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DISCOVERIES AT THE OLD VICARAGE
Thanks to Gary Clarkson and
Craig
Brown for this report.
Gary is a keen historian and
detector and has 12 years experience
(as of May 2022)
in looking for such finds.
He is keen to look elsewhere if
anyone would like his services,
especially if there are excavations
going on for works etc.
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Dog Head Spigot
Would have been used in a barrel.
Examples of this style have been
seen as early as 1250 but have also
been been as late as 1800. This is
likely around 18th century.
Has a makers mark of a small bird,
perched on a branch. Made of brass.
The handle would have been in the
shape of a cockrel but it's missing
his head.
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Trade Token
A brass halfpenny token from 1797
which was issued by Sparkes & Gidley
of Crewkerne who were producers of
linen products. Pictured on the
token is a person sat at a loom.
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Charles I trade weight
A tea weight from the reign of
Charles 1st 1625 -1649. Possibly
used to weigh tea. There are mint
marks visible: A small crown with
the letter 'C' underneath, to
designate the reign. A dagger which
signifies the city of London
authority and a ewer mark is the
founders company which authorised
brass trade weights produced by
private makers.
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VE DAY
CELEBRATIONS 8th MAY 2020
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to enlarge in a separate window
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The Munts' Strawberry
Union Jack Cake |
Fire Street Party and Flags
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The Holness family at
Shorthayne and VE Day picnic |
Flag by the Lychgate |
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Decorated pebble by Angela |
Flag at Springfield Cottage
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Bunting at Shorthayne Farm |
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Socially-distanced revelry
in Drakes Meadow
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DOG
FOULING
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A message from the Parish
Council to Parish dog
owners:
Regrettably the Parish
Council has been made aware
of several incidents of dog
fouling around the village.
These have been reported
behind the Village Hall and
tennis court area and the
latest, on the grass next to
the lay-by. The grass here
was recently cut by the
Council and the cuttings
collect by Phil, our Parish
Handyman who had to deal
with whichever dog and owner
left it.
This is totally unacceptable
as it can be double bagged
and placed in your refuse
bin.
These notices (left) will
now be placed in the village
when they arrive.
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THE
JOHN SALTER AWARD 2020
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On 18th August, Saffron
Doble (left) was presented
with the John Salter award
shield for 2020, which has
been suitably engraved.
She donated the money to the
Yarcombe and Marsh
Children’s Fund - a worthy
cause and a very appropriate
recipient as the winner this
year was from the youth of
the parish! It
would have been good to make
the presentation at a public
meeting, but this was not
really appropriate in
current circumstances.
We have been advised by the
Devon Association of Local
Councils (DALC) that Parish
Council meetings are
currently authorised to be
held remotely until May 2021
and by then we will
hopefully be announcing the
2021 winner of the award!
Clive Stone, Parish Council
Chairman |
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THE
JOHN SALTER AWARD 2019
Above: John
Carter accepts the 2019 John Salter
Award for his outstanding
contribution to the village.
YARCOMBE
WASSAIL 2020
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A very sincere THANK YOU
to everyone who supported
the 2020 Wassail at
Moorhayne. Considering the
recent weather, we were very
fortunate that the event was
held in dry though windy
conditions. The local apple
crop was very good last year
and hopefully with another
blessing it will be good
again this season.
This year, Tony Wiggins, our
Master of Ceremonies, was
joined by fifteen of his
fellow Taunton Deane Morris
Men and after the assembled
gathering were treated to an
account of wassailing
through the ages, the
colourful procession,
suitably attired in
traditional tattered jackets
and feathered headgear,
proceeded to the apple trees
of Higher Moorhayne. Here,
Wassail songs were sung, one
tree was blessed, had cider
poured around its roots and
cider-soaked toast placed in
the branches as an offering.
The bad spirits were warded
off with much clattering and
banging, as well as a
shotgun volley. The Morris
Men then danced, before
leading the ensemble to
Middle Moorhayne to repeat
the ceremony, where all the
trees had all been given
their annual Wassail prune
that very day.
After the traditional
Wassailing of the trees we
moved back into the stable
and on to the other part of
Wassailing, the Was Hal, the
refreshments, where we
toasted each other’s good
health for the coming
season. A splendid array of
soups and buffet food, both
vegetarian and
non-vegetarian, were
enjoyed, together with many
varieties of cakes and other
delights, all washed down
with very local organic,
nil-food-miles cider, hot
cider punches and soft
drinks. During the previous
week Vicky and Paula had
been preparing and cooking a
selection of foods,
restocking as the numbers
were confirmed.
Here I would really like to
say a huge THANKYOU to all
those who offered to cook
and\or provided food to be
brought along on the
evening. Thank you also to
Complete Meats who supplied
much of the meat. This all
resulted in a mouth-watering
feast which helped make this
a special occasion.
Following on from previous
Wassailing, all the apple
trees at Moorhayne produced
a good crop which was then
converted to apple juice and
subsequently to cider and
cider vinegar. Enthusiastic
sampling was also part of
the enjoyment of the
evening, whether as one of
the natural or blended
ciders or one of Vicky’s
very popular fortified hot
mulled ciders. We had many
compliments about the food
and drink and try though
people did, we ran out of
neither.
Our thanks go to the Morris
Men for their colourful
appearance, their dancing
talents, and for providing a
near continuous musical
atmosphere with their
playing and singing, both
during the feast and
afterwards throughout the
evening.
Our thanks also go to Steve
Johns and Mark Stokes who
temporarily extended the
stable to provide more
covered room for everyone’s
comfort and to Derek and
Iris Dyer who kindly
provided the additional car
parking, in an adjacent
field, which had
conveniently just recently
been vacated by the
Derryman’s sheep.
Keeping alive an age-old
rural tradition, meeting up
with friends, making new
friends, enjoying good food
and drink and raising money
for local organisations are
all part of the Moorhayne
Wassail. There were fewer
people this year enjoying
the event and we hope that
all those unable to join us
due to winter illness are
now fully recovered.
We are particularly grateful
to those of you who were
only with us in spirit, but
sent generous donations and
those who hired the Apple
Day equipment, all of which
greatly swelled the funds
that we raised this year.
Three deserving local
organnisations: Voices,
Yarcombe & Marsh Children’s
Fund and the Yarcombe Flower
Show have each received £70
to help them with their
much-appreciated community
work.
We have one roasting tin
which we would be happy to
return to its owner!
Having run this event for
several years, and before
going ahead with
preparations for next year’s
Wassail, the Wassail Team
would like to have your
feedback on any part of the
festivities. In particular
we would welcome comments,
or any suggestions for a
future Wassail, and whether
you would support the
continuation of this
tradition in Yarcombe. Would
the possibility of starting
earlier at, say, dusk be
welcome?
Clive Stone and the Wassail
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METAL
DETECTING IN YARCOMBE
In
December 2018 our small Metal
detecting club were detecting in
Yarcombe and myself and a friend
spoke to a lady from Yarcombe who
was interested in our finds.
Apologies for not getting a name.
We chatted about a deserted village
up from the church and also an old
monastery that there was no longer
any sign, these are two areas our
club would love to go to and detect
if agreeable with the landowners.
Please
see the images below of the finds we
had.
(Click to enlarge)
Here
we have a range of coins from Edward
2nd right through to George 6th, the
first picture is a Queen Victoria
Jubilee sixpence, we have a Queen
Elizabeth 1st sixpence, Queen
Elizabeth 1st 2 pence, Edward 2nd
penny and a Queen Victoria sixpence
(seen better days) and a George 3rd
shilling.
Several sixpences and the odd
shilling were also found dating from
George V - George VI.
We
hope you like these photos and look
forward to hearing from you
regarding the opportunity to explore
other areas within Yarcombe.
Thank you.
Graham
Staddon (on behalf of the
Mid Devon
Searchers)
Miranda Gudenian writes:
These two gentlemen were in the
village one afternoon a few weeks
ago and I had a fascinating
conversation with them. I
suggested that they please keep in
touch via the website to log their
finds from this Parish. The metal
detectorists gave me their finds so
far that day: a selection of coins,
very worn George II coins, two
George V half pennies, a Victorian
penny, and a minuscule pair of
pliers, rather like a blacksmith's
tool but obviously made for a child
to play with.
I spoke to them about Michael Hall,
and how Ruth Everitt spent hours
trying to uncover its whereabouts.
They had heard about the Medieval
Village, supposedly destroyed by
fire in a French incursion during
Napoleon's time. Ruth,
whose metal detector was of course
no match for the power of modern
machines, did find a fragment of a
French coin of the period at nearby
Williambeer Farm.
Carolyn Bacon some weeks ago wrote a
fascinating piece about metal
detecting for the February 2019 'In
the Country' article in Yarcombe
Voices.
Steve Horner adds:
Herewith a
link to A Pro-forma
Search Agreement between any landowner and the Detectorist, which may
be of use to local landowners who
are approached.
National Council for Metal
Detecting website
Federation of Independent
Detectorists website
FRANK'S
HOBBY
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Yarcombe wartime evacuee
Frank Weeks, a welcome
contributor to this site,
has made the headlines in
New Zealand.
It seems Frank is one of
those individuals who are
skillful enough to defy
logic by putting large
objects into bottles! |
MISSING CAT
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Until recently I lived at
Lees Cottage in Yarcombe.
My cats went into emergency
placement with Stanley in
West Hill but sadly one of
them escaped a week ago, and
I’m thinking that she may
eventually turn up in Yarcombe...
Bronwen is a neutered three
year old tortoiseshell and
white long haired cat,
medium sized and quite shy
but does come to Puss puss
puss!! She is
micro chipped thankfully.
Would it be possible for you
to spread the word through
the Yarcombe Voices and the
Yarcombe website?
I’m happy to make a
financial contribution if
required.
My contact number is
07584-666684
Many thanks,
Suyen
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YARCOMBE'S OLD RAILWAY CARRIAGES
RESTORED
Back in October 2005 two railway
carriage bodies arrived at the
Bluebell Railway in Sussex, from a
property in Yarcombe, where they had
formed part of a bungalow named "The
Coaches", since about 1935. The
carriages were built for the London
& South Western Railway (Saloon
No.25) and the London, Chatham &
Dover Railway (later South Eastern &
Chatham Railway No.3188).
Click
to enlarge photographs in a new
window
The first of these carriage bodies
is still stored, awaiting a start on
its restoration (details
here), but No.3188 is now
in public service on the Bluebell
Railway after complete restoration
and fitting the body to a modified
Southern Railway Parcels van underframe. Over the last 5 years
a team of about 20 volunteers in the
Bluebell Railway's Carriage & Wagon
department
have worked each weekend to restore
No.3188, which was built in 1897, to
the condition it would have been in
the early years of the 20th
century. The carriages are
now owned by The Bluebell Railway
Trust who provided funding for the
materials used in the restoration.
On Saturday 18 June 2016 the
volunteers who had undertaken the
restoration celebrated the
completion of the project with a
special train,
formed of three carriages hauled by
SE&CR locomotive No.592. All four
vehicles were built at Longhedge
Works, Battersea.
Dave Clarke's album
covers the 5-year restoration of
No.3188 in detail, and
Alex Morley's
album
shows more of the special train run
on 18 June 2016 to celebrate he
completion of No.3188, as also seen
in the above photos.
Carriage No.3188 was
built by the LCDR as a 6-wheeled
5-compartment third in 1897, had
been converted by the SECR into a
3-compartment brake vehicle around
1911, and ran until 1935. It
was sold, along with LSWR Saloon
No.25, and "The Coaches" in Yarcombe
was constructed around them, and
from where they were both recovered
to the Bluebell Railway in 2005,
when the property was redeveloped.
Between 1950 and 1978 the carriages
were occupied by Nelson (who died in
1966) and Gladys Long, and the
Bluebell Railway were pleased to
have two of their nieces, Jenny and
Mary, and Jenny's husband Diego,
with them for the relaunch. The
sisters were able to share their
memories of visiting their Aunt and
Uncle, and hence these two
carriages, in the 1950s. Jenny Dal
Bello is seen in the third photo
above presenting Tony Clements and
Dave Clarke with photos, provided by
one of their cousins, showing the
carriages at Yarcombe in 1977.
The first photo was part of the
planning application made in 2005,
showing the bungalow prior to
demolition.
The second photo, taken by Richard
Salmon, shows the carriage in the
condition it was in when it arrived
at the Bluebell Railway in 2005.
YARCOMBE'S
DEFIBRILLATOR
The defibrillator is now 'up and
running' at the Jubilee Hall, in a
cabinet on the front wall to the
right hand side of the main door.
Should you need to use it just go to
the hall and collect it from the
cabinet. For more
information about its use see the
August 2016 issue of Yarcombe
Voices.
MESSAGE FROM OVERSEAS
We
are a couple of seniors from Canada,
who visited the Yarcombe Inn quite by chance
in August 2013 and did not at that
time have the knowledge of the
historical significance of the Inn. We just
learned of the closure of the Inn
and we are absolutely devastated by
it. We found the Inn and
the surrounding area incredibly
beautiful. Closing it is
such a waste.
Alicia Dulce
Santos
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A
LIGHT-HEARTED VIEW ON AMERICAN
POLITICS
A British writer penned the best
description of Donald Trump I’ve
ever read:
“Why do some British people not like
Donald Trump?”
A few things spring to mind. Trump
lacks certain qualities which the
British traditionally esteem. For
instance, he has no class, no charm,
no coolness, no credibility, no
compassion, no wit, no warmth, no
wisdom, no subtlety, no sensitivity,
no self-awareness, no humility, no
honour and no grace – all qualities,
funnily enough, with which his
predecessor Mr. Obama was generously
blessed. So for us, the stark
contrast does rather throw Trump’s
limitations into embarrassingly
sharp relief.
Plus, we like a laugh. And while
Trump may be laughable, he has never
once said anything wry, witty or
even faintly amusing – not once,
ever. I don’t say that rhetorically,
I mean it quite literally: not once,
not ever. And that fact is
particularly disturbing to the
British sensibility – for us, to
lack humour is almost inhuman. But
with Trump, it’s a fact. He doesn’t
even seem to understand what a joke
is – his idea of a joke is a crass
comment, an illiterate insult, a
casual act of cruelty.
Trump is a troll. And like all
trolls, he is never funny and he
never laughs; he only crows or
jeers. And scarily, he doesn’t just
talk in crude, witless insults – he
actually thinks in them. His mind is
a simple bot-like algorithm of petty
prejudices and knee-jerk nastiness.
There is never any under-layer of
irony, complexity, nuance or depth.
It’s all surface. Some Americans
might see this as refreshingly
upfront. Well, we don’t. We see it
as having no inner world, no soul.
And in Britain we traditionally side
with David, not Goliath. All our
heroes are plucky underdogs: Robin
Hood, Dick Whittington, Oliver
Twist. Trump is neither plucky, nor
an underdog. He is the exact
opposite of that. He’s not even a
spoiled rich-boy, or a greedy
fat-cat. He’s more a fat white slug.
A Jabba the Hutt of privilege.
And worse, he is that most
unforgivable of all things to the
British: a bully. That is, except
when he is among bullies; then he
suddenly transforms into a
snivelling sidekick instead. There
are unspoken rules to this stuff –
the Queensberry rules of basic
decency – and he breaks them all. He
punches downwards – which a
gentleman should, would, could never
do – and every blow he aims is below
the belt. He particularly likes to
kick the vulnerable or voiceless –
and he kicks them when they are
down.
So the fact that a significant
minority – perhaps a third – of
Americans look at what he does,
listen to what he says, and then
think ‘Yeah, he seems like my kind
of guy’ is a matter of some
confusion and no little distress to
British people, given that:
• Americans are supposed to be
nicer than us, and mostly are.
• You don’t need a particularly
keen eye for detail to spot a few
flaws in the man.
This last point is what
especially confuses and dismays
British people, and many other
people too; his faults seem pretty
bloody hard to miss. After all, it’s
impossible to read a single tweet,
or hear him speak a sentence or two,
without staring deep into the abyss.
He turns being artless into an art
form; he is a Picasso of pettiness;
a Shakespeare of shit. His faults
are fractal: even his flaws have
flaws, and so on ad infinitum. God
knows there have always been stupid
people in the world, and plenty of
nasty people too. But rarely has
stupidity been so nasty, or
nastiness so stupid. He makes Nixon
look trustworthy and George W look
smart. In fact, if Frankenstein
decided to make a monster assembled
entirely from human flaws – he would
make a Trump.
And a remorseful Doctor
Frankenstein would clutch out big
clumpfuls of hair and scream in
anguish: ‘My God… what… have… I…
created?' If being a twat was a TV
show, Trump would be the boxed set.”
Nate White
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