Thursday 25 May 2017

Abandoned Cottage Conversion, Colyford, Devon


  

I came across these cottages whilst on a walk in 2007. Originally two cottages, conversion had begun at some point to make them into one dwelling. However, it was obvious that work had ceased some time ago, and it remained that way for a long time until 2015 when work continued and it was eventually inhabited once again.




Having had a mooch around the rear of the building where the doors were, and taking a few photos, I decided to try one of the door latches. It was open, so I ventured a look inside.


There were some interesting bits and bobs remaining inside, with wonderfully bizarre colours on the walls where the various layers of paint had peeled off. The 'venetian blinds' above are wooden slats nailed across the outside of the window frames, seen below.

 


It was very dark inside so I couldn't really see everything properly until I'd had my film processed and saw the prints. The lead grate, below, was a total surprise and the 'object d'art' on the mantlepiece turned out to be a small bale of chicken wire.


More colours, an old wooden chair and a crock pot on the window sill.


And a self-portrait of me peering over my specs (and looking a bit schoolmarmish) in a mirror on the window ledge of another downstairs room, complete with an old alarm clock and lots of cobwebs.


The garden was very overgrown, some of which can be seen through the window, below.


The two staircases belonging to each separate cottage were still extant when I visited, although they weren't safe enough to use. I managed to climb half-way up one then noticed that it was coming away from the wall, so a quick couple of photos and a hasty - and very, very careful - retreat back down.  

Below is the only decent photo I managed to get of an upstairs room before the stairs threatened to collapse!

The next photo shows some cute cubby holes in the adjoining wall between the two cottages. Whilst taking this one I saw a dark shadow and had the odd feeling of someone standing behind me. There was nobody there, and I know from experience that sometimes the 'shadow' effect can happen whilst using a camera. Mind, it did spook me a bit so I felt it was time to leave. 


The only other photo I have is of the whole front of the building, which I've decided to leave off the post to retain its anonymity, and also because it's nowhere as attractively cottagey as the rear. So finally, a photo of the other boarded-up window on the front of the building.



Tuesday 16 May 2017

Combestone Tor, Dartmoor, Devon



Combestone is probably the most accessible tor on Dartmoor, being only a short distance from the road with its own car parking space...a rather funky, stone edged one at that!
 


It's difficult to say how many tors there are on Dartmoor. According to various accounts the amount varies from 147 to 433 or more. Anyway, this is just one of them, which I visited sometime around 2001 on a trip out with some friends. Even though near the busy main road, once amongst the granite rocks all thoughts of modern life melt away, almost transporting yourself back to an earlier time when people had to survive unaided upon the land.



Tors were formed by the process of rain water seeping through the upper layer of land and weathering the bedrock during prehistoric times, when forest covered the land. This affected the natural joints in the stone, and once exposed was accelerated by further weathering, particularly during the ice age when freezing water expanded the cracks. Rock formations on the crest of higher land and hills were the result of that action.



Dartmoor is an area of moorland covering 369 square miles. It became a national park in 1951, and although appears to be an extremely wild and untamed area of land, it has been lived and worked on since prehistoric times - reputedly the most extensive prehistoric remains in one area to be seen in Britain - encompassing the remains of later activities such as farming, quarrying and other local industries.


I came across these photos whilst sorting through a backlog of photos and negatives. Some of the prints had been scanned a while ago, one of which I use for my pc wallpaper (the first photo at the top of the page). However, some I'd cut up and used for an art project workbook, therefore I had to scan the negatives...hence the colour differences. My neg scanner has a mind of its own and seems to interpret what it thinks I want!


It was a very misty, soft summer day when I visited, which added to the mystique of the place.



Some of the delightful Dartmoor ponies were grazing around the rocks, below. The indigenous ponies have been here since prehistoric times, and are a particularly hardy breed. Although they live in herds naturally in the wild, the ponies are all owned by local farmers and breeders with local grazing rights, called Dartmoor Commoners. Allowed to graze throughout the year, the ponies are brought into the farms during the annual round-up in the Autumn, called a drift, when they are given health checks. The old and sick are taken from the herd, along with those who are to be sold, and the rest are released back to the moor. Although owned, most of the ponies aren't used to being handled so should be left alone. 



And finally, one of the wind-blown hawthorn trees, accentuating the feeling of wilderness on this enigmatic moor.


Plus a couple more that I'd missed out! ;)



 



Sunday 14 May 2017

Colcombe Mill, Colyton, Devon


 

Situated eastwards on the edge of the town, and just below the remains of Colcombe Castle, the aptly named Colcombe Mill was one of several mills that provided for Colyton. It was originally a corn mill, but was later used to supply electricity to the town when a turbine was installed in the early 20th century.

No longer used as a working mill, it is now residential, although parts of the building are clearly unused and have been left unchanged. The original wheels, which were connected to machinery at one time, along with a large millstone, the mill race and a gorgeous old sluice gate (below), are all still remaining.


The mill leat starts at Lexhayne, coming down through the valley and passing through the block-built mill race (below), from where it runs across the fields to join up with the Rivers Coly and Umborne at Umborne Bridge. 





The door on the upper floor (below), situated on the residential side of the building, probably housed a winch above for loading and unloading the raw materials and produce.



Most of the building is wonderfully preserved with lots of interesting details. It was just by chance that I walked past it on my way to look at Colcombe Castle. Seeing the wheel on the front made me decide to stop and look at it properly on my way back again, and I'm really glad I did as the hidden details are a pure delight.







Colcombe Castle, Colyton, Devon



Built on the site of what was once thought to have been Colcombe Castle, this was originally a manor house; one of the seats of the Courtenays, Earls of Devon. Built by Hugh de Courtenay in the late 13th century, it began life as a moated and fortified homestead. By 1539 there was little left but ruins, and was partly rebuilt by Henry Courtenay, Marquis of Exeter.


 
Rebuilt again in the early 17th century it was later altered and added to. The metal frame casements replaced the former stone mullion windows and the door has a modern gabled porch, but there are still remains which have been incorporated into the buildings; now a farmstead.


The first top photo shows the rebuilt farmhouse, and the other two above are of the building opposite. The wonderful plank and studded door to the farmhouse can be seen below.



A view of the main building from the other side, below. Taken into the sun, the photo is a bit fogged, but it does show the lovely sweep of the roof as it continues down over the annexe. Interestingly, I've seen this style of building locally before, albeit on a much smaller scale; a building belonging to the mill complex, also in Colyton, and the blacksmith's in Branscombe. The annexes - or lower parts - of those buildings were storerooms, especially for wood in the case of the smithy.

 
Another outbuilding, below, with a pantiled roof.


And another old door seen in the courtyard wall, together with a millstone, below. I haven't been able to ascertain which parts were the original 13th century and which bits were part of the 17th century rebuild but I think, and please don't quote me on this as it's just my own theory, that the farmhouse was the original and the other outbuildings and courtyard wall were the additions during the later rebuild. Fabulous ridge tiles on the top of the wall.




Part of an old cider apple orchard, below. Apple trees aren't long-living enough for these to have been the original ones, but doubtless there was an orchard here back in the day to supply the household with their own cider. Larger houses such as this also supplied cider to their workers and other households.



A few more photos showing another outbuilding.
 




And finally, below, a public house in the centre of Colyton named after Colcombe Castle, with the sign displaying its name.