Thomas Gilbart-Smith Memorial, A3052, East Devon

The Thomas Gilbart-Smith Memorial is situated on the side of the busy A3052 road between Exeter and Lyme Regis. It's not all that far from the crossroads known as Hangman's Stone, and many people think that this was the actual stone. However, this is a stone seat that was erected in 1904 as a memorial to Dr Thomas Gilbart-Smith by his friends and family. On a cycling holiday in Devon with one of his sons, he suffered a heart attack and died at this spot.

The original plaques were stolen and unfortunately the replacements hold the wrong information. His name is wrongly spelt Gilbert, instead of Gilbart, and he was one of the two senior physicians at the London Hospital, along with several other important medical posts.

 
Having a walk to look at some places along this route in 2008, and wandering a lot further than expected, it turned out to be a 10 mile hike taking in several abandoned and derelict explores on the way. It was a good opportunity to see this properly for myself as the road can be very busy at certain times, and whilst travelling in car or bus it isn't so easy to see it other than a quick glance when speeding past. It was also nice to sit down, have a ciggy and enjoy some of the flask of coffee that I'd taken with me.

Dr Gilbart-Smith may not have approved of smoking as he was also a specialist physician for diseases of the chest, although I have a feeling that the good doctor would have approved of a good walk and using his memorial seat to enjoy a rest along the way.