~Postcards from Somerset~
16th-20th May 2011
Here's a few views from the holiday and some background information, where applicable. These photos are not shown in any of the other holiday reports.
The Farthings Hotel, Hatch Beauchamp
Have a look at their website. As Karen and I don't take many holidays, we sometimes pay more than I usually do for camping, on our short stays in the UK. Our bedroom was the "Bay" room, up there - top left. Spiral staircase to en-suite bathroom!
Hatch Inn, Hatch Beauchamp, Somerset
Hatch Beauchamp is 5 miles south-east of Taunton. On Monday night I took a walk around the local countryside looking for clues...
Elm Bridge Signpost
A constant feature of the Somerset countryside is the prescence of these signposts. I was heading for Beercrocombe, my research suggests that the little village's name is mis-spelt on this signpost.
Railway Bridge
I clambered down to get this view. Hatch Beauchamp was serviced by a railway line until the Beeching Cuts. The soot on the underisde of the arch suggested one track, the width of the arch suggested two. Further research is required, more soot would be evident on an uphill stretch, but this looks level. Next stop, Frog Street Farm and this gate was found open.
Original sign, but close examination revealed "L.N.E.R." on the left-hand edge. We are on G.W.R. territory.
Beercrocombe Centre - the phonebox, now a book exchange
St. James Church, Beercrocombe
Mainly 15th Century, restored 19th Century. The map showed a disused canal, where's that then?
The Chard Canal
Why is the canal derelict? Well, it was opened in 1842 and closed in 1868; the railway (Chard to Taunton), under the control of the Bristol & Exeter Railway Company opened in 1866 and the railway company bought and closed the little-used canal. There would have been a tunnel near here, but I couldn't find the portals. The pond, above, is good news for wildlife. It's worth remembering that if the railways had come before the canals, the canals wouldn't exist!
Station Road, Hatch Beauchamp
But no station! No evidence of the railway on Station Road. I bumped into a local chap and the obvious was stated: the line was tunnelled under this part of Hatch Beauchamp and the station was not on Station Road. The station is within private property in a builders yard and the gate was shut. Ummmm.....
St.John the Baptist, Hatch Beauchamp
The morning after my wander around, Karen and I went for a short walk up to Hatch Court and we found this church and within the grounds we found a hero's grave:
Colonel J.R.M.Chard V.C. R.E.
Defender of Rourke's Drift, portrayed by Stanley Baker in the film Zulu.
Hatch Court, Hatch Beauchamp
Privately owned big house. Public footpath runs down the main drive.
Ermine Moth Larvae
These are the moths that make bushes look like they have been invaded by loads of spiders. Lots of infestation around here, perhaps this is good news for predators and less good news for the bushes and their leaves. Another time we had a look at the village of Crowcombe, not to be confused with Beercrocombe or Crowcombe Heathfield.
Crowcombe Court, for sale at £2m
Market Cross, Crowcombe, Somerset. Crowcombe belongs to The Quantocks and walks can start from here. The morning after, just after breakfast, I went looking for more old railway stuff.
The Chard to Taunton Line (disused)
From an access point west of Hatch Beauchamp I found the trackbed and walked down the cutting towards the tunnel. It's eerie!
Hatch Tunnel
Left largely to the forces of nature since 1963 and sealed up some time later. The other end has been backfilled with rubble. The door is securely locked. A startled young deer sprinted out of the undergrowth and up towards the fields (left). The next day we were heading for Lynmouth and stopped off in Dulverton.
Dulverton Village Hall
Cars! Necessary evil, I suppose. Dulverton is an Exmoor Village on the south side.
Town Mills, Dulverton
Good food! They also offer accommodation, take a look at their website.
All Saints Church, Dulverton
The day after Lynmouth, we did our railway walk and later in the evening I went looking for Hatch Station.
Hatch Station, Hatch Beauchamp
Obviously I was using my super zoom lens to get this one. The builders' merchants have worked around the building, it is Grade II Listed. In the course of my research and thinking, it dawned on me that the line was built to the wider guage of the Great Western Railway, that's why the bridge arch looked wide, but not wide enough and the soot was evident on one side only, as the line would have been relaid to standard guage and set-off to one side.
North Curry
St.Peter and St.Paul Church, North Curry
Dating from 14th Century, it is Norman in origin and holds an elevated position above the Somerset Levels. North Curry is a pleasant place with a pub, post office, shop and coffee shop. The grave nearest the camera is that of an RAF pilot killed in action in WW2.
Please don't assume that just because I've taken a photograph from any particular place, I had the right to be there!
All photos copyright Richard Ratcliffe 2011 ©
Take me back to the start ....