Beach Court, Beer, Devon

 

I only have a small amount of information but I do have a lot of photographs of this lovely building. Because of that I decided to give it its own article and will link it to the Fore Street Buildings once I've written that up.

Built in 1903, it was originally called Beach House Hotel and has since been converted into flats. The only other information I found about it is from the Beer Design Statement, which said that it's noted for its spiky gables. I thought we might be able to do better than that so I looked in Pevsner and found the following description: 'Beach House,1903, brasher, with spiky corner gable'. 

So much for that! ;)

I looked that up and although it appears to be an actual architectural term - similar to spiky roofs - I can't find the exact meaning for it. However, in context it does seem to describe gables that are tall, slender and therefore spiky.

On the road side there are two large windows on the ground floor. It looks rather like a shop window, but I don't know if it ever was.

Both those windows, the doors and other windows to the left of the corner door have lovely Tudor style mouldings above them. These correspond with the material of the quoins and window surrounds of Beer Stone from the quarry above the village. There are also diamond paned windows throughout.

The door next to the large windows belongs to Beach Cottage, seen below in its lovely deep porch, which is now a separate residence or holiday let.

 

The style fits in nicely with the other Arts & Crafts architecture along the street, many of which were built in the late Victorian and early Edwardian years. Some were designed by the architect David Carr, who lived in Beer and worked for the Clinton Devon Estates who own the Beer and Clinton Estates in East Devon. I can't corroborate this, but because everything does fit together well I did wonder if he designed much more than was attributed to him. Or at least his design styles influenced other architects.

As seen in the above photo, the next building adjoins onto Beach Cottage. The style is of a similar vein, and both are built in flint rubble as are several buildings in Fore Street. I don't think this was part of the hotel but it does show how many of the new buildings at that time were consistent with each other.

To the left of the central corner door there is a little side street by a small car park. I did read a few weeks ago that the delightful tree is going to be chopped down in order to make more room for cars, and that despite opposition a town councillor decided that cars are more important than the environment! I think you might know how I feel about that...

...and why not have the car park for disabled drivers and leave everyone else to have a nice stroll down the street. That way they can enjoy the ambience and also be passing trade for the shops and cafes. Win win, especially for the tree! :)

 

Some differences in the door and downstairs window directly on the left of the corner entrance, above. Then back to the same Tudor style for the others, seen below on the left, which adds to the interest.

And that's about it for this one. I will be going back soonish for a few more buildings on Fore Street, as well as other places in Beer, when I should be able to finish the street article.

I must admit I rushed this one but if I did miss anything out - or discover more information - I'll add it later...as well as correcting any mistakes or iffy grammar!

Next up might be Sidbury church, which was in my late website, and which I'll be extending and rewriting for the blog. I'm trying to do better this year! ;)

 

 

Seaton Wetlands, Seaton/Colyford, Devon

 

Wanting to do something for my birthday in January, although not fancying a bus ride or going anywhere with lots of people about, I felt the need to get out and about in nature. I'd only been to this area of the wetlands once before many years ago, so decided to make it a mission. Fortunately, the weather was really gorgeous; a bright sunny day with frost on the ground, so I set out on the long walk there.

It seemed quite different to my first visit and was a much longer walk to see anything, only later finding out that some of the lakes had been fenced off with hedging to protect the wildlife. In fact, there were quite a lot of differences, and I didn't realise until doing some research that all the nature reserves along this stretch of the River Axe come under the name of Seaton Wetlands, including Seaton Marsh, which I've already written about here.

 

There are four nature reserves, comprising Seaton Marsh, Black Hole Marsh, Stafford Marsh and Colyford Common. I'd walked as far as Stafford Marsh, seen in most of the photos above and below, comprising the discovery hut, reed base hut, a beautiful pond and star-gazing circle, seen below.

I didn't know at the time but the path on the left leads to a wildlife garden and pond dipping shelter. Thinking it was just another entry onto the reserve I didn't walk any further along it.

It wasn't until I'd got this far that I took my camera out and started taking photos. It was so cold that the pond was frozen over and I wasn't very keen to take my gloves off, but it looked so enticing that I relented and started clicking away. :)

The wooden hoarding with holes in is a 'Sandpiper Cliff', built onto the front of a bank especially for the birds to nest. Being waders, sandpipers forage for their food on mudflats and in wetlands, so this is excellent territory for them.

The pond is surrounded by reed beds, which include rushes, sedges and Lesser Reedmace.

 

And on the other side is a bridge and walkway to a stop for the tram, which travels alongside the River Axe from Seaton to Colyton with this stop and another one at Colyford village on the way. I didn't go along to investigate further at this time but I'm definitely going to make a point of returning a bit later on in the year to see the places I'd missed...when it's not so cold! ;)

A fence hide on the left of the bridge, below, with rectangular holes for humans to look through without disturbing the wildlife. There were quite a few people walking around, so it wasn't too isolated but not crowded either. A few were in hides or sitting on a hide tower, with steps up to wooden platforms to look over the lakes.

And on the walk back I spotted this lovely oak tree, below, with it's winter branches looking all wonderfully zig-zaggy. Not a good photo as it was out of focus but I wanted to include it anyway...just because! ;)

Then another fence hide on the way...

...which looks out onto the intertidal lake at Black Hole Marsh.

Walking past the Lookout hut, I took a few photos of it just for the record.

In the one below were two magpies sitting on the top of the tallest tree. I realised that I probably wouldn't be able to pick them out with a wide-angle lens but I took it anyway in case. It was just then that I met and had a conversation with a nice bloke about magpies. It was really good to share my love of them with someone. :)

 

Although not a birder per se, I do love birds, along with all of British nature and wildlife. Especially magpies, which I once made a study of some 25 years ago or so. Fascinating and most beautiful birds that really don't deserve the bad reputation they have in British folklore.

Then back along the lane towards the exit and my favourite photos of the day. This lane leading off is for the Tower Hide, if I remember correctly. I'd already passed a small hide platform near the last fence hide, overlooking the salt lake, but didn't take a photo of it as there was someone on there. Another one to investigate on a further visit.

On the way out I realised that there was a path off road to go along, which links up with Seaton Marsh. I'd heard about the proposals for a bicycle and pedestrian path, which had obviously happened when I wasn't looking, and was a much quicker way than the road. 

Finally, a photo of the entrance to the car park through the cemetery. There is another enrance leading from the pedestrian path, but I wasn't aware of that at the time.

That was such a lovely walk, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Back home for a huge mug of coffee and cake, and to enjoy the rest of my birthday. I thought the Discovery Hut would be open so that I could have a coffee there but I must have misread it when I checked the opening times online. So, for anyone interested in visiting, the hut is open on Saturday, Sunday and Monday for refreshments and there are toilets open all the time, which is useful info, lol. 

I still have just a few articles left-over from my erstwhile website, which I'll be completing in the next few weeks. There's also some new ones to do too. I'm not sure which will be next, as I have several on the back burner, and I'm also hoping to get over to Beer soon to finish some photos for the Fore Street article and some other stand-alone buildings. Lots to do!

Cheers. :)

 

Jurassic Adventure Golf Course, Seafield Gardens, Seaton, Devon

 

This is something I've often seen from a distance when walking past the gardens and I decided to take a proper look at it and take some photos. It was the day after visiting Beer Village in April last year and I wanted to finish off the films to get them in the post to the printers; a perfect time to look at something a bit different.

Opened on April 7th 2017, the idea came about from the Seaton Town Council after consultations from residents and various organisations. It was implemented by East Devon Council and Streetscene, creating this fabulous mini golf course with a Jurassic theme.

Bones grace the 'prehistoric signpost' below.

The golf course takes its name from the UNESCO World Heritage Site; the Jurassic Coast, which runs from Orcombe Point in Exmouth, East Devon, to Old Harry Rocks in Dorset, displaying a progressive geological sequence of 185 million years, including the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods along its stretch. Seaton is roughly at the transition between Triassic and Jurassic rock formations.

It was on this coastline that the icthyosaur fossil was discovered in Lyme Regis by Mary Anning. Appropriately enough, really large dinosaur bones grace the golf course. :)

Beautifully landscaped with some fabulous decorations, including hatching dinosaur eggs! And another one below.

A stone age man squats on the path, making a space for the golfball to run between his legs. Of course, we know that humans didn't exist at the same time as dinosaurs - unless the Jurassic Park films come true! - but it's a rather nice touch anyway.

The landscaping also provides boxes for bees and other insects with specific planting to help feed them. Plenty of palm trees are included too. Although not originally native here we have had palms and other exotic plants in the south-west for some centuries now, due to those intrepid travellers who brought back seeds and specimens; the temperate climate ideal for them to thrive.

 

As it was early spring when I took the photos there were only a few plants in flower. Something I'll have to check out in the summer. It was absolutely freezing on that day too, with a very cold, cutting east wind. It was still an enjoyable wander around though.

A rather imperious looking vulture sits on top of the gateway at the start of the course, and looking through from the other side, below.

And to finish off with, two more photos taken from the path running along the edge of Seafield Gardens, showing the golf course in the distance, and with the information board in the second one.

 

Just a short article this time - an especial respite after my last one, which took forever to do - but I thought this was rather interesting and fun. I'd planned on creating one for Seafield Gardens anyway, in which I'll include a shortened version of this along with the other aspects when I do. 

I still haven't scanned my photos from my birthday visit to Seaton Wetlands in January yet, but that's something I'm looking forward to doing once I've got enough time. So hopefully that'll be my next article, although I am working on some others too. 

I'm hedging my bets! 

Cheers. :)