Seaways, Seaton, Devon - Part One

 

At the end of the previous article I said that I'd have a look to see if I have any more Urbex (Urban Explores of derelict and abandoned buildings) articles to include. I don't, unfortunately, but I do have this odd one that I came across whilst on a walk a few years ago. On investigation it turned out to be just an empty house; probably inbetween being sold and the new owners moving in. However, it did give me the opportunity to have a good look at it. :)

I wasn't able to discover anything about it, not even on estate agents websites, so I'll just have to do my usual ramble about the architecture and what I found. It did turn out to be really nice though, and if I had the money and wanted to buy a house this would definitely be in the running.

Shrouded by lovely tall trees, the path from the gate led into a delightful 'secret garden'.

The house itself turned out to be quite unusual with two extended gable sections at each corner of the south-facing front, rather than at each end. It's possibly an Arts and Crafts design from the 1930s, as opposed to the earlier movement in the 1890s.

The frontage is in keeping with that date, with its deep, low porch and wide door with windows to each side. It looks fabulous with the shrubs and creepers surrounding the porch and the spring flowers in the garden.

And that's all I can say about it. I haven't been back to have another look, even though it's not too far from my home. It's on a ridge of hills which used to be covered in trees, the ones of this house having been cleared away a short while after my visit...and gradually more trees along the ridge have been chopped down. It's heart-breaking to see, especially when we need trees and gardens more than ever for the amount of wildlife they support and the disappearance of many of our woods and forests. If I went back and saw an effing gravel garden I'd be extremely angry, lol.

Anyway, here are two more photos of the little garden lawn containing old garden furniture.

EDIT: I had another concerted search for further information today - the first day of the year 2023 - and came across a photo pretty similar to this one of mine, below.

It was taken from an article dated 18/2/22 in a local newspaper about a proposal for houses to be built on a site next door to Townsend Medical Centre - the building already on the site being dilapidated and earmarked for demolition. I remember seeing the article at the time but it didn't click that it's the same property as Seaways. I'd thought that Seaways was a lot further up, which it actually is because a google aerial view included in the article showed a much larger tract of land uncovered by the felling of the trees. 

I've included a google view below, where the shape of the house can be seen in the top left hand corner of the bare piece of land on the left. The building on the right of that is the medical centre.

So, no gravel garden then, lol. It's unfortunate that the news is much worse. I don't have time today but I will have a walk up there as soon as the weather's not so wet and possibly take more photos, which I'll add to this article. The house is still there as I can see it from my kitchen window. It'll be sad to see it go.

Happy new year everyone. :)

Another EDIT: I did go and have a look, on the 2nd of January, and there was a lot more to see now that the trees have gone. No access onto the site, due to Herras fencing, but I did take a fair few photos from the periphery. As a film photographer I'll need to finish the current film and get it processed before I can scan and add them. However, I might do a Part Two as there's more info to add too. Yay! ;)

 

 

The Town Mill, Colyton, Devon

I came across this totally by accident when I went over to Colyton to take photos of the church in February 2009.The town of Colyton itself developed from an ancient village around 700AD, and eventually became known as 'the most rebellious town in Devon'  after the townsfolk joined the Monmouth Rebellion in 1685. Just wandering around the town gives a real sense of its history, with an original Saxon layout and many buildings of Mediaeval and Tudor origin. Even the humble fish and chip shop has gorgeous carved stone hood moulds with flowers for corbels and old wall lamps flanking the door!

I wasn't able to discover much about this mill but sources state that there was a corn mill and a sawmill in the town. On my former website article I'd guessed that this was the corn mill, as it's not far from the original bakery, and the other Mill has all the wheels and winches to drive the machinery more applicable to sawing. I've since recently seen reference to it being a grain mill, so that sounds right. 

Left empty for around 12 yrs at that time, I enjoyed taking photos of the somewhat derelict mill, although only of the exterior as I couldn't get into the site. I did manage to take some photos of the yard through the sides of the gate though.

I really like the front of the building with its flint rubble side containing the offices next to the white rendered building. The flint rubble section is the oldest part of the mill.

Some lovely details include the pattern-carved door with its brass plate bearing the inscription Town Mill. There are plans to save and use this unique door but that's as far as I know at the moment.

And another door leading into the courtyard...not quite so welcoming as the office one! ;)

A fabulous section, below, where the building joins with the wall surrounding the yard, showing the end of a beam with the brick and flint rubble.

Interestingly, I found some more information in 2021 and saw that the site was bought by Axminster Property, almost 30 years since it was left empty. It's now being developed into a small business area. There are 11 commercial units and the main building is currently being converted into smaller units for offices. Some businesses are now operating with more planning to move into the remaining spaces. A great idea and one which will help the town, business and work prospects to flourish in these uncertain times.

There doesn't appear to be any updates since the last information was available, so I don't know what's happened since then.

And to finish off with, here are some photos of the mill leat; the first one is looking back and the following three leading up to the Town Mill, where the waterwheel was once situated.

And there we go! I used a different film than usual for these as a friend had given me a batch of old Kodak stock that he no longer used. Kodak films tend to have a magenta cast anyway but this was also exaggerated by being a bit out of date, making them appear quite pastelly blue and pink. I rather like the subtle effect though, so it wasn't a problem, and money was tight at the time so I was grateful for it, lol.

I was looking to see if I had any more Urbex explores of derelict and abandoned buildings when I remembered this one. I think that's the last one but I'll go through my photos and documents when I've got a minute just to check. Plenty more of the historical places, interesting buildings and natural landscapes, but I've rewritten and posted up the bulk of those that were on my website now. I've started getting out and about again too so they'll be some more new stuff to publish. Cheers m'dears. :) 

 

 

Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year

 

Hello everyone! I won't be posting any more articles until after Christmas now, so I'll wish you seasonal greetings and also a very happy new year...just in case I don't have time to do anything before next year.

Have a nice one and lots of cake. Cheers, Eileen. 🎄

Sidmouth Garden Centre, Sidmouth, Devon

 

I absolutely love this place! I first visited with a friend one late December afternoon in 2013, just before going off to see the Norman Lockyer Observatory. 

 

We only saw the indoor section, and not even all of that, so I didn't get my camera out. I did buy some beautiful heavenly-scented white hyacinths and a garden trug, but it wasn't until my next visit over a year later, in 2015, that I discovered the greenhouse and outside gardens. Which was when I started taking some photos. 

I say 'some' photos, but I ended up taking a lot over several visits. That's because the first film I took went awol after being processed. I eagerly looked at my prints upon collection, only to discover that they were someone else's photos, so having returned them I had to wait for five weeks before mine were tracked down. Meanwhile, I took more of the same views...just in case! There was always more to see each time, too.

The owners at that time took over the garden centre in 2001. Since then they added the main shop, replaced the old greenhouse and tarmac'd the car park. I don't know what it was like before then but it may have been quite a basic garden area, as I have passed by many times on the bus to Exeter but only noticed it after the changes. 

Comprising indoor sections for sales of garden tools, seed packets & indoor plants, other knick knacks, plus restaurant, there is a long greenhouse containing a huge variety of plants for both greenhouse and outdoor planting.

There's also the odd small greenhouse on display outside...

...as well as some arbour seats.

 

The displays are lovely and many of the paths lead to fab views across the East Devon countryside.

Lots of pots!

It's deceptively like Dr Who's Tardis here. Just when you think you've seen everything there are more winding paths opening up to whole hidden sections. It was only after several visits that I found the entrance to an arboretum area at the end of the slalom course between piles of pots.

Part of the arboretum can be overlooked from a terrace outside the restaurant (above). Despite having a snack and a cuppa on most visits, we didn't realise the terrace was accessible until a much later one, otherwise we might have seen that there's more to explore.

The terrace seen from below and there are even metal giraffes amongst the trees. Not native to Devon, of course! ;)

And we don't have bears now, although we've been considering reintroducing animals that were once native to Britain - but which have since died out - and there is a thriving community of beavers back in Devon and some European buffalo elsewhere in England. There are also wolves in Scotland, although they are fenced into a specific large area and not allowed to roam anywhere else. Lynx are also being considered too, so you never know!

More photos of the arboretum area below.

A lovely old olive tree in the gardens, below, followed by some younger ones in pots in the arboretum and another old one in a central round plot in the car park.

And a photo from the car park, showing how the low roofed building is hugging the landscape with its unassuming entrance to the 'Tardis' in its beautiful location.

Since my first visits the garden centre has changed hands twice since. I haven't been back since the last people took over - King's Garden Centres - which I would like to at some point, and it would be interesting to see what, if any, changes have been made. It's a bit difficult to get to without transport, though, and I no longer see my friend. I've kept the title of just Sidmouth Garden Centre as that's what it was during most of my photo shoots.

And to finish off with, there's a metal sculpture of four leaping deer on the edge of the car park, followed by a few more garden ones.

And the odd fence photo!

There's another garden centre, which I've taken a lot of photos of. It's huge and has an interesting history, so I'll be adding that at some point. It's a difficult one though, which I've tried to tackle several times and I just can't seem to get it right. I'll be starting from scratch next time and that will hopefully be easier to compose. One for the new year perhaps. :)