Budleigh Past and Present

  That’s one of many yells of encouragement you’ll be hearing if you’re at the Britannia Inn on Thursday evening, 12 September. Friend of Fairlynch is the name of my horse in the pub’s Grand National Race Night organised by Kate and Jeff to raise funds for their chosen charity, The Royal Marines Charitable Trust.   The Britannia’s restaurant will be open as usual and many race-goers will be making the evening even more enjoyable by dining before the race, which starts at 8.00 pm. Dress up in Ascot-type gear and you’ll get a free bottle of wine. Race Marshalls are already drawing up the list of participating horses. With such a popular charity and the Britannia’s reputation for fine food -   Kate and Jeff were   delighted with their recently awarded Silver Star in the ‘Dining Pub’ category in the prestigious Taste of the West Awards for 2013 - it’s likely to be a full house.   For more information and to book a table phone 01395 445710 or c...

    Our resident lacemaker Sue Morgan needs all her concentration — and plenty of light — to focus on her task.         But she’s more than happy to explain the finer points of her craft to visitors like Elizabeth Bloxham from Wimborne Minster in Dorset . Lace demonstrations will continue at Fairlynch on Friday afternoons in August.

Those artistic villagers of Colaton Raleigh whom I last mentioned at http://budleighbrewsterunited.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/colaton-raleighs-artistic-commune.html have been busy again. They’re having yet another exhibition, this time as part of the Devon Open Studios event in September.     A Dartmoor scene by Cynthia Boult     The group of artists are making a link to Otter Valley walks and have published a map which they are distributing with their leaflet about the exhibition. It’s based on a walk which inspired some of the artists’ work.           The Coast Path at Budleigh Salterton by Laura Boyd   The exhibition takes place in the Village Hall at Colaton Raleigh during the first two weekends of September, from Saturday 7 to Sunday 8 Saturday 14 to Sunday 15 from 11.00 am to 6.00 pm.   St Swithin's, Woodbury, by Simon Bramble   Devon Open Studios is a unique opp...

    The Museum garden will be the setting for the Budleigh Salterton Chamber of Commerce tea party on Bank Holiday Monday 26 August.   The event is being held to celebrate the 50th birthday of the East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. To mark this special anniversary a series of events and activities have taken place during 2013 to raise the profile of the area, which is one of Britain 's finest protected landscapes, both rich in culture and a haven for wildlife. Cream teas will be served at the Chamber of Commerce event between 2.00 and 5.00 pm and jazz musicians will help make the afternoon go with a swing. Tickets at £2 are available from the Tourist Information Centre in Fore Street . The Museum will be open as usual for visitors and will include a special lacemaking session with Fairlynch lacemaker Sue Morgan. A TIC spokesperson said that a gazebo will be provided so that the celebration will take place whatever the weather.   ...

Above: an unusual image of Fairlynch Museum with agapanthus in the foreground Anne Hurt, pictured below, writes: For 17 years I have been working as a volunteer at Fairlynch, and by now I do believe I know every single plant, tree or shrub that grows there. Sometimes there used to be up to nine of us, all under the supervision and guidance of Mrs Jenefer Slater. It was she who is responsible for the design and structural planting which is so excellent in framing the Regency cottage. Only indigenous plants or plants introduced to this country before 1812 were allowed. We still try to adhere to this plan. Jenefer had to be strict with us volunteers, as we all came with our own ideas of how gardening should be done, and we all thought we knew the best. The garden is meant to be a cottage garden, in style with the building, and not a municipal run of the mill garden full of bedding plants. Since the soil is very poor free-draining sandstone and needs constant re...

Archaeology, Art, Conservation & Environment, Gardening, History, Literature, Medicine, Music, Philosophy, Politics, Science, Sport…     What’s your favourite subject?   Do you have views on the concept of Fairlynch Museum Winter talks?          Join our friendly group which meets informally and occasionally over a drink to decide which speakers to invite! To learn more contact Michael on 01395 446407 or email mr.downes@gmail.com

Sixty children from Awliscombe C of E Primary School came to visit Fairlynch to celebrate the end of term. They met Jack Rattenbury in the Smugglers’ Cellar.  “Is he dead?” they asked, feeling his cold and clammy fingers. Do they mean the 19th century smuggler or the eerily lifelike figure with piercing brown eyes and computer-generated voice? Who knows what kids think? Do they want to be reassured? Do they suspect there are more Jack Rattenburys out there in Lyme Bay ?   Is she nervous of him, or a bit uncertain of the photographer?  After some explanation they thought that he was probably ok. Dangerous though. A smuggler. “Yes, he did escape from the police. Yes, he probably was violent.”      Sir Walter Raleigh was not so frightening. “Or could that be the man on the bonfire? A penny for the guy, a penny for my thoughts. Were those barrels of gunpowder in the Smugglers’ Cellar?   Was there a candle...