Where was Red Squirrel 26/3/23?

[whole diary]

[Red Squirrel]

Obviously I couldn't pass up the opportunity to visit the imprisoned 14xx No.1442, in Tiverton Gaol Museum...

[TonyK]

Obviously I couldn't pass up the opportunity to visit the imprisoned 14xx No.1442, in Tiverton Gaol Museum...

Now why didn't you tell me? I could have put the kettle on.

[JayMac]

As a wee nipper my Mum's (at that time) partner's parents lived in Tiverton. One of my earliest childhood memories is seeing the Tivvy Bumper 1442 at the side of Blundell's Road as we drove into the town. Mum also has a picture (in one of many boxes in storage) of 4 year old me and my younger brother stood beside 1442. I'll see if I can find it and scan it

[Red Squirrel]

Now why didn't you tell me? I could have put the kettle on.

I knocked on the door, but there didn't seem to be anyone home:

[JayMac]

I'm sure a light rat-a-tat-tat would've sufficed. It would appear you knocked with a wrecking ball.

[Red Squirrel]

I can be rather ham-fisted at times.

I really liked the Exe Valley. Not been there before. It struck me that it has a couple of things in common with the Wye Valley: steep wooded banks, a river, and a dismantled railway running up it. As with the Wye Valley, the old railway would make a good alternative to some rather nasty busy roads for those of us who prefer human-powered transport. Maybe in some parallel universe there's a Zed Valley where they've managed this!

Standing on the site of Bampton Station, it struck me how much we've lost. According to Google's ChatGPT-equivalent, Bard, I could have got there from Montpelier in about two-and-a-half hours back in 1922 and the fare would have been 1s 6d. That's not much longer than in takes to drive now, and would have been a much nicer journey!

[TonyK]

Sadly, the cutting where Bampton station once stood is now largely filled in. Tiverton Station was mostly demolished, but the site is recognisable in old photographs. The first part of the former line to Tiverton Junction, in reality at Willand, is now a cycle and footpath, and a pleasant stroll. It ends at the canal around Manley Lane, from where your pleasant stroll can continue along the footpath through Halberton and Sampford Peverell, Holcombe Rogus, and to within a hundred metres or so of the Tone (no relation).

I knocked on the door, but there didn't seem to be anyone home:

I was out the back tidying up, so didn't hear. I've noticed from your picture that there's a windowsill in need of a lick of paint.

[Red Squirrel]

Lower Bowbierhill Farm (OS^▸ (Ordnance Survey) Grid Ref: SS 95855 21505), by the way.

[TonyK]

Lower Bowbierhill Farm (OS^▸ (Ordnance Survey) Grid Ref: SS 95855 21505), by the way.

So close to the former railway, and a very nice bit of Devon. Not the farm just now, of course.