Monday 22 June 2009

Messing about by a river ;-)

Situated on the River Exe estuary, is the pretty little town of Topsham.
As you stand here and look up the river towards Exeter, you can't help but notice the lovely 'Dutch' house...in fact Topsham has many beautiful "Dutch" houses, with delightful small courtyards and gardens . These houses were built by Topsham merchants around 1700, from Dutch brick, brought back as ballast and they were obviously built with Dutch architecture in mind . Holland was then the largest customer for Devonshire serges and these were the greatest days of the port of Topsham.

Topsham is one of our favourite haunts and the journey makes it all the more special as, to get here, we travel along a beautiful stretch of the River Teign, a gorgeous section of South Devon coastline and then up the River Exe to Exeter. From Exeter we have to travel a couple of stops down the other side of the River Exe,although this time the river is hidden from view.



Just to give you some idea, here we are at Topsham, sitting looking down the river Exe towards the sea, with Exmouth in the distance, on the left.
We started our journey somewhere over the green field, on the right.






Topsham has many delightful little shops, pubs, cafes, charity shops and there's a lovely old bookshop, a cheese shop, butchers, florists, shops with all things nautical, gift shops, antiques shops etc. and much more...


And it has many pretty little touches, here and there.



We wend our way to the Quay, stopping first at The Lighter Inn...our fave place for a snack lunch. This always sets us up well for the rest of the day.

After quite a long browse at the antiques centre,(as there are a few floors) we set off again..so...

Let's all go down The Strand!

I love 'The Strand' and I could happily live here!

This is where I get quite nosey! ;-)

I love peeping into the gardens and courtyards, some of which have river frontage.
















As we walk back up the main street, this lovely mural greets us.

The mural depicts salmon fishing in the Exe estuary. Salmon fishing was once a thriving industry on the river.


A river which has different uses nowadays...

But is still as lovely as ever...just as the day was!

;-)

15 comments:

  1. Ooooh Topsham does look ever so nice! Another place to add to my list.

    Thanks for sharing the lovely pictures Sal.

    Stephx

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you for a virtual tour of one of my favourite Devon towns - love the Dutch architecture and all those lovely squints into almost-hidden gardens and courtyards. I have a book entitled Holland & Britain by Charles Wilson (published by Collins - no date, but in a series called The Nations and Britain, and I suspect in the late 1940s, early 1950s) in which there is the a delightful painting of Topsham, 1945, painted by Hester Frood. If my scanner was working I would scan this and send it to you, but I regret it is not working (drat and double drat!)
    Margaret P

    ReplyDelete
  3. Wonderful place and the photo are lovely. I also love to look at other people gardens too.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thank you for your kindness....

    Your day oput looks lovely....xx

    ReplyDelete
  5. You have brought back some lovely memories - thank you.
    Julie xxxxxx

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi Sal

    It's a great place, isn't it. We go periodically - in fact it's a while since our last visit, so probably it's time we went again!

    Sue x

    ReplyDelete
  7. What a lovely trip... I think I would have to be nosey there!

    Victoria xx

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thank you for the lovely pictures, it looks fantastic Sal, I cant wait to explor all these places in October especially Totnes and the cake shop that you talk about...have a good week...H

    ReplyDelete
  9. I went to university in Exeter, your post brings back many happy memories, thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  10. New territory for me to explore in my favourite county.. thank you for the tour Sal...

    Mx

    ReplyDelete
  11. Lovely pics, of an even lovelier day!! Topsham looks like a great place to spend a sunny day!!
    Have a great week : )

    Sharon xx

    ReplyDelete
  12. We haven't been to Topsham for ages. The Antiques Centre is always a highlight for us .. thanks for the reminder. X

    ReplyDelete
  13. What a gorgeous little place - it's now on my list of places to visit when I come back to England....one day!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Looks an absolutely gourgeous place, Sal - just my cup of tea - your photos are wonderful - I've really enjoyed looking at them:)

    ReplyDelete
  15. Quelles belles photos !
    Cela donne envie de découvrir ce très joli village !

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for taking the time to comment! ;-)