2017 Project 52 - 1st Quarter by Geoff F

[Geoff F]

Thanks for the replies.

Each scene was the result of slightly moving my position until I could obtain the maximum potential from rather limited options. The last one, Bruce, is a very old farm track which has become quite muddy now and the other track joining and running at right angles has become a drainage ditch now. Only a few inches of water but around a foot of soft mud underneath. I was on the bank of the ditch attempting to find a clear shooting position between holly leaves.

[Wavelength]

Very interesting shots......

[joebranko]

Very interesting challenge! All very nice shots, but my faves are #3 and #4. I am a fan of twisted trees and twisted branches, so #4 is very appealing to to me.

[Geoff F]

Thanks.

To finish off this quarter, I have shown several scenes of Andrews Wood and mentioned that I am attempting to use an old tithe map from 1840. Where possible, I have added on the old field names then overlaid the current wildlife reserve area. Light grey for the original reserve and pure white for the areas added since then.

Not sure if it is going to work this small (my working image is A3) but the names may be visible in the Lightbox view.



A few names are still uncertain because it is difficult to work out some of those strange sounding old names used by farmers which were written with real ink pens and the paper has discoloured. Also, there are some more recent paths which have yet to be included. The green coloured names are modern identification areas which were thought up by some of the reserve volunteer workers.

A few fields and several hedge boundaries have disappeared over the years so actually placing the modern map proved to be something of a challenge.

[Geoff F]

My 2nd quarter is here
2017 Project 52 - 2nd Quarter by Geoff F

[skitterbug]

Thanks.

To finish off this quarter, I have shown several scenes of Andrews Wood and mentioned that I am attempting to use an old tithe map from 1840. Where possible, I have added on the old field names then overlaid the current wildlife reserve area. Light grey for the original reserve and pure white for the areas added since then.

Not sure if it is going to work this small (my working image is A3) but the names may be visible in the Lightbox view.



A few names are still uncertain because it is difficult to work out some of those strange sounding old names used by farmers which were written with real ink pens and the paper has discoloured. Also, there are some more recent paths which have yet to be included. The green coloured names are modern identification areas which were thought up by some of the reserve volunteer workers.

A few fields and several hedge boundaries have disappeared over the years so actually placing the modern map proved to be something of a challenge.

Hi Geoff ~ I was trying to figure out where this is located and came to the conclusion that it is near Derbyshire? Or am I totally off the mark. Stanton Moorland is part of Peak District National Park? I'm always fascinated by the names!
You live in a very beautiful and interesting country! Lots of history!

[Geoff F]

You are indeed a few hundred miles too far to the north. This area is about 12 miles inland from the most southern part of the UK coast. In the county of Devon and roughly between Exeter and Plymouth.

If you have an Exif viewer which shows the embedded GPS data go to one of those photos of the site, on the previous page then copy the image location and paste into the exif viewer. Use Google Maps view for example. Or extract the GPS location data and paste into a map as a reference point. Zoom out a bit to show more of the surrounding area until something recognisable appears.

The area is moorland near an old abandoned village which was named Stanton. The nearest modern village is Loddiswell which lies just a couple of miles to the south. Don't get confused by the closest reference point which is California Cross; no, not that California, this is the English one which merely consists of an old Inn and a petrol filling station.

Here is an abridged version of the history from this area.

The first specific reference to Stanton itself occurs in 1262. In that year, Eva de Cantilupe, the Lady of the Manor of 'Lodeswell' gave several hundreds of land (including Stanton Moor) to the Church of St. Mary Stodley or Studley and the canons there for the soul of William, her husband. During this period Loddiswell Parish was composed of two villages, Stanton and Loddiswell.

A settlement has existed at Stanton ('stone enclosure' in Saxon) from medieval times until the end of the last century. The village of Stanton has never been regarded as a particularly healthy place. The late Mrs Florence Rundle of Loddiswell has said that when she was a girl, over 10O years ago, she was told not to go on Stanton Moor for there was disease there. There was a plague in 1590 - recorded in the Loddiswell Parish Registers as 'Ye Plague Tyme anno 159O’ and one in eight of the population of Loddiswell died between March and September of that year. Among these are families known to have lived at Stanton. John Phillip's family at Stanton Moor suffered loss every year in the summer months with monotonous regularity; in 1620, one of his family died, then two or three a year until 1628, except in 1624.

Circa 1750, Loddiswell is recorded as having 50 houses at the time compared to Stanton' s 26. From this time onwards there was a steady decline in the population of Stanton, accelerating after 1861. However, Stanton remained a thriving community in the first half of the 19th Century as is demonstrated by the building, in 1846, of the Stanton Bible Christian Chapel, which had seating for 117 people.

In the mid 19th century, Stanton was not as isolated as it is now. A coach passed Blackdown within reasonable walking distance of Stanton three times a day each way. In 1893, the Brent-Kingsbridge railway was opened and coaches ceased to run - the final straw for Stanton. As the rail came, the coach went, and farms were mechanised, there was no future for Stanton: the last resident was a gamekeeper and only the one house remained from 1906 until 1918 until its occupant left too.

[skitterbug]

Hi Geoff ~ I wasn't able to extract any GPS data but I spent time searching on Google map and have an idea of this location now. And then that lead to searches on the web for any information about the area and so on. Two hours later .... what can I say... you have a beautiful country! Thank you for the history as well.

[Geoff F]

You are welcome, Sandy.

I'm a committee member of Salcombe History Society. Did you find this site?
http://salcombehistorysociety.co.uk/

Today I was attending a number of lectures concerning the connections between the local area and Newfoundland because from the 1500's to around the 1700's many boats sailed from here to fish for cod on the Grand Banks of Newfoundland.

Two years ago we recorded conservations with some of our 80 and 90 year old citizens then I used those actual recordings with old photographs to tell the story of our town over the past 100 years.

Last year I produced another DVD telling the story of the fishing industry. Also a DVD with narration and sound track showing a year at this nature reserve. Over 400 photos including flowers, insects, fungi, etc.

[skitterbug]

You are welcome, Sandy.

I'm a committee member of Salcombe History Society. Did you find this site?
http://salcombehistorysociety.co.uk/

Today I was attending a number of lectures concerning the connections between the local area and Newfoundland because from the 1500's to around the 1700's many boats sailed from here to fish for cod on the Grand Banks of Newfoundland.

Two years ago we recorded conversations with some of our 80 and 90 year old citizens then I used those actual recordings with old photographs to tell the story of our town over the past 100 years.

Last year I produced another DVD telling the story of the fishing industry. Also a DVD with narration and sound track showing a year at this nature reserve. Over 400 photos including flowers, insects, fungi, etc.

Hi Geoff ~ No, I hadn't stumbled across this website in my web-roaming yesterday. I have it bookmarked now and I'll definitely enjoy looking through all that is provided through this link! Thank you for sharing the site as well as the info about your accomplishment producing a DVD! I have a feeling that those who attend your presentation, thoroughly enjoy the material that you share!
And speaking of cod, we had it for lunch today! <smile>

[Geoff F]

Just ordered another book about the early settlements in Newfoundland and how the fish was salted and dried before being landed in Spain/Portugal. Those boats would then load up with wine for the return voyage to England.

Fish Into Wine by Peter Pope.

[Cantab]

Geoff, this looks like a fascinating book. I checked the author out: he's a serious archaeologist/historian at Memorial University in Newfoundland. I'm getting a copy of the book.
I also checked out the website you provided for the Salcombe History Society.

[joebranko]

Today I was attending a number of lectures concerning the connections between the local area and Newfoundland because from the 1500's to around the 1700's many boats sailed from here to fish for cod on the Grand Banks of Newfoundland.

.

I found this article on the internet about Cod fishing in Newfoundland :https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cod_...n_Newfoundland
Perhaps you have seen it already. I was in St. John's in 2006. I must have a look to see if I have any pictures from that trip.

[Geoff F]

I hadn't seen that particular entry before and there are some potentially interesting links there.

It is amazing to think that at the peak of the fishery (1500-1600) just 4 ports around the area where I live were regularly sending 80 boats and 2,000 men over there each year.

Later on, there is evidence that some vessels landed their catch in the West Indies then loaded sugar for the return trip to the UK instead of landing in Spain and loading wine for the UK market.