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Ottery St Mary

Ottery St Mary photos (17 available)

Old photo of Ottery St Mary

Ottery St Mary maps (2 available)

Old map of Ottery St Mary

Ottery St Mary books (12 available)

Ottery St Mary memories

Our house!

Ottery St Mary, the Cottage Guest House c1960

How funny! We now own and live in this house. It has barely changed since this photograph, although it is no longer a guest house and its name is different. There are some barns and a coach house in the background which have been partly demolished; a small conservatory has been added to the left of the porch. We believe the people who ran it as a guest house were called Haywood, his first name being Cecil. He had been a manager at the factory in Ottery (since closed). Mrs Haywood was famous for her cooking. They rented it from Lord Coleridge (known as "Lordy"). It was called "The Cottage" because it had been Lady Devon's Cottage, a dower house for ...read more here
Contributed by Robert Baker

Devon memories

Our house!

Ottery St Mary, the Cottage Guest House c1960

How funny! We now own and live in this house. It has barely changed since this photograph, although it is no longer a guest house and its name is different. There are some barns and a coach house in the background which have been partly demolished; a small conservatory has been added to the left of the porch. We believe the people who ran it as a guest house were called Haywood, his first name being Cecil. He had been a manager at the factory in Ottery (since closed). Mrs Haywood was famous for her cooking. They rented it from Lord Coleridge (known as "Lordy"). It was called "The Cottage" because it had been Lady Devon's Cottage, a dower house for ...read more here
A memory of Ottery St Mary contributed by Robert Baker

Daffodils in June

Just a short note: I am writing my first novel due to be published in December. While travelling through Devon recently, I was still stuck for the name of the central character of the book, now I have it, her name is Fenny Bridges

Thank you for the inspiration.

Dorset Burroughs
A memory of Fenny Bridges contributed by Dorset Burroughs

Evacuee

My name was Evelyn Smith "Eve".  I was evacuated to my uncle and aunt's home during the war.  My uncle was Sidney Smith - he was station master.  We lived at 3 Coombe Lea.  Miss Richardson was our school teacher - a really beautiful lady and an excellent teacher.  My best friend was Nancy Leach - she lived in Dawes Cottage.  I remember the gypsies who came through the village - the eldest girl was named Caroline.  There were twin boys who lived on a farm - can't remember their names.  Skinner's farm was just down the lane from 3 Coombe Lea - they brought fresh milk to our house every day - or maybe we fetched it from the farm ...read more here
A memory of Tipton St John contributed by Eve White

Extracts From Ottery St Mary & Devon books

Exmouth, the Esplanade 1898

This view was taken from the building at the very end of Morton Crescent. To the immediate left is the Imperial Hotel, seen in its original architectural design, changed now after the fire in the 1970s.
An extract from from"Exmouth Photographic Memories".

Exmouth, the Esplanade c1955

By the middle of the 20th century we see something resembling the modern scene. There is the more familiar red telephone box on the traffic island, a modern post box, and Belisha beacons to aid pedestrians wishing to cross the road. In the centre of the photograph is the white tower of the Pavilion Theatre. Much of the street furniture was removed by the start of the 21st century, leaving a more traffic-dominated Esplanade.
An extract from from"Exmouth Photographic Memories".

Exmouth, from the Pier 1906

The construction of a substantial sea wall, seen here in section to the right, led to Exmouth’s prosperity as a seaside resort. Before the wall was built, much of the sea front was marshland and sand dunes, and subjected to constant flooding. The first section of the wall was completed in 1842, paid for by the local landowner John Rolle. It was 1,900 feet long and constructed from Devon limestone. The designer was John Smeaton, a veteran engineer and the designer of London Bridge.
An extract from from"Exmouth Photographic Memories".

Exmouth, from the Beacon 1922

This fine view looks across the clock tower and Morton Crescent to the estuary of the River Exe, with Starcross and the Haldon Hills in the distance.
An extract from from"Exmouth Photographic Memories".

Exmouth, the Esplanade c1955

The wall was designed to deflect the waves that so often come up the English Channel from the south-west on stormy days. This scene has changed little in fifty years, though now a shelter from the wind stands on the position of the nearest bench in the photograph. It was donated by local resident William Frederick Stokes in 1964.
An extract from from"Exmouth Photographic Memories".