It was the relatively tall chimney on the side of this chapel that initially caused me to be curious, and so I stopped to investigate. It transpired that this little church dating from the 1860s was also used as the local school and the pews doubled up as school desks. The ink wells can still be seen. To heat the building there is a large fireplace. The Grade II-listed building is still an active church and has a beautifully peaceful feel to it. There is a little display that reflects the time when it was also the local school. In the early months of the year the lovely church garden has a wonderful display of snowdrops. It is well worth a visit if you are ever in the area.

St Raphael's Church is in the hamlet of Huccaby in the valley of the West Dart River on Dartmoor. Dartmeet is a short distance away. Technically, it is a Chapel of Ease. Before it was built the local workers and their families would have been expected to walk across Dartmoor all the way to their parish church at Lydford. Apparently the vicar took pity on them and had this chapel built to serve the local area. It also doubled up as the local school.

Tags:   Devon Huccaby St Raphael's Church village schools Chapels of Ease listed buildings Dartmoor

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Saint Winifred's Church in Branscombe in East Devon is among the oldest and most architecturally significant parish churches of Devon. It probably dates back as far as about 995, but records of the vicars only go back to the thirteenth century. The tower is the oldest part and the base could be Saxon while the main part is early 12th century Norman, as is most of the nave.

The church is built on a levelled area that can not be seen from the coast, and this may have been for protection of the original Saxon church from Viking raiders. Alternatively, the church may have been placed on an earlier pre-Christian holy site. Occupying such a pagan site would have allowed the Church to both challenge paganism and benefit from any positive religious feelings associated with the site.

The Grade I-listed building is considered by Simon Jenkins to be among England's Thousand Best Churches.

Tags:   Devon Branscombe St Winifred's Church, Branscombe church interiors England's Thousand Best Churches Listed buildings

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This is the River Meavy in the far south-west corner of Dartmoor, where it will shortly join the River Plym by Shaugh Bridge at the upper end of Bickleigh Vale. The River Plym then flows south towards Plymouth, passing the eastern side of the city before entering Plymouth Sound via the stretch of water known as the Cattewater.

The River Meavy is just ten miles long, with its source near Princetown on Dartmoor. On its short journey It flows into the Burrator Reservoir, leaving at the main dam, then flowing past the village of Meavy - from which it takes its name - before reaching this ancient woodland. This area is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and is important for its landscape and wildlife as well as for its archaeology and industrial heritage.

Tags:   Devon Dartmoor River Meavy Dewerstone Wood rivers rapids Water Leaves Trees Riverside

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Beer in East Devon is a pretty village on the Jurassic coast that grew up around a smugglers' cove and caves which were once used to store contraband goods. These are now part of the attraction of the village. Many of the buildings are faced with flint, a hard glassy stone found in the local chalk rock.

Historically, the main sources of income for the village include fishing and lace production.These days tourism is more important. A brook winds its way in an open conduit alongside the main road down to the sea. The Church of St Michael (on the left) dates from 1877 and was built on the site of an older chapel.

There are two art galleries featuring work by local artists, and a pair of prints that I bought several years ago from the gallery on the right have pride of place in our lounge.

Tags:   Devon Beer East Devon villages street scenes shops

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Confusingly, there are two rivers called Axe in south-west England. One flows into the Bristol Channel and the other, a tiny part of which is seen here, flows into the English Channel, just to the east of the town of Seaton. The village of Axmouth, which in the medieval era was a major port, is now some distance from the sea.

If anyone knows any more about the boat, do please tell me so I can add some details to the caption.

Tags:   Devon Seaton Axmouth River Axe small boats Explored

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