Sunset over Torquay, Devon…an extraordinary natural phenomenon…heart stopping in its beauty.

Sunset over Torquay, Devon…an extraordinary natural phenomenon…heart stopping in its beauty…August.

The sunset over Torquay on Tuesday was extraordinary. It lit up all the main rooms in our apartment to a rich rose pink.

The sky began changing to a soft blush pink as the sun descended, but instead of ending there and blending into the darkness of night, the colour of the sky quite suddenly deepened. Layers of deep pink and crimson, golden yellow and aqua blue appeared and the sea turned scarlet.

The mysterious, ancient hills of Dartmoor in the distance turned purple and the town darkened and faded and quietened in the wake of this amazing natural phenomenon, but for the sparkling lights from the Big Wheel and the fairground.
It was one of those night-skies that you don’t forget….so beautiful.

I looked ten years younger in the pink glow…another reason to love it 🙂

Widecombe-in-the-Moor and Dartmoors Ponies.

Widecombe-in-the-Moor.

Widecombe is a charming, quaint village in Dartmoor National Park. There are several hundred households living there and a church, village green, two cafes and two pubs.

The church of St Pancras was built in the fourteenth century and badly damaged in 1638 when a number of parishioners were injured and four killed during a huge thunderstorm.
It can be clearly seen from the hills of Dartmoor tucked into the valley.

Wild Dartmoor ponies often roam the village streets or feed on the village green.

Wild Dartmoor Ponies.

Left to run wild on the moors, the ponies are an integral part of the Dartmoor Park experience. They can often be seen trotting along the road verges feeding on bracken.

Although left to their own resources for much of the time every pony is actually owned by a farmer or commoner.

Domesticated ponies have been on Dartmoor since 1500 BC. They have developed over time into strong, hardy animals. The ponies have in the past been used in tin mines and quarries and on farms, but are now free to roam at will.
There are a thousand or so of these gentle, friendly animals on the moors. They are considered a rare breed.

Note: It is illegal to feed the ponies, but occasionally someone will stop their car to give a pony a snack. Feeding ponies encourages them to run on to the road and get close to cars, which is obviously dangerous for them and travellers.

Buckfast Abbey, Devon, England.

Buckfast Abbey, Devon, England.

The building itself from the outside is quite a plain affair. A solid piece of architecture built in the early nineteen hundreds, but without any fancy additions. Its attractive but to me not beautiful.

Inside is much more impressive..built in white stone it has soaring ceilings and some stunningly beautiful areas. I liked the ceiling painting…a bit of bling always catches the eye. A large mirror was placed beneath the painting for those who felt unable to look up.

I also liked the arched windows through which the suns rays touched the brickwork.

And the enormous golden crown-like chandelier was eye catching.

As I entered the Abbey an extraordinary sound vibrated around the walls. It came from the choir who were rehearsing for an evenings performance.
I sat down and listened. It was a highly emotional and physical experience.
It felt as if the sound had entered my ears and touched every nerve in my body. I felt breathless when I finally stood up.

The sense of peace and quiet was everywhere. In the Abbey, in the grounds and in the small gardens. That is the feeling I was left with…complete calm.

Stunning purple tulips grew in the abbey gardens.

Short history :
A Benedictine abbey was built in 1018. A Cistercian abbey was later constructed on the site in 1134. In 1539, with the dissolution of the monasteries, the abbey was left to ruins. A Gothic mansion house was later built on the site.
In 1882 a group of French Benedictine monks built monastic quarters and a temporary church, incorporating the Gothic house.
In 1907 a new abbey was begun and finished in 1938.
The abbey over the years has been at one time or other both extremely wealthy and very poor. Now it is self sustaining, farming sheep and cattle and growing vegetables. The monks produce a famous Tonic wine and bee products for sale in their charming shop alongside candles, soaps, glass and trinkets.

Dartmoor, Devon….an afternoons drive.

Dartmoor…Devon.

Took a drive over Dartmoor during the first week in February towards Tavistock. The hills were covered in snow, a novelty for me as I live on the coast in the coastal town of Torquay and we rarely see snow despite the moors being a short drive away and visible from town.

Dartmoor Black-faced sheep and wild ponies, hardy and robust, roam alone or in pairs across the bleak moors.
As I took these photos a freezing gust of wind passed me by and literally took the breath from my lungs leaving me gasping. Any creature that can live out on these hills throughout the winter must truly be a tough breed.

The town of Tavistock …

Tavistock is a market town in Devon that is at least a thousand years old.
A royal charter was granted in 1105 to the monks to run a Pannier Market. The market is still going and now houses a hall filled with antique, nic-nacs, clothing and food stalls.

St Eustachius church was built between 1350 and 1450 on and close to the old abbey ruins which were founded in 961 AD. The church is a fine old building with some attractive last century windows. Below……

There is an interesting marble and alabaster monument to a Judge Glanville who died in 1600 after falling from his horse. He was a judge and MP.
His wife Alice kneels meekly beside her husband with the children who are unfortunately missing their heads. One child holds a skull meaning it predeceased its parents.
Five months after his death Alice married again and was widowed again shortly after.

As you enter the church there is a memorial stone to a Miss Rogers who died in 1844 at the ripe old age of 104 years old. ‘Shes gone we trust to god above’ appears to me more of a plea than a certainty.

On the way back across the moors to Torquay we passed Dartmoor Prison…a forbidding Victorian pile.
Built between 1806/1809 to house French and American prisoners of war.
The prison had a history of brutality and for a time housed serious criminals, but is now a prison that houses category C prisoners…non-violent offenders/white collar prisoners.

I never cease to be amazed at the thousands of years of history lying below our feet in England. Whether it be the standing stones erected by our pagan ancestors or the towns, prisons and churches built by our Christian ancestors…all are fascinating and show a progression to the civilised, thinking, society of today.
Gone are the gallows, stocks, blocks, and other instruments of death and torture…into museums where they belong….and the awful cruel punishments handed out to those who today would often be considered innocents, all gone.
Makes me glad to be British….
Some of St Eustachius gorgeous stained glass windows…