Germansweek Devon 2002/3AD
Germansweek Devon does not have a shop, Post Office (or is that a Consignia office?) or a Pub. Which do YOU miss the most? I guess it depends where you are coming from. We do have a church, St Germans, and the Chapel in Eworthy, which is in the Parish of Germansweek. For a picture tour where better to start than the church.
Apart from the outside view I include a picture of the Font which has been in use since around 1846. On the right is what is believed to be the original font that is now in the churchyard. The centre of the collage is the altar and east window.
The drawing was done by Helen Smale Menyes from British Columbia, Canada when her relatives were here seeking information about their ancesters, a not uncommon happening. Thanks Helen and your cousin Jim from South California.     One of the dog walks (yes there are many dog and horse lovers here) is the circuit from Germansweek village passing Eworthy and Boldventure. This is a tree that is quite memorable on that walk into Boldventure. There is no doubt snowy scenes change the general ambience and lighten everything. The tracks of the animals show clearly, the trees come to life and the birds need a helping hand. Before turning up to Boldventure at the junction of the lane to Eworthy there is the 'phone box and signpost. This is a picture of the junction with the snow at Christmas 2000. Here I go again, another picture taken on my dog walk. This is looking towards the old Parsonage and it proves that even here in Devon snow does flutter down occasionally. Surprising how many people I meet even early in the morning. Late milkers (if that is the male gender for milkmaids?), scurrying to work teachers at a very leisurely 7;45. 'Tis a hard life!

Talking of milkers how could we have a tour of Germansweek without a real milker, indeed we have Organic milkers and green top milk if that is your desire. Lets hope the control freaks in Downing Street concentrate on banning things other than freedom of choice. Here is a local milker tho' to avoid jealousy I won't say if she is Organic or the one of the rest. The calf was a young Angus bull calf with a coat like our dog Jack ie..shiny and black. Dare you to try to milk him!

The organic milk is also linked to what is probably the oldest building in the village namely Landford Farm. Traced back to the domesday period it is near the Church and most likely accommodated the local priest in days gone by. Plenty of traditional, authentic thatch and cob.

When on the subject of animals how could I ignore sheep, forever moving around the village and surrounding areas. Let us hope Foot and Mouth lays low. According to our local historian the then occupants of Witherdon Manor and HomeLiving Farm played major roles in our history. This was particularly so around the time of the civil war. There were two Lodges connected with the Manor and in stark contrast to the snowy scenes I display a nice sunny warm view of the junction called Witherdon Cross and showing a little of the Lodge.

Thanks Kimberley Woof! Woof!
I mentioned Homeliving Farm as part of the history. This is now more or less in the centre of the actual village of Germansweek, Germansweek parish is very large geographically. To see aerial views of the village, surrounds and even your own houses go back to my homepage where I have put a link.
Here are a couple of views of homeliving, one at sunset and the other during unsettled weather (I like the effects of weather and skies).

Entering the village from the south we see a thatched cottage (chocolate boxey!). A gate guardian as I am at the opposite end of the village. The old pleasure grounds are on the right, unspoilt common ground. I would call it a wood. The war memorial was originally placed here before moving to the site by the parish hall, a more prominent position.

Back into the village we come to another piece of history, this is at the north end and is the building which was the old Baptist Chapel and Sunday School. The sign above the door shows a date of 1841 and it is now converted to residential use, not uncommon in this day and age. Many of the locals still recall their Sundays at the school. The Sunday School is shown on the right with the Chapel on the left.

-- On the subject of Chapels the next picture is Eworthy Chapel, still very much alive and kicking. The stone above the windows reads "Zion Bible Christian Chapel 1863". My friend Alan says this building cost £247 to erect. I said for him to know he must have been around a long time but he insists he has the documents to prove it. In the centre of the village is one of the oldest builings, namely a thatched cottage opposite the Parish Hall. Rethatched recently it looks "spiffing" and long may it remain so. A pair of cottages next door to the thatched cottage are quite old in themselves and contained the shop and post office, both of which have evaporated into the mists. The post office was for some years moved to Rock Cottage but even that is now simply residential. I was hoping it would be turned into a combined shop, Post Office and drinking den but it was not to be. Never mind go to St. Giles on the Heath (says my friend who knows about these things).

Germansweek has a Village Hall that I show below. It is used for the usual activities, charity bazaars, flower shows, Parish Council meetings, Lent and Advent lunches and so on and so forth. I took this picture shortly after the Remembrance Sunday Service.
The local church council are trying to raise funds so if you have any good ideas please let me have them and I will make sure they are passed onto the right person, namely Alan, Churchwarden. You may be able to see the poppy wreaths but it was a very dull day. The names on the memorial are still very local.

The village school in 1847 was a building of cob and stone. It was the original school but I believe only for 6 years and is now Chapel Cottage. Note the arched windows. Much of the woodwork is the original Red Deal, a super wood to work with but alas many of the Deal forests of Scandinavia were burnt for heating during the war.
The various previous occupants include the village tailor and village roadman, I show the tailors family William and Matilda White and their children.

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We have no Post Office, School, Shop or Pub in Germansweek so what do we do. Apart from the big shops in Launceston,Holsworthy and Okehampton we can always go to Halwill Junction. At Halwill Junction there is a Post Office, pub, grocer, hairdresser, garage, newsagent and a butcher. It is only 4 miles distant and it has a bus stop on the Exeter to Bude route.
Junior schooling is at the school at Halwill Village a mile up the road from the Junction. The Junction was no longer a railway junction after Dr Beeching had his way in the 1960's. Below you should see a photo' of the shopping area at the Junction and the Church in Halwill Village. ..

We have some near neighbours. One view I particularly like is when leaving the A30 we see Broadwoodwidger atop the rise. At all times of year it presents a good picture . Here we see it before the leaves are on the trees. The village is on the other side of Roadford reservoir to us. I will mention the reservoir later as it certainly affects us here in Germansweek. This picture is a test for me as I am trying to cut down the use of memory but keep picture quality. Not bad Eh!

Bratton Clovelly is another neighbour and contains our nearest pub come eating place. I show a picture of the village and particularly the church. There is a thriving gardening club, amongst other things, and I believe still a Post Office. Wow the place throbs! Click here to link to Brattons own website

While on the subject of neighbours here is a shot of Roadford reservoir constructed in the late '80s. There is a super cafe and giftshop, run by Southwest Lakes Trust, by the dam, plenty of walks and water sports for the energetic.
The lake is quite a prominent feature in the Southwest being the largest lake in the area. Germansweek is at it northern tip and the village can be seen from the dam.

We pass Roadford and Broadwoodwidger when we travel to another neighbour Launceston. Launceston is our nearest Cornish town 15 minutes drive from Germansweek. I took this picture from around the Launceston Rugby Club on a stormy day in February 2002, see the Castle? The club is doing well this year, not that I am a rugby fan; Arsenal for ever! From Germansweek we seem to be in the centre of a triangle of towns, namely Launceston , Holsworthy and Okehampton. People seem to gravitate to the one that has their favourite shop or in the case of Holsworthy a "simply shopping" experience at Somerfields.
I already showed a picture of Launceston with the castle in the distance and now show a picture of Holsworthy. This snap was taken on the 30th May 2002 as the Golden Jubilee bunting was being hung and Union Jacks displayed.

Another fairly close neighbour is the well known area known as Dartmoor. From most parts of Germansweek one can see the Dartmoor hills. The picture below was taken on quite a dull day from the road between Germansweek and Eworthy. Germansweek is about 500 feet above sea level so it is easy to see how we can get good views of the surrounding countryside.

If you know Germansweek you would agree with this statement, wouldn't you! On a windy day the spreaders are out. Spreaders ? What's a spreader. Look below for a clue. Where would we be without them.

Jubilee Bar-B-Q and the Beacon

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Start of the Yesteryears Scroll down for Pauls Shop 1909, Pump Cottge and the Hunt, The Old post Office and Poets Tenement, The Germansweek School photo from 1928 (some of you are pictured) and The tailor Whites Family.

Here we see a thatched cottage which to this day is still known locally as Pauls Shop although a couple of years ago it was renamed to Annebel Cottage. The shop use long since disappeared.
This picture shows Granny Paul outside the shop as it was in 1909. The building stands beside the Parish Hall and adjacent to the drive to Homeliving Farm which can be seen in the background.

Another very old building in the village is Pump Cottage. I think it dates to the 1600's. This photo shows the local hunt meeting outside Pump cottage as it was in the late 1930's. You will notice here that Pump Cottage was 2 houses at the time, now it's just the one. The Cottage still uses the water well for its supply.

This is the Old Post Office before the one at Rock cottage which itself is now closed. Note the old Sunlight soap advert, sorry to say I remember it. Don't know who the youngsters are who pose on the shop steps (couldn't be one of the current owners at a kids fancy dress or could it?)

This is a very old photo looking north from where the hall is now. Poets Tenement is on the right and the old Bidlake thatched cottage on the left. Somewhere aroung here is the alleged entrance to a secret tunnel to an old mine working. Someone in the following school photo remembers it. We will know the truth when Jims house starts subsiding.
1928 Germansweek School

Back row..Violet Blake/Marion Simmons/Donald Parker/Jack Jordan/Ernest and Wilfred Dymond/ Harold James/Archie White/Edwin Dymond/Leonard Prout/Winifred Wooldridge. Middle row..Leonard Daymond/Lois Sobey/Winifred Rich/Eileen Moon(Tubb)/Marjorie Littlejohns/ Lilly Dymond/Douglas Collins. Front row..Phyllis Couch/Betty James/Edith Prout(Hamlyn)/Phyllis Dilling/Dorothy Dymond.

William and Matilda White with their children, George, Norman, Hilda and Harry. Date? - look at the Sunday best clothes!


Colin Rees from Wales remembers happy holidays at Witherdon Manor where Uncle and Aunt Jack and Kath Knight were tenant farmers.
Here are a couple of photos sent to me by Colin.

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