Iron Bridge, Exeter, Devon

Although I'd been across the bridge previously, it wasn't until I took photos of the Lower Cemetery below the catacombs that I actually saw it, not having walked that way before. I was so excited about that as it's such a lovely bridge with some interesting history.

In 1834, a new bridge was ordered by the newly appointed City Commissioners to span across the steep-sided Longbrook Valley. The original approach, Lower North Street, was too narrow and had become increasingly difficult for the horse drawn carts carrying lime from lime kilns in the St Leonards area.

The bridge was cast between 1834-35, by Russell and Brown of Blaina in Monmouthshire, and has six 40ft arches with a total span of 800ft. The parts were brought to the city by sea and up through the Exeter Ship Canal, where they were unloaded at the Canal Basin.

The newly erected bridge made it much easier for coach and horses and the last coaching inn to be built, the Crown and Scepter, was duly opened, its doors wide enough to accommodate the six-horse coaches from Barnstaple.

That was such a delightful end to a lovely day exploring RAF Poltimore with some friends up from Plymouth. Then, after they dropped me off in the city, enjoying my leisurely walk around the Catacombs & Lower Cemetery and finding this fabulous bridge. Visited in May 2009; one of those magical days! ;) 

 

South Lodge, Sidmouth, Devon

South Lodge was the original gatehouse to Balfour Manor and is situated at the entrance to the drive. Built sometime in the late 19th century, possibly around the same time as the Victorian manor house built in 1876, it has been extended over the years but still retains the lovely mellow red-brick style of the late Victorian period.

Oddly enough, this does not appear amongst the Listed Buildings. However, I've found that many Sidmouth buildings aren't listed, including Balfour Manor itself, which is a totally gorgeous late Victorian Revival building in the Jacobean style. I didn't know about it at the time I saw South Lodge, which is a shame as I'm not sure I'll be able to get there again, but I might give it a try once I'm getting out and about further afield.

Also a Revival building, although not as flamboyant as some, South Lodge has a quiet charm as it nestles in the corner between the drive from the lane and the main road. Mostly hidden from view behind a large gate, the manor wall and hedging, most of the ground floor architectural details cannot be seen. However, we can still see the asymmetrical, steep pitched roofs with forward facing gables. There's a tantalising glimpse of a porch, an oriel window with a lovely curved support, and delightful Tudor style chimney stacks.

Oh, and those walls. What an absolute delight they are. Tall gateposts in colour-banded brick and stone topped with ball finials, the wall top pitched like a roof with brackets and ridge tiles, squares of brick interspersed with squares full of popples (an old Devon name for pebbles) and weathered to the softest, orange-red brick.

The gate must be a later addition, or replacement for an original one, as it's just a rather sad concoction of metal and wire netting now.

And finally, a view of the lodge from across the lane, a lovely acer tree and an original lamppost which was moved and re-erected here. 

Just a short article but one of a few I thought I'd already included, having discovered my mistake whilst concocting the Contents page. More coming up! :)

Quick Announcements

 

Two things: 

Firstly, I've finally finished the Contents page, which you might have noticed on the top nav bar. Whilst doing that I found a few articles that I could've sworn I'd already included in the blog, but hadn't, so those will be coming up shortly.

Secondly, and most importantly, Google has discontinued the email notifications for new posts. I meant to make an announcement before now, and I apologise for being so late...which means you probably won't receive this announcement now. If anyone knows of any other method of notifying people I'd be very grateful for your input.

Meanwhile, a taster of some articles coming up with these photos. Cheers, Eileen :)

 

 

RiO, Ottery St Mary, Devon

RiO (standing for Recycling in Ottery) is a rather fabulous and quirky place where people can donate their unwanted stuff and/or buy more stuff - the proceeds for charity - and which the staff have made into something rather special. Great for a wander around, I visited several times with a friend a few years ago. And inevitably once setting off I couldn't help but sing that we were going down to Rio (the song by Michael Nesmith), lol.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnpcTsy10dE

As well as the wonderful gardening droid, above, there was also the incredible Toaster Man built entirely from old toasters...

And a rather strange iron beastie behind the golf clubs.

Some of the displays are also enhanced with unusual donations which have been used for decoration rather than for sale, such as the mosaic picture and papier mache fish above, plus a rather sad looking polystyrene fish among the plants, below.

Below are some of the displays of goods on sale inside. A really good place with lots to browse through and a huge choice of interesting and useful things.

At a later visit I took loads of photos on a soft, showery day, followed by a further visit when it also rained.

I couldn't get enough of this table full of glass, especially as they were all misted from the damp. Then more on the following visit, below.

In the photo below I tried to catch water dripping into the yellow bowl but I wasn't quick enough!

Beware of low flying witches...

...and Fly Navy instead! ;)

This young lady looks as if she's slumped against the table along with the remains of a  party that's just ended!

A few general photos, below...

 ...taking care to beware of the spider!

And some more of the garden plants.

 

 

At the entrance, some garden lights, hanging baskets and wind chimes.

A large pinwheel by the gardening droid.

And finally, a view from the gate.

And there we have it...a fab place to visit with lots of quirky oddities and all for good causes. :)