The Square looking north. We now have a mini-roundabout! Next year a cloverleaf!
The road on the right is Fore Street. This leads
up to the village of Butterleigh (4 miles). The smaller road behind the
thatched cottage is the road to Tiverton, which is a market town some 7
miles away. The thatched cottage is partly a house and partly a shop known
as The Church House Gallery selling
paintings and gifts. The shop is owned and run by Michael and Sheila Griffin,
Michael sells his own pen, ink and watercolours from the gallery. |
LOOKING NORTH UP Fore Street. The cottages on
the right are medieval "Hall Houses". These did not, when built, have any
chimneys or any intermediate floors. The whole space being one large room
with a fire burning on the earthen floor. The smoke from this fire would
permeate through the thatch and on still nights, they must have been very
smoky places to live in. Gradually, over the years, floors were inserted
and proper chimneys built until today when most have been updated with
all modern conveniences. These cottages are protected under our Listed
Buildings Scheme, which controls how they can be altered. |
Another view of the Square this time looking west. Just to the left of
the phone box is the Parish Council's
noticeboard. Click here for news.The building in
the centre of the shot is now the local branch of The
Royal British Legion where old soldiers meet for a beer and a game
of skittles. The building used to be The Silverton Boy's School. No doubt
the bell was rung to summon the children to their studies. The road to
the right of "The Legion" leads down to the Exe Valley and then to Exeter.
Next to "The Legion" is Dave Haggett's
butcher's shop. Dave also makes prize-winning pies and sausages. Adjacent
is the newsagent and sweet shop known locally as "The
Cake and Candy Shop" although this name seems to have disappeared from
the shop front now. |
Looking south across the Square. St. Mary's
Church tower can just be seen to the left of the War Memorial which
commemorates those Silvertonians who died in the two World Wars. Behind
the memorial is the "Little Rec" as opposed to the "Big Rec" or recreation
field where the Football (soccer) pitch, tennis courts and children's
play area are. The "Little Rec" is a grassed area where children can play
when it's not too wet. There's a flagpole on which the Union Jack is flown
on highdays and holidays and behind the parked cars is "The Old Fire Engine
House" and the cottages of Newcourt Road. |
The Old Fire Engine House This is the building which formerly housed
the horse drawn Fire Engine which was called out whenever there was a fire
in the village. The Firemen were then local volunteers and they would man
the hand-powered pumps and ladders carried on the engine. The building
is now the Scout and Cub store -
The Fire Engine itself belonging to Plymouth Museum. If there's a fire
now the appliance would have to come from Exeter or Tiverton; both a distance
of some seven miles away. This makes you wonder whether your house would
stand a better chance now or then . . . The gates lead into the Church
Path leading to St. Mary's Church. |
A high level shot of the church path
|
The Newsagents
shop
|
Dave Haggett's
butcher's shop.
|
The Parish Council's noticeboard could
do with a bit of sprucing up! Maybe they'll go on-line. |
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