Shaldon
| Shaldon | |
| Devon | |
|---|---|
 Shaldon, from across Teignmouth Harbour | |
| Location | |
| Location: | 50°32’25"N, 3°30’18"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 1,762 (2011) |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | South Devon |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Shaldon Parish Council |
Shaldon is a village in Devon, on the south bank of the estuary of the River Teign, opposite the town of Teignmouth. It has been described homorously as "a quaint English drinking village, with a fishing problem".[1] The village is a popular bathing place and is characterised by Georgian architecture.
The village hadd a population of 1,762 in 2011 according to the census of that year.
History
Shaldon is part of the Wonford Hundred. The original river settlement was upstream in Ringmore where the valley was farmed and the inhabitants were hidden from the sea. Up to the beginning of the 20th Century Ringmore had many working farms, extensive apple and other orchards, including cider apples, watercress beds, and withy beds used for making lobster pots. There were also shipbuilding and repair yards on the waterfront.
Shaldon itself is built on reclaimed land and there is a retaining wall, built around 1800, to prevent the river returning to its beaches.
There is a King George V Playing Field of two acres overlooking the estuary.
Regatta
The Shaldon Regatta, which is claimed to be Britain's oldest, dates back to at least 1817, if not before. The modern regatta runs for 9 days each August.
Homeyards Botanical Gardens
On a hillside above the village are gardens created by Maria 'Laetitia' Kempe Homeyard in the late 1920s and early 1930s and built by Thomas Rider, consisting of an informal terraced arboretum with a level walk along the top providing views of the Teign estuary and the Jurassic Coast. A feature of the gardens is a folly known as Shaldon Castle.
First opened to the public in 1955 and currently under the stewardship of the Council, the gardens are open all year round.
Outside links
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Shaldon) |
References
- ↑ Law, Cally (30 July 2006). "Smooth Sailing". Times Online. Times Newspapers. http://property.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/property/article693358.ece. Retrieved 19 June 2008.