Motoring Memories Museum, Colyford, Devon

Situated in the quiet and pretty village of Colyford, this gem of a museum has attracted thousands of visitors since it opened some twenty years ago. Sadly, it closed its doors for the last time at the end of September 2011 and the 40 years worth of the motoring memorabilia collection was sold off.

 

The original filling station began with an idea in 1927 by a farmer, Mr W H Davey. Up until that time petrol was only available from pumps attached to barns, therefore he felt there was a need for a purpose-built station in the area.

The architect, a Mr Kett, designed the station based on the wooden one at Countess Wear at the time, changing the building materials to block and brick and adding the Mock Tudor dormer. Built by local builders, it was completed in 1928, and offered Shell, BP, National Benzole and Redline petrol from four Hammond Visible hand operated pumps.

Some of its history includes visits from Aircraftman Thomas Edward Shaw, better known as Lawrence of Arabia. A frequent customer to the station on journeys between his home near Bovington Camp in Dorset and his Royal Airforce posting in Plymouth, he bought petrol for his Brough Superior Motorcycle...and it was on one of these journeys that he had the road accident near his home which led to his death on 18th may 1935.

It was also during the 1930s that Devon County Council decided that all petrol stations should be tidied up, and that Colyford station was the best example of how they should look.

During WW2 all petrol had to be 'pooled' and rationed, enabling the essential reserved occupations of ambulance drivers, doctors, fire service personnel, police and farmers etc, to receive a larger allocation of coupons than the general public. When rationing ended during the 1950s there was greater mobility, and petrol sales increased. However, it wasn't until the 1960s that stations were persuaded by petrol companies to sell just one brand, rather than four or five different ones, and Colyford became the sole supplier of Shell.
 

Sid's Motor Works (seen above and below) is a display representing the shop, stores and office of a 1930s garage, full of original tins and boxes with the company names and logos on them.

My photos were a bit hit and miss on this quick visit, so I do apologise for a few out of focus ones.

The present owner, Robin Barnard, bought the site in January 1982 and continued trading as a petrol station until September 2001. At that time it became obvious that cheap petrol from supermarket chains was outpricing the small, individual stations, and it was then that Mr Barnard decided to realise his dream of a museum. An extension was built on the side of the station, which was then used to house the massive 40 year old collection of cars, posters, globes, pumps and other memorabillia. 

Although I'd known about the museum for many years, it was one of those places that I meant to visit but didn't get around to until I read an article in the local newspaper that it was about to close. I only had half an hour to whizz around with my camera at the time, and fully intended to return before it closed for good. Unfortunately there was only a week to go and I wasn't able to make it after all. However, I'm very glad I did get to see it, albeit briefly, as it was such an amazing collection and so beautifully displayed.

The petrol pumps outside remained when the rest of the collection was sold. A delightful little fact is that the Levi's advert 'Funeral' was partially filmed outside the station. Don't know why they bothered though, as they made it look completely different. Maybe it was just used for inspiration rather than actually changed. Great ad mind, and fab music.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CD33wOo-TgA

And finally, one of the windows with its delightful panes of green and yellow glass at the top. Oil cans hanging up behind one of these windows was one of the interior photos that I missed...one of those enduring images that I remember from my visit.

Army Cadet Force Drill Hall, Sidmouth, Devon

I came across this whilst having a meander around Sidmouth in August 2009. I could see that it was empty and boarded up, so I had a look around the back and side of the building, which revealed some rather interesting architectural differences to the front, above. 

  
The last inhabitants were the Devon Army Cadet Force. However, it was built in 1895 as a Territorial Drill Hall, comprising a drill hall on the ground floor, an ante-room and an armoury. In the 1914 edition of the Kelly directory, mention was made of a clock above the entrance. It isn't clear from the description whether it was situated inside or out. There was no sign of it on the exterior, but it may have been taken down at some point.

Drill Halls were part of military reserve unit headquarters, many of which were built through public subscriptions in order to support the local Volunteer Force raised in the late 1850s. These were later renamed Territorial Army Centres and later Army Reserve Centres. This also included the Army Cadet Force.

The rear facade, above, looks quite similar to an old Devon mill. A boat and some crab/lobster pots and other fishing gear was there too, but there is a Fishermen's shed and Shop at the rear so they probably belonged to the business.

And another connection with the sea, below - a pair of oars can just about be seen in the window.

A metal staircase leads to a bricked-up rear door, but next to that was room enough to walk along and around the lower side of the building. Interestingly, it has the look of a Palmerston Fort about it; Victorian coastal defences built from 1860 onwards and named after the then Prime Minister, Lord Palmerston, who promoted the idea. 

While checking up on more recent information I discovered that East Devon County Council have put the Drill Hall on the market to be redeveloped as a bar or restaurant, this being part of the regeneration of the Port Royal area of the Salcombe end of the esplanade.The council called it an unattractive building.

However, I personally think that the architecture has a lot going for it and would adapt beautifully to the proposal of a pub or restaurant - there may even be room for a small garden with seating - and that it's definitely worth preserving for its history too.

Greengates, Charmouth, Dorset

I was walking around Charmouth one day in September 2009 when I came across this house. Although it looked a bit derelict, there was a 'for sale' sign in the front, and the only thing I discovered was its sale on various estate agent sites. I did find mention of an area called Greengates on maps of Charmouth's historic areas, but there was nothing about the house specifically.

I rather liked the building - one side of a semi-detached house - both for its architecture and for the feeling of neglect, so I had a meander up the drive and took these few photos of it whilst I was there.  

On one estate agent website, there was mention that it had been built in the early part of the 19th century, but I did wonder if maybe someone had noted the year on the joke plaque and had taken it literally!

On the other hand, it may have been built during the Edwardian period at the beginning of the 20th century, and influenced by the Arts & Crafts movement.  Notably the front veranda with balcony above, plus the wide door entrance, with another balcony above that. The windows are of the Edwardian style, and it looks as though new frames were fitted some time later. The original, small windows may have contained leaded stained glass. But please don't quote me on the dating, as I'm by no means any expert, and may have got it wrong.

I had occasion to walk past Greengates almost two years later. It had been sold by then and delightfully redecorated in similar colours to the original ones. 

Just a short article with only a little information but it was one of those buildings that caught my eye. :)


 

Axmouth Harbour, Axmouth, Seaton, Devon

Like the beach, the harbour is one of those places that continually changes, not just by the seasons, but also from day to day according to the tides and the weather. I've been taking photos of it for 41 years - and I still don't feel that I've captured it properly!  So, for cohesion and historic interest, I've mainly used some of my black & whites along with the more subtle colour ones.

Originally a thriving port for ships and industry, the gravel spit now only allows a precarious exit to the sea for yachts and fishing boats. There's a huge amount of history attached to the harbour. An important harbour in prehistoric times, it was the gateway into a very significant buffer land protected by Iron Age hill forts between the surrounding Durotriges and Dumnonian tribes, and was the coastal start of trading routes leading up to the Stonehenge and Avebury complex. In fact, finds of animal bones during excavations there indicate that cattle used during celebrations originally came from East Devon, as well as elsewhere in Britain.   

Visiting peoples from other lands included the Phoenicians, who sailed into the River Axe, and it was also a possible port for the Romans, or more likely a mooring slightly higher up the river opposite the now village of Axmouth where there have been found Roman remains, and who established a settlement in Seaton and quarried limestone from what is now the nearby village of Beer.  

The Danes also landed here in 937, happily defeated by King Athelston in a huge battle at Axminster. In Mediaeval times the monks of Newenham and Sherborne continued to use and cultivate growth of the harbour...and who, interestingly, held lands for orchards and gardens in Beer; the name Beer being an Anglo Saxon word for 'grove'.

 

During these earlier times the estuary was much wider and deeper than it is now, allowing for ships to sail at least as far as a mooring at Colyton. In fact, a ship's anchor and other ship remains have been found as far as Axminster, some 7 miles inland. Trading and shipbuilding were still very much alive throughout the Middle Ages, until the estuary was partially blocked due to a landslip at Haven Cliff during the 14th century. From that time, silt carried down river was blocked, forming a salt marsh behind the shingle bank. Several attempts were made to cut through the bank, but the tides continued to bring back the shingle, making it impossible to restore the deep water necessary for ships to navigate into the harbour.

Up until 1877 a ferry operated across the river, at which time it was replaced by a toll bridge and is the oldest surviving mass concrete bridge in the country. This did two things. It facilitated access between Axmouth and Seaton more readily, especially with the upcoming use of the motorised vehicle, but also stymied any further attempts to enable access for shipping.

  

 
Now only used for pedestrians, a new bridge was built alongside it for traffic, below.

Today, the harbour is dependant upon the tides, therefore boats can only enter or leave at high tide. Used mainly for recreational boats, the harbour contains the Axe Yacht Club house on the western bank plus floating jetties and slipways. The club was founded in 1936 and was called the Seaton Sailing and Motor Boat Club. This was suspended during the second world war, but was recommenced in 1947 under the new name. Not only did the 'Axe' relate to the river, but the logo of a Saxon battle axe is used to recall to mind the Saxon inhabitants of the Axe Valley; the town of Seaton originally called by the Anglo-Saxon name Fleote by its earlier people. 

Fishing boats also sail from the harbour, many of which can be seen along the old north wall. The harbour was rebuilt in 1809, and as well as the north wall it comprised a long pier, customs house and warehouses at the mouth of the river. The nearest building in the photo below once belonged to the ferryman, and the one beyond is the only remaining warehouse. Today there are more buildings, and the ferryman's house is now a fishing tackle and bait shop with the lean-to building used as a cafe with outdoor tables...a very pleasant place for a grilled sandwich, a mug of tea or coffee and to while away the time doing nothing. ;)
 

The photo below always amuses me, as at first glance I always think of a seagull riding a bicycle. It is, of course, a fishing boat with a seagull perched on it!
 

And finally, a photo I took whilst sat at the outdoor cafe. Bliss! :)