Tracey's Field, Seaton, Devon

I came across this unexpectedly when walking along the nearby lane in the late summer of 2013. I hadn't been along this way for a good 20 yrs or more and didn't realise that this field has a name and is now a nature recreational area, so I went in for a look and took a few photos. I liked it so much that I went again a week later with a picnic lunch and took more photos. 

I'd been trying to find out the circumstances which led to the saving of Tracey's Field and subsequent use as a public space. I vaguely remembered a newspaper article of around 1995, which said that the field was saved from the threat of development; a new housing estate had been built and the field was the only open space left in that area. Then a friend told me that Tracey was the name of the lady that owned it; having bequeathed that it should be left as a wildlife haven for the people of Seaton to enjoy, and stipulating that it can never be built upon. 

 

The field is divided into sections by the use of hedges. One of these contains a small copse of ash trees, near to the entrance where I went in, and a green tunnel making a wonderfully liminal place between the copse and the next part of the field.

 

 

Looking back towards the tunnel, above, and forward towards the top of this field, below. 

These other sections are given over to hedge-bordered meadows with paths created by mowing between areas of meadow grass and wild flowers. Seating is provided here and there, ranging from wooden garden seats, as seen in the first few photos, to simple rustic benches, below.

 

 

Because it's on the outskirts of town, and isn't a particularly built-up area to the north anyway, seeing the odd few houses doesn't diminish the peacefulness of Tracey's Field. And even though there is a main road going into Seaton by the top end of the field any noise from traffic is mitigated by the trees and hedges.

My photos really don't do it justice. I scanned these when I still used a CRT monitor so I rather 'overcooked' some of them during editing. Also, I think it's one of those places that don't look like much until you're actually there to feel the lovely atmosphere of it. It's a little bit magic and now that I've reminded myself of its existence I don't have any excuse not to visit again.

Above and below, one of several entrances between the hedges, making several different areas within the field.

 

And some of the hedges full of wild flowers. My friend from Worcestershire once stayed with us on holiday when both our children were little. She'd brought a book of wild flowers with her and was most disappointed that there didn't seem to be many in Devon during the latter part of Summer. This is because our seasons come earlier here on the peninsular and the best time to see them flowering is in Spring and early Summer. Again, this was late and so there wasn't quite as much to see, apart from the foliage and a few blooms.

The purple flowers seen here are of the Great Hairy Willowherb. There are some yellow flowers beyond them (below) but I can't tell from the photo what they are, although I think they might be Ragwort as they are the right height and size for them. Amongst the foliage are Nettles, Docks, Hogweed, Dog Roses and the winding tendrils of Major Convolvulous (also known as Bindweed).

And lastly, is the delightfully bosky Homer Lane. Now closed to vehicles, it's incredible to think that this was once a busy road. Mind, this being Devon, there are loads of tiny twisty lanes between high hedgerows known as Devon Banks, where drivers often have to back towards a suitable width to allow oncoming traffic through. With its central white line still in place, this pretty lane has been allowed to grow over even more now that it's pedestrian only.

The part of Homer Lane which runs parallel to the field is bisected by a road called Tracey's Way, which is a lovely way to honour the bequest from a very thoughtful and generous lady.

Law Chambers, Colyton, Devon

This was seen during a town tour that I attended in 2010. I haven't been able to discover the reason why it was called the Law Chambers since then, but the building is part of a Grade II listed range of former houses situated in Market Place. Built in the 16th century and remodelled during the early 19th century, some of those buildings were converted to shops with their Victorian shopfronts. Inside, however, there are still several Tudor remains. 

The door with Law Chambers on the transom window was situated between a shop and what was then a separate residence, the passage containing early 17th century panelling. The whole building was originally built and occupied by a wealthy merchant and his family; possibly a wool merchant. Since my visit, however, the two have been renovated and restored to its original one house. Now inhabited by the Colyton Heritage Centre & Tearooms, I see on their website that the name on the door has been changed to The Merchant's House. I still haven't been able to ascertain why the name Law Chambers was used beforehand, though, as there is no mention of it anywhere.

Inside the front room of the residence is a lovely moulded plaster ceiling, circa 1600, in a geometrical pattern with fleur-de-lis. Above the fireplace is a mantle frieze painting, also circa 1600, containing four female figures representing Experience, Good Reputation, Bad Reputation and Truth.

We were kindly invited by the owners of the house to take a look inside with permission to take photos. Never one to miss an opportunity I took these hurriedly, and unfortunately the last one wasn't as sharp as it could've been.

There's a lot more history & architectural info about the shop next door. I'd intended to visit again to take more photos but unfortunately never got around to it. I've been dithering whether to visit the new Heritage Centre before it closes for the winter next week - which I will do at some point anyway, even if it isn't until next year - but I really don't want to add anything new to this article that wasn't there when I visited in 2010. Something that I find a bit irritating is when articles are updated online in such a way that how places used to be has been obliterated. One of my late website & blog aims has always been to show how things were by looking at what remains today...which is why I decided just to keep this simple and with the specific title as I had it on my website; hence The Law Chambers. And here endeth the lesson, lol! ;)

Anyway, when I do manage to visit I'll add a new article about the Heritage Centre plus more of the architectural history as a continuation of this post. 

Cheers, Eileen :)

Arts & Crafts Terrace, Seaton, Devon

 

Situated by the harbour on Trevelyan Road, this lovely terrace of Edwardian Arts & Crafts houses was built in 1906. Like many towns in Britain there was extensive building at the beginning of the new 20th century, and several building projects took place in Seaton during the first few years. Much of it was promoted by the then Lord of the Manor, Sir Walter John Trevelyan - hence the name of the road - as borne out by his initials on Manor Cottages, another terraced housing project built in the town. 

 

Also, like many local buildings of this time, including Manor Cottages and the Town Hall, they have flint facing along with Romanesque style quoins and edgings to doors comprising alternating long and short stones in limestone...possibly from Beer Quarry above the nearby village of Beer. 

A most unusual thing, that I haven't seen before, are the double roof ridges between the individual houses. It made me wonder about the collection of rain water as there doesn't appear to be any drainpipes running from that central dip.

As I live in Seaton, and have walked along this road many times, it didn't occur to me to take photos of these houses until reading in the Seaton Design Statement that their garden walls are topped with pebbles and are reminiscent of Devon Banks (more info below the next photo). As I was working on a project concerning pebbles used in building I promptly trotted down here to investigate and take some photos.  

Devon Banks or Hedge Banks are a method of hedging specific to the South-West, in which banks of earth are strengthened or faced with stone and hedgerow plants and trees are planted on top. In a nutshell! If you'd like to read more there's a good downloadable pdf produced by Natural England here.

I'm not totally convinced they look like - or were meant to look like - Devon Banks, but they are a rather lovely decoration distinctive to the area.

A Watch House belonging to the coastguard was situated where the garden of the end house now is, near to the sea. After the watch moved across the River Axe the building became a tea room, but was eventually demolished in 1904 to make room for the new Trevelyan Road and terrace.

After my first photo shoot I eventually returned to take more photos of the terrace in order to add it to my now defunct website. I never got as far as writing it though, so this article is a brand new one for the blog...and as you can see, there's a marked difference in the photos: a totally different kind of day! 

Below, an ancient anchor brought up from the sea set in a tiny park between the end house and the sea wall. 

And looking at the rear of the houses where they back onto Axmouth Harbour, below.

A little more utilitarian at the rear but they still make a lovely sillouette in the landscape from the other side of the harbour.

And a few more photos from the front again.

And there we have it! Mind, before I put those last few photos on I had a thought of something else I could say, but once the photos went up I completely forgot what it was. Doh! So I'll add that if it comes to mind and it's interesting enough. ;)