A Stroll around Chagford

Just to prove how miserable it was on Monday, here are a couple of photos taken looking across Exmoor - very similar to today, only we are having some sunny spells. On Monday it was non-stop for about 10 hours.





Today, Friday, we are having Monsoon-like weather conditions again. Well, "they" did threaten us with all of September's normal rainfall all in one day (2 - 3") and I believe "they" are right for once. We got soaked doing the grocery shopping this morning and then again scuttling out to bring washing (OH) and Itsy (me) in from the latest prolonged heavy shower. Now I am contemplating indoor jobs for the rest of the day. I may even do some sausage-making as I got the pork this morning and have hog casings still in the freezer.

Anyway, ogoing back to Tuesday, we stopped for lunch in Chagford - to buy lunch that is - we tend to do "car picnics" rather than spend lots of money on a pub lunch, being frugal by necessity.

Chagford is an ancient Stannary town and its name derives from the Devon word for gorse or broom - "chag". The "ford" is connected with the River Teign. A stannary town is one where tin was traded and Chagford was first involved in this occupation in 1305. In the church of St Michael the Archangel are roof bosses very similar to those in Widecombe, which will be the subject of tomorrow's post. Here again appear the three rabbits, which is the emblem of the Tin miners. The church also contains a memorial to Mary Whiddon, who lived in the mid 17th century and who is thought to be the inspiration for R D Blackmore's novel "Lorna Doone" although that is set on Exmoor of course. It is claimed that Mary was shot dead on her wedding day, as she left the church. She died in 1641.

Just off the square in Chagford is this beautiful thatched cottage.


The West Country is famous for its thatched cottages, but here even the Bank is thatched . . .

Just up the lane, more thatch - I think there was an antiques shop to the left of this - if my memory serves me well. The sort my husband and I go in and think, hmmm, could get that much cheaper in auction . . .

The above building joins on to this, which I think is Endecott House, named after John Endecott, one of the Pilgrim Fathers, who became Governor of Massachusetts. It is built from granite and dates from the 16th century.


Here, for my dear friend T, is the Ring O'Bells, where she once spent the weekend many years ago, dodging a friend whose take on a weekend in Devon was totally different to hers . . .

This interesting cottage was near where we had parked.

The best bit is probably the little 8-sided Market House, on the site of the old Stannary Court. It houses an excellent greengrocers where we bought some of our picnic.