The North Devon CoastHarper, Charles G. (Charles George)
History
The North Devon Coast
Harper, Charles G. (Charles George)
Devon (England) -- Description and travel
Beneath, coming up or going down, clatter the donkeys with their laden
crooks--the last survivals of the pack-horse era--for wheels are
unknown at Clovelly, and whether it be luggage, or coals, or sand, or
vegetables to be conveyed, it is some patient, sure-footed “Neddy” that
does the carrying, on his long-suffering back. On the way they brush
past the artists, who are generally to be found calmly seated at their
easels in the middle of the thoroughfare; for artists are privileged
persons here, and so plentiful that no one takes the least notice of
them, and no curiosity is ever shown as to whether they be painting
well or ill. And every visitor who is not an artist, has a photographic
camera of sorts; so that, in one way or another, a good many incorrect
representations of Clovelly are taken away in the course of the year.
[Illustration: A CLOVELLY DONKEY.]
Halfway down to the sea, between this steeply descending line of
white houses--every one of them old, except that modern annexe of
the “New Inn”--is the sharp turn where a breast-high rough stone
wall, commanding view’s over the sea, is known as “the Look Out.”
Immediately below, the road runs under one of the old houses, called
“Temple Bar,” and thereafter goes zigzagging “down tu Kaay.”
[Illustration: “TEMPLE BAR.”]
The Quay and the Quay pool compose the most miniature of harbours: the
quay itself being a small but massive masonry pier, with a lower walk,
an upper walk, and a breast-wall, curving out from a narrow strand. At
high tide the water off this pier looks so deep, and the waves rage
with such fury, that it is with something the effect of a dramatic
revelation you find the ebb capable of receding so far as to leave pier
and pool alike quite dry, and the boats all canted at absurd helpless
angles.
[Illustration: THE QUAY, CLOVELLY.]
Over this little scene, the tall, sheer, tree-fringed cliff of
Gallantry Bower protrudes a sheltering shoulder; the smoke from
Clovelly chimneys on still days ascending perpendicularly against
its dark green background, with a comforting, cosy sense of snug
homesteads, sufficient though humble. The “Red Lion” stands prominently
here, an odd building with something of a Swiss suggestion, and a
tunnel through its heavy mass leading to a cobble-stoned courtyard,
where you see an upturned boat or two, a scatter of domestic fowls
searching for grains, and making shift with seaweed; and perhaps one of
those patient, all-enduring little Clovelly donkeys, submitting to be
loaded up with a heavy sack by a burly fisherman, who looks distinctly
the better able of the two to hump the burden.
[Illustration: BACK OF THE “RED LION,” CLOVELLY.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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