enhance the natural beauty of its landscape. There are only just over 30 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty in England , and here in East Devon we are lucky to be living in one of them. Fairlynch Museum and the Otter Valley Association have teamed up to present a talk by Kimmo Evans, Community Development Officer at East Devon AONB.    With a degree in Marine Biology, Kimmo Evans has gained most of his experience in the conservation sector - both marine and land-based. He has worked on traditional aspects of protected landscape work such as events planning, conservation tasks and media work. But he has also been involved in more innovative interpretation work linked to mobile phone technology, working with local businesses and community based renewable energy projects. He is now also Board Director on the Heart...

Museum enthusiast Rob Merkel with one of Fairlynch Museum's latest attractions For centuries smuggling was a way of life for Budleigh people. One of the best-known was the vicar of East Budleigh , the Rev. Ambrose Stapleton (c.1771-1852). He was noted for his long tenure at All Saints Church but also for the illegal brandy which he both consumed and stored in the church and in the ancient vicarage of Vicar’s Mead.   Another celebrated smuggler familiar with the coast of East Devon was Jack Rattenbury (1778-1844), pictured left. Although he came originally from Beer, Rattenbury visited Budleigh Bay at least once when he was almost caught red-handed on 29 January 1821 by revenue officer Captain Stocker with “one hundred kegs of spirits, and a bale of tea” as Rattenbury wrote in his memoirs.   Small wonder then that Fairlynch Museum ’s ‘Smugglers’ Cellar’ attracts many visitors who are happy to risk the journey down some rather tricky steps. It’s here th...