Ilfracombe's watersports centre has scooped a regional award at the Michelmores Property Awards 2024. North Devon Council's Larkstone Watersports Hub won the Leisure and Tourism Project of the Year at the awards ceremony at Sandy Park Conference Centre in Exeter on 27 June. The awards, hosted by actor and comedian Lucy Porter, celebrated outstanding property and construction projects in the South West across 11 categories. The watersports centre was recognised for its work in regenerating and revitalising a unique and sensitive location at Larkstone Cove, offering improved access for watersports activities that provide social and economic benefits for the local community and visitors to the area, as well as a destination café which offers stunning views across Ilfracombe Harbour. The award was collected by officers from the council's property and harbour teams alongside representatives from the wider project team who helped bring the watersports centre to fruition: Grainge Architects, Pearce Construction, Hills, Craddys, Hulley and Kirkwood, Hop Consulting, Teignmouth Maritime Services and Aquatonics
Head of Property, Place and Regeneration at North Devon Council, Sarah Jane MackenzieShapland, said: "We are delighted that the Larkstone Watersports Hub has won the Leisure and Tourism Project of the Year at the Michelmores Property Awards. This award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone involved in bringing this fantastic facility to life, from our property and harbour teams, to the contractors who made up the wider project team.
"It is also wonderful recognition for Ilfracombe and the many people who have supported this ambitious and complex project We are thrilled it is proving to be a popular asset for the local community and visitors alike."
Ilfracombe Watersports Hub opened in July 2023, giving new homes to three of the town's local clubs with boat storage, a slipway for safe and easy access to the water, and disabled access and facilities. The wider public can take part in kayaking, stand up paddleboard and coasteering sessions through commercial operators, while the Lime Kiln Café offers food and drink with a stunning view of Ilfracombe Harbour
The Michelmores Property Awards celebrate the best property, development and construction projects in the South West, bringing together all those who contribute to the region’s exciting property, real estate and construction sectors. The competition recognises a wide range of commercial and residential projects
More information about the awards, including a full list of the 2024 winners, can be found at the Michelmores website.
The Ilfracombe Magazine is not liable for services provided by advertisers or for inaccuracies within this publication. We cannot accept responsibility for any loss or damage due to errors or omissions. Reproduction of content without our prior permission is prohibited.
IIlfracombe Villa an endangered Building
A Grade II listed Gothic villa in Ilfracombe has been named one of the Top Ten Endangered Buildings of 2024 by The Victorian Society, as announced by the Society’s President, Griff Rhys Jones. Renowned for its exquisite decorative details, the villa urgently needs restoration to preserve its historical significance. Griff Rhys Jones highlighted the building's potential to become a home once more. "In a desperate housing environment, this house deserves to be a dwelling for a new family or families," he said. "I hope that the owners see sense here. Don’t let one of the pages of the story of Ilfracombe be wiped through indifference and neglect."
Originally known as Roslyn Hoe, the villa was built on a speculative plot by a local builder and designed by a local architect. It is one of Ilfracombe’s finest houses, reflecting the late Victorian era's interest in coastal resorts. Over the years, it has served as a girls' school since 1885 and a hotel since the 1930s.
Later renamed St. Martins, the villa was described as an "exercise in symmetry" by local architect Alan Hussell, whose family had ties to the Wesleyan owners in the 1930s The villa's condition has deteriorated since the last owner's passing, raising concerns among local civic groups about its future. James Hughes, director of the Victorian Society, expressed deep concern
"The poor condition of this splendid high Victorian house is a cause for profound concern. Examples of domestic architecture of this quality are rare and of national importance," he said. The Victorian Society emphasises regular maintenance for heritage buildings, especially those by the sea. They urge the current owners to consider selling the property if they cannot maintain it, noting, "Given the building’s enormous charm, a sale seems perfectly conceivable "
bicclescombe park and Yeo valley woodland award!
North Devon Council is celebrating after retaining it's Green Flag Award for two of it's green spaces. The news that Bicclescombe Park, Ilfracombe and Yeo Valley Woodland, Barnstaple has achieved the accreditationthe international quality mark for parks and green spaces - is testament to the hard work and dedication of the team that care for the green space so that visitors and residents alike can enjoy it. 2024 is the 20th consecutive year that Bicclescombe Park has achieved Green Flag status, with Yeo Valley Woodland receiving the award for the 13th time in a row. Both spaces are owned and managed by North Devon Council, with the help of active community groups including the Friends of Yeo Valley Woodland and the Bicclescombe Park User Group Councillor Ricky Knight, Lead Member for Climate and Biodiversity, said: "I am thrilled to receive the news that Bicclescombe Park and Yeo Valley Woodland have retained their Green Flag Awards for another year This achievement is testament to the dedication and hard work of our staff and brilliant volunteers. These green spaces continue to be cherished community hubs for everyone to enjoy " Paul Todd MBE, Keep Britain Tidy’s Green Flag Award Scheme Manager, said: “I would like to congratulate everyone involved at Bicclescombe Park and Yeo Valley Woodland on achieving a Green Flag Award
Bicclescombe Park and Yeo Valley Woodland are vital green spaces for communities in North Devon to socialise, enjoy nature, for children to play safely and it provides important opportunities for park users to improve their physical and mental health. We know that staff and volunteers work tirelessly to ensure that it maintains the high standards of the Green Flag Award, everyone involved should feel extremely proud of their achievement It is important that our free to use spaces are maintained to the Green Flag Award standard, making them accessible for all members of the community while ensuring the environment is protected ” The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for the management of green spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world.
Hey so I thought Id introduce myself, as some of you may be thinking “Who is this Nest Woman” I'm from Ilfracombe, North Devon, and I love everything about my hometown - the beaches, walks, friends, and family. When my mum was young, my grandparents moved to the area and my grandad, a pharmacist, bought Lockets Chemist on the high street Maybe you’ve heard of Mr. and Mrs. Brough. They’ve been my inspiration to become my own boss, having grown up in the family business I’ve moved around a bit, living in London and Bristol for a while, but I always come back to Devon. It's just home. I started with Nest because I'm passionate about property and missed being an estate agent Plus, after having my son Ralph, I wanted to work for myself and have more control over my worklife balance. Now that I'm launched, it feels like I'm doing my hobby every day, which is
such a great feeling. When it comes to my business, it's just me! I'm the main point of contact when it comes to selling your home. I use Rightmove, my website, and social media to market my properties. I work from home and don't have a high street presence, but I truly believe that everything is going digital in the world of estate agency. And who knows, maybe my partner Tom will build me an office in our garden someday! “I love properties. In the evenings, you will find me watching Stacey Solomon’s renovation programme or ‘Sort Your Life Out!’ I just love it I use Pinterest for interior design ideas and I’m always thinking of new plans for our own home.”
If you are thinking of moving you can scan the QR code on the advert or contact me on 01271 649 540
The Lighter Side of the Great War
The re-dedication of the memorial in Runnymede Gardens reminded me of the museum’s wonderful collection of letters and photos from World War One. I have selected just a few extracts to illustrate the lighter (and wetter!) side of the war.
Here is Jimmy Dendle, describing his laundry for Mr Macey, his old headmaster: “There is one thing you never taught us at school that would come in handy now, sir, and that is how to wash shirts etc. My word, you would laugh to see us trying to make them clean. Not being near shops of course soap is scarce, and after you have succeeded in washing it , you hang it up on a tree to dry; when you return for it, lo and behold it is in the mud!” Percy Harding, hailed from Berrynarbor He was in Gallipoli when he also had trouble with a shirt He was interviewed by a reporter from the Ilfracombe Chronicle and described how he and some comrades went down to the seashore to wash their shirts There was no soap, so they were tramping the clothes in the water when the sound of an approaching shell scattered them. Bang, went the shell, right in the middle of the laundry “Next I zeed o’me shirt it was right out at zee,” said Harding. A soldier on the Western Front,
Jack Blake, wrote to reassure his mother:
“You mustn’t think that we never get a bath here, for we all had one (and beautifully hot too) the last place we were at. The bath was in a large vat in a gin distillery, and each vat could comfortably hold five men at once.”
Many of the men enjoyed a swim, amongst them Stan Bray,
who wrote to Mr Lord, his old head master:
“We had a fairly decent river to bathe in. There were a few weeds in it, but it was good to have a swim ” Claude Millman described how, in the heat, they worked with just shirt and trousers on, and,
“In the evenings we chaps have a nice swim in the shell holes of the Jack Johnsons ”
Another swimmer was Dick Watts, writing from Egypt:
Jack Blake, wrote to reassure his mother: “You mustn’t think that we never get a bath here, for we all had one (and beautifully hot too) the last place we were at The bath was in a large vat in a gin distillery, and each vat could comfortably hold five men at once.”
Many of the men enjoyed a swim, amongst
“We have a good swim every day; in fact all through the winter. It is a good swim from one side to the other, or as we say, “From Egypt to Asia”, and swimming in January would be the last thing we would think of at home ”
Our collection of letters and photos is a real treasure trove, and we are so lucky to have it.
Museum.
Try Scuba Diving This Summer - 50% off Pool Try Dives and 20% off diving training with Easy Divers
If you’ve ever fancied giving scuba diving a try, use code localsdiscount at the check-out to secure a 50% discount off a pool try dive session with Ilfracombe based Easy Divers, reducing the price to £25. Simply visit https://www easydiversnorthdevon co uk/train ing-tasters-refreshers/swimming-pool-trydive/ and book on-line. This activity is suitable for anyone able to swim 25m unaided in water too deep to stand in.
Once qualified, you can also join Easy Divers for a bucket-list trip to dive with the friendly and inquisitive Grey Seals at Lundy! The seal encounter dive sites are safe, shallow and sheltered and suitable for all experience levels
If you catch the diving bug, there is also a 2024 season 20% discount for locals wishing to undertake the PADI Open Water diving certificate. This diving certificate enables you to dive anywhere in the world with a dive buddy, to a depth of 18m.
So if you’re ready to give this exhilarating adventure sport a try, visit https://www easydiversnorthdevon co uk/traini ng-tasters-refreshers/swimming-pool-try-dive/ and book yourself onto a try dive, using code localsdiscount at the check-out Alternatively please call Easy Divers on 07833 020424 if you have any questions and one of the team would be happy to help.
