May Terrace & Blackmore House, Sidmouth, Devon

Wandering around Sidmouth whilst waiting for films to be processed a few years ago, I chanced upon these delightful buildings. I haven't been able to ascertain any particular history attached to them, other than that they were built in 1904. Edwardian brick-built buildings with lovely Dutch gables - and the odd modern dormer - with wrought iron balcony railings at the front. However, I rather like Dutch gables, so it wasn't one to be missed!

At the end of the terrace is another building, called Blackmore House. I love the quirky look of it when viewed from the south side. Interestingly, the buildings back onto Blackmore Gardens, the only part left of a large house and grounds. This little house may have replaced a lodge to the main big house...although it may have just been called Blackmore House because of its proximity to the gardens and have nothing to do with the house at all, being built much later.
 

However, it wasn't until walking around to the rear that I saw how quirky May Terrace is too, with the end of the building finishing in an unusually sharp point.

Below, the rear of the pointy building. It's so thin that it looks just like a rear wall but there are windows on the front elevation. I'd be really interested to see how it looks inside and what possible use it has room-wise.

 More photos from the rear, below. Some lovely slate hung tiles on the left portion.

Although the front elevation is joined, the buildings are separated with courtyards in between. 

And finally, two more views of the lovely Dutch gabled frontage. Interestingly, there are several Dutch gabled buildings in Topsham, at the furthest reach of East Devon. During Mediaeval times there was much trading between Exeter (Topsham being the ancient port of the city) and the Netherlands. Bricks were used as ballast in the Dutch ships, which were then off loaded in Exeter and used for buildings.

Not only did the Dutch influence some of the buildings, but some retiring captains from Holland settled in Topsham and built Dutch style houses for themselves. Although, a Dutch acquaintance of mine did tell me that they aren't really authentically Dutch, therefore they're probably a hybrid between Mediaeval Holland and England.