Image of Blackborough House in 1913. BLACKBOROUGH HOUSE was built in 1838 by George Francis Wyndham, the fourth and last Earl of Egremont. Designed by James Thomas Knowles, Senior who specialised in Italianate architecture, it was originally planned to be a much grander house but a change in the Earl’s personal circumstances led to the house being re-designed as the two semi-detached houses that you see today. The Earl resided in one half and the local rector, a relation, lived on the other side. In its heyday, the house boasted 2 towers, nearly seventy feet high but since demolished. Still remaining but in great need of attention, an Italian-style loggia, encircles the ground floor and 12 huge chimneys make this property stand out in the Devon countryside. However when a developer with funds started the process of getting planning permission to turn it into a Hotel with its magnificent views south to Honiton and its wonderful grounds it was thought that the building would be saved for the Nation. After several years of planning the entire project has been stopped and the site will simply disintegrate.
Blackborough House
Rev & Mrs Llewellyn-Jones
Rev and Mrs Llewellyn-Jones at the Rectory in the 1960’s
Hemyock Church Fete at the Rectory in the 1960’s
Hemyock Church Fete at the Rectory in the 1960’s
Mrs LLewellyn-Jones and Mr Woodman the gardener c 1960
Mrs Llewellyn-Jones with Mr Woodman, the gardener at the Hemyock Rectory
Cload’s Railway Hotel
Receipt for goods supplied. The Catherine Wheel was called the Cload’s Railway Hotel up until part of the premises called the Star Inn was burnt down in 1928 when a traction engine passed by and a spark set the thatch on fire. Alfred Wide was the shop at the bottom of the High Street. This receipt is from 1896 signed by Alfred Wide who served in World War 1 throughout, sending letters back to his daughter who lives in Hemyock called Joan Cooper. He fought in the Battle of the Somme and survived, although injured. He then went back to the front line later, returning to Hemyock to work in the shop and play bowls. He was a stalwart of the Bowls Club.
Todd Gray
Dr Todd Gray is currently broadcasting 15 minute pieces on aspects of Devon history every weekday on BBC Radio Devon at 1.10pm. These will run through June, and possibly July, and while all of our societies have stopped meeting for lectures these are meant to help alleviate the sense of isolation some of us are feeling.
The Devon & Cornwall Record Society is sponsoring a series of daily blogs by our leading heritage specialists (historians, archivists, archaeologists, librarians, writers and curators) in Devon and Cornwall on how life in quarantine has made them reevaluate history. These are running through June and July and can be found on the society’s Facebook page. The society exists to publish original documentary material and this year’s volume is a facsimile reproduction of Devon’s only woollen cloth collection – from the 1760s. It comes free with this year’s membership (at £16.50) or on publication later this year (at £30). Details can be found on our website.
Clayhidon Bellringers
Brenda Drew, Roy Culverwell, Jim Padfield, Bert James, Harold Sellick.
Clayhidon Bellringers
Thelma Blackmore, Michael Osmond, Maureen Bendle, Ginny Young, Dick Drew, Bert James, Harold Sellick
Jim Padfield, Peter Gregory, Carole King, Basil Hutchings, Roy Culverwell, Olive Knight.
