A Visit To East Devon 1st June 2006.
A day trip to the beautifully preserved Regency seaside town of Sidmouth then a drive to the not quite so beautifully preserved town of Exmouth. Followed by a drive round to the other side of the Exe estuary to Starcross before a visit to Exeter.
Looking west along the beach at
Sidmouth.
A close up of one of the rock groins used to protect Sidmouth beach and
esplanade from being washed away by winter storms.
View down into Fore Street from the esplanade.
The view east along Sidmouth esplanade.
Another view west along the esplanade.
The crumbling red sandstone cliffs to the east of Sidmouth.
Crab or lobster pots or both.
Fishing boats winched up onto the beach.
A close up of one of the boats.
The mouth of the river Sid. Sometimes the mouth is covered by the shale
but the water still flows through to the sea.
The view from the top of Connaught Gardens. The walkway below take you
round the base of the cliff to Jacobs Ladder beach.
This is part of the new underground sewage collection system where I
believe it is now pumped somewhere inland for treatment.
The footbridge across the river Sid.
The statue of the the Folk Fiddler in Connaught Gardens where Sidmouth Folk
Festival was originally held.
Some flower borders awaiting planting.
A view
from Connaught Garden's cliff top path.
A walk-through greenhouse in Sidmouth's Connaught Gardens.
Some of the many plants on display in the greenhouse.
And outside.
Looking down on the rock groin protecting the path at the base of the
cliffs.
Another view of Sidmouth from the end of the cliff top path.
A close up of part of Sidmouth and the red sandstone cliffs beyond.
Thatched cottages overlooking the sea.
Jacobs Ladder Beach viewed from the top of Connaught Gardens.
A close up of the cliffs beyond.
Jacobs Ladder Beach from ground level.
The start of the under cliff path that takes you from Jacobs Ladder
Beach back to Sidmouth.
The steep stairway up to Connaught Gardens.
Another view of the stairway.
View along the path towards Sidmouth.
Further along the path.
Nearly back at Sidmouth.
This is where the path reaches Sidmouth.The cliff top view point is
just to the left of the farthest thatched cottage above.
Covered shelters where if I remember correctly, Sidmouth Tourist
Information centre used to be.
Up on Salcombe hill just outside Sidmouth is The Norman Lockyer
Observatory.
Another of the observatories telescope buildings.
The dome shape on this building houses a working planetarium.
Some more telescopes in the grounds.
A drive west along the coast to Exmouth. This is what used to be
Exmouth docks.
Anyone who remembers Exmouth docks would find it hard to recognize the
place now.
I don't think I could afford one of these places either floating or
dock, sorry marina side.
There used to be warehouses along those sides of the dock, sorry marina.
A view of some of the floating palaces. Oh to win the lottery, sigh.
More marina views.
If my memory serves me well (reminds me vaguely of the first line of a
Bob Dylan song) there used to be a swing bridge here.
To quote the title of a Pink Floyd song, money.
The entrance to the marina.
The view across the Exe estuary towards Cockwood.
A boat leaving Exmouth for Starcross on the other side of the Exe
estuary.
Starcross station and what was part of The Great Western Railway.
A view from Starcross station foot bridge up the river Exe estuary.
A picture of steps
railings and shadows.
Buildings on Starcross pier.
A wider view showing the breakwater and pier.
This red sandstone building was one of the pumping houses of Isambard
Kingdom Brunel's ill fated Atmospheric
Railway.
Looking across the Exe estuary towards Exmouth.
Starcross Pier.
Boats moored to the pier.
A wider view of the pumping house.The white building to the right of it
used to be The Courtney Arms Hotel now sadly closed and converted into
private apartments.
Another view of the pumping house.
And another.
Years ago
there used to be a little museum all about The Atmospheric Railway in
this building.
The west front of Exeter Cathedral.
St Martins Church and Mols Coffee house situated in Cathedral Close
Exeter.
The ornate front of Exeter's Guildhall.
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