A change of scene
We have been away for a few days break and had a good time despite the cold!
The old buildings here are so attractive......
As you all know me well by now- I always like to stay in a town where there is sight of some water!
Despite some of the buildings having a Dutch style, we are still in England!
This is Topsham by the River Exe, just outside Exeter in Devon. In years gone by (around 1700's) this was an important trading port. Topsham ships took wool and cotton to Holland and returned home with Dutch bricks and tiles. The Dutch architecture was so admired that it was copied when building some of the houses.
A mural on one of the buildings depicts the salmon fishing in the Exe estuary which is still done on a much smaller scale today. A salmon was once caught here that weighed 61 lbs (27kg)!
The shops here are small, independent and unique and the features of the old buildings are retained within the shops - old fireplaces, cellars and small rooms.
The views across the estuary and nature reserve were wonderful.
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| Daisy enjoyed the change of scene too! |
Another highlight to a visit to Topsham is the free museum. To celebrate it's first day of opening for the 2013 season, a theatre group from Exeter University invited us to a tea party. They took us back in time to 1941 as they acted out the lives of previous residents of the town. Below is the nightdress worn by Vivian Leigh as Scarlet O' Hara in the film Gone with the wind. (Vivian lived briefly in Topsham when she was married to her first husband Leigh Holman.)
The museum also had a 1940's - 1950's kitchen.
Back home the Easter branches we had picked prior to going away had started to open - the cold outside seems to have put everything back in the garden. The magnolia is usually out by now!
I hope you all had a lovely Easter too.
Sarah x
Sarah your few days away looks absolutely wonderful. I love the look of the old Dutch style houses and those views are gorgeous across the water especially those with the wildlife. Hope you enjoyed your Easter.
ReplyDeletePatricia x
Dear Sarah, I'm so glad to hear you had a great time and enjoyed your Easter vacations! Yes, I know how you love water and sea that's why all your posts about that are so nice !The place you visited looks so lovely and I paricularly liked the 1950's kitchen!I'm very interested in the manners and customs of times past.
ReplyDeleteHave a glorious week!
Olympia
It looks like it was a lovely town to visit. It's interesting how the Dutch architecture got imported. It sounds like you had a lovely Easter holiday!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic place to visit- I'm coming to rely on you to tell me about places on the coast that are worth staying in! You are certainly a water person Sarah. Nice to see Daisy's new 'do as well. I fear she is looking a lot smarter than Teddy at the moment! CT x
ReplyDeleteIt sounds lovely, and an interesting place to visit.
ReplyDeleteIt certainly is a fab place to visit. Lovely post. Suzy x
ReplyDeleteThose roof shapes are super, what a great place to visit! :) x
ReplyDeleteLovely photographs of such a charming place to visit, Sarah!Easter blessings to YOU....Love Maria x
ReplyDeleteLooks like a wonderful little town, just my sort of place too!
ReplyDeleteA lovely post Sarah. I just adore that nightgown. When I compare it with what we wear to bed today! I wouldn't swap really, but..
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely trip Sarah, thank you for taking us with you! I was born in Exeter but don't know the area very well, my Gran often talks about Topsham as she lives very close by. x
ReplyDeleteLooks like a lovely place. I've always fancied visiting, thanks for the pictures.
ReplyDeleteMakes me want to go there:)
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice trip you've made. And Daisy had an good time! How is your husbands health? Lovely greetings, Jolanda
ReplyDeleteMy husband is hopefully having an operation in a couple of weeks time.
DeleteSarah x
Good afternoon sweet Sarah and Daisy! Daisy, you look beautiful with your change in "hairstyle!" And the little village, so quaint and the cottages are superb. I too need to be near water, and thank you for bringing this to share. Anita
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely wee town. There's quite a lot of buildings around here with pan tiled roofs. I think the pan tiles were used as ballast in boats coming back from holland - after delivering wool. Juliex
ReplyDeleteTopsham is a lovely place to visit especially the Antiques Centre. Haven't visited for a while -another place to go on my must visit soon list!
ReplyDeleteJune
Needless to say I visited the Antiques centre too! It was what bought me to Topsham originally many years ago!
DeleteSarah x
lovely old buildings, it looks like a beautiful area. thanks for the tour!
ReplyDeletex
What a lovely place to visit for a few day, old the old buildings and the streets.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your photos of your trip. Have a wonderful day.
ReplyDeleteThis is so nice. I would love to visit there, as I always want to do with places you post about. The photos are great. I could spend all day looking around that kitchen.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great place to stay, and not so far away from me. Love the sound of the independent shops and the nature reserve. I'll have it on my list now. Thanks Sarah!!
ReplyDeleteHello Sarah, I love looking at your very peaceful and lovely blog Down By The Sea. I just looking at your beautiful UK photos especially of the SEA and their boats. The old building are glorious indeed. I also loved seeing the nature reserve and its bird life. Neat how you Magnolia branches are now blooming inside your nice cozy house. I would bloom too. VBG Hugs Judy
ReplyDeleteHow lovely. I'm with you on a love of being near water. We were on a farm for the 4 days, some photo sorting to be done and then I will share! x
ReplyDeleteNice post. I learn something totally new and challenging on sites I stumbleupon on a daily basis.
ReplyDeleteIt will always be interesting to read through content from other authors and
use something from their web sites.
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Your days at the seaside sound delightful Sarah! I enjoy going to the beach and see as well, winter or summer. It clears you head and there is always so much to see. I wish you and your husband all the best. I hope the operation will go well! Thinking of you,
ReplyDeleteMadelief x
Sarah .. YOU know your friend The Rusty Pearl .....is loving every single picture and Daisy is so cute................. HUGS I love this post
ReplyDeleteLovely post,and always, always fun to see Daisy . A night dress worn by Vivian Leigh ... I am clapping wildly!
ReplyDeleteWow, great post and photos. I could live in a place like that by the water and never get tired of it. Thank you so much for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI've driven through Exeter, but never been to the river. Looks adorable!
ReplyDeleteHow I love your world, Sarah. I would be inspired just WALKING where you go, where you live! Thank you and Daisy for coming to see my world. Many hugs! Anita
ReplyDeleteHi Sarah
ReplyDeleteGlad t=you had a nice time over Easter, the pics remind me of when we stayed in Flushing very similar style buildings.
Annie x
The old buildings look amazing and have quite a Dutch appearance as you mention. Life by the sea does hold its attractions. The museum looks interesting too.
ReplyDeleteThose houses are beautiful, I always wonder what they're like inside. I love the 1940s - 1950s kitchen especially that plate rack on the wall and the heavy ceramic bowl on the table.
ReplyDeleteI'm curious about the house in the 3rd picture down from the top as it seems to be surrounded by water.
It does have water on 3 sides the views from the house must be amazing!
DeleteSarah x
LOVELY pictures!!!
ReplyDeleteTake care,
Titti