As part of a three day break in North Devon we visited St Nectan’s Church on the Hartland Peninsula, one of North Devon’s most dramatic and picturesque places. We also visited Hartland Quay and saw close up the dramatic coastline. We explored Hartland Abbey, its grounds and walled garden. We ventured down the steep cobbled street at Clovelly with still enough energy (only because we took the Land Rover up!) to visit the walled garden at Clovelly Court and the fascinating All Saints Church within the grounds of Clovelly Court.
Sometimes referred to as the “Cathedral of North Devon”, St Nectan’s is located in the hamlet of Stoke, about 1.5 miles west of the town of Hartland.Saint Nectan was one of many Celtic hermits and missionaries associated with early Christian sites in south-west Britain, South Wales and Ireland in the fifth and sixth centuries.The magnificent rood screen (the finest in North Devon), dating from 1450, is a massive structure of eleven bays, 45 ft 6 in long, 12 ft 6 in high and 5 ft 10 in wide at the top.The magnificent rood screenThe magnificent rood screenThe reredos behind the altar with the saints of Hartland’s Ancient Chapels as a First World War war memorial The wagon roofThe Norman fontKing Arthur and the Holy GrailSt Longinus, St Martin and St GeorgeKing WilliamKing AlfredIn the churchyard is the grave of Allen Lane, founder of Penguin Books, sponsor of Niklaus Pesvner the famous authority on English churches and creator of The Pevsner Architectural Guides seriesThe dramatic Devon coast at Hartland QuayThe dramatic Devon coast at Hartland QuayHartland Abbey with St Nectan’s dominating behindHartland Abbey has been the setting for many films and tv seriesPath leading to bog gardenThe bog garden at Hartland AbbeyHartland AbbeyThe walled garden at Hartland AbbeyMore views of the dramatic Devon coast – here above the village of ClovellyThe tortuous path leading down to Clovelly quayThe quay at ClovellyOn the quay at ClovellyA long lens saved us the walk to see the waterfallAll Saints Church Clovelly
Standing in the grounds of Clovelly Court, and bounded by Clovelly Court’s walled garden, is the attractive Norman church of All Saints. The church was begun in the 12th century on the site of an earlier timber building. The Norman church was a simple cruciform building, consisting of a nave, chancel, and transepts. As the population of Clovelly grew, more space was needed, and in the 14th century a north aisle was added.
A plaque in memory of Charles Kingsley, author of Westward Ho!, whose father was rector at ClovellyNorman font The organ at All Saints ClovellyThe hot house in the walled garden of Clovelly Court was a welcome relief from the chill wind
References:
Simon Jenkins; England’s Thousand Best Churches Penguin Books 2000
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