PINN 

Pinn is on the beautiful country road between Sidmouth and Otterton, and a short way from the beach resort of Ladram's Bay. To the west is Woodbury Common, where Nigel Mansell O.B.E. has a great championship golf course and the historic Village of East Budleigh, Bicton Parish, the Village of Colaton Raleigh and Newton Poppleford & Harford.

Other than farming, the only commercial activity is "Bed & Breakfast" places. Two of the farms are providing Bed & Breakfast, namely "Pinn Barton" giving you all the luxuries of home, and a great farm breakfast in the morning. The other farm is "Lower Pinn Farm".

In the 1940s two of the residents of Pinn Cottages provided "Bed & Breakfast" in their cottages. These cottages are not very big, but then our family lived in one of them with our mother and father and their six children.

In the old days the farms would produce Devonshire Cider, made from the many apple orchards that where around. Another farm product was the Devonshire Cream, not good for a diet but it tastes so great. Up until the early 1950s the farming was done with horses. The wheat was cut with a binding machine and put in stooks. In the mid 1940s the farmers where doing the thrashing with a Steam Engine, then one of the farmers bought a new diesel tractor; the kids called it a "Pop Pop" because that was the sound the one cylinder engine. It mush have been a John Deere because it was green. Living there then was like living in the nineteenth century, after all we did not even have electricity or indoor toilets.

Here are more scenes of Pinn and it surroundings:

Current {farmland from Peak Hill } {High Peak from Peak Hill, with Budleigh Salterton in the background} {Looking over Colaton Raleigh Common towards High Peak};

Historic {High Peak from Peak Hill in 1849} {Gathering of the Foxhounds 1950} {"Town Hall" meeting in Pinn 1950}.

Now take a visit to the Pinn "Suburbs":-

Otterton is only 2 miles away, with no 'traffic lights' or 'stop signs' to go through. There are 720 contented people living in the village (I believe this includes the Ladram's Bay and Pinn residents). Here you will find the Church of England's St. Michael and the adjoining Otterton Primary School. The village also has the Otterton Methodist Chapel. Otterton Priory was founded by King John with just four monks to start.  The monks made much of the priory's living from its salt production, distributing it via pack animals to many of the villages sprawled out along the stretch of the River Otter.

Otterton Mill is one of the last working water mills in England, it is fed by the River Otter. Even though it is now a working museum, they still grind flour that they use in their bakery, they also have a fabulous restaurant serving food to die for and a gallery selling work from a selection of the best artists from Devon, Dorset and Somerset.

Just after the war Otterton United was the village's winning football club, and in 1949-50 they won the league they where in. The reserve team was called the Otterton Wasps, and of course they wore Black and Yellow shirts.

More pictures of Otterton:

Current: {Otterton Mill}

Historic: {Senior Class of 1950} {Junior Class of 1950}

Here you will find an alluring typical English Channel stone beach; when you walk out into the sea, the bottom is sandy. There are two stacks (rocks) in the bay and more around the corner towards Sidmouth. The one in the center of the picture is called the "Ladram Lady" and the other one to the left the "Chocolate Finger".

When I was a boy, the young men of the time would climb nearly to the top of the "Ladram Lady" and dive into the sea, also at the south end of the bay was an arch that has fallen down and become a new stack.

The South West Coast Path travels along the top of the cliffs around the bay.

In the early 1940s the "Ladram Bay Cafe" was run by Mrs Molyneax and Miss Redwood, they live in a little cottage on the top of the cliff. The cottage (the white building in the picture above) is still there today. I made my first business venture by selling them bunches of carrots I had grown in my Dad's garden.

From the Sea View farm renting out spots in his fields for tents, to today where there is quite a holiday community at the "Ladram Bay Holiday Centre", which has Static Caravans and spaces for Motorvans and tents with full services. There is a newer larger restaurant, and beside the beach there is other fun things for youngsters to enjoy from magicians to discos, fun with "Ozzie the Otter", to talent shows, and many field games. Of course for Mom and Dad there is the the "Three Rocks Inn" and live music and other adult fun things.

More pictures of the Bay:

Current {the Bay from the N.E.} {the Bay from the S.W.} {Aerial view of the Bay} {the cliffs above the Bay} {kids on the beach};

Historic {"Caves at Ladram" in 1837} {the slipway about 1910} {Ladram Rocks about 1910} {kids on the beach 1948}.

Sidmouth is two miles north east of Pinn, and has changed little in the last two centuries. It has a population of 13507, which swells considerably in the summer. As seen here in these before and after pictures; some of the stacks have fallen into the sea. In this picture from Peak Hill, one thing missing is the big elm trees that where there before 1977 when they were attacked by Dutch Elm disease (see this old picture where the trees are still there). I remember walking home from Sidmouth to Pinn, and walking through leave drifts (like snow drifts), they where up to my knees. But then, I was only knee high to a grasshopper then.

One time I remember going down to Sidmouth and the waves where smashing over the seawall onto the road.

Sidmouth is famous for the summer home of the Royal family in the 1800s and the early 1900s. King Edward VII used to come on his summer holidays. It has not changed much as seen in this old picture. There's a pebble beach as well as a wonderful expanse of sands and rock pools at Jacob's ladder and Cockle Rocks. The town also plays host to the Sidmouth International Festival in August.

Sidmouth is one of the home grounds for the Devon County Cricket Club.

Sidmouth attracts business that cater to tourism, even such things as an English Language School.

East Budleigh is home to 737 people. Near the village is Hayes Barton on the edge of Woodbury Common. Sir Walter Raleigh was born here in 1552. The house is still standing today. Here is an old picture of the kitchen and one of the Fox hounds ready for the hunt. And by the look of this old picture East Budleigh has only add cars and electricity.

Bicton Parish has expanded to a population of 407, it is the location of Bicton Park, which is centered by Bicton House, where the Clinton family has their estate home. Bicton Park's Palm House is a great place to visit. In the 1950s you could visit the Palm House for free. How things have changed. Probably caused by the higher taxes the rich have to pay. Now they have Bicton Park open to the public all year round, for a fee of course. The estate is home to the 'Bicton College of Agriculture'.

Colaton Raleigh is a straggling village of 606 souls, on the west side of the Otter valley, about one and half miles west of Pinn. If you want to stay in this quaint village, try the Drupe Farm. This farm has been converted from a farm to modern cottages. This farm is a Clinton Devon Estate
 Enterprise.

Newton Poppleford & Harford is about one and half miles north west of Pinn. It is a farming community of 2159 people. Although just after WW II their football club was a formidable foe. From the village you can see Mutter's Moor. The village is located by the River Otter. Since the farming business includes farming tourist you can stay at Langsford Farm Holiday Cottages.