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Honiton
Famed
for its history of lacemaking and crammed with antique shops,
Honiton is the gateway town to Devon. On a rainy day in Devon
(and we do get a few!) Honiton is the ideal place to while away
the hours browsing the bookshops and antiques shops which line
the town's high street.
To see some examples of Honiton lace making why not visit the
Allhallows Museum, which has a collection showing lacemaking
dating back 400 years. The museum also has a display of Honiton's
famous pottery, which dates back to the 17th Century.
The
weekly cattle market comes to town on a Tuesday, and the street
markets are also in place on Tuesdays and Saturdays, along the
top end of the High Street. In addition there are excellent
cafes, tea shops and ice cream parlours where you can enjoy
the wonderful West Country food, all fresh from the local suppliers.
Canadian
Chapel
Just
outside Honiton is the Wolford Chapel on the Simcoe family estate.
John Graves Simcoe was the first lieutenant of Upper Canada
between 1791 and 1796. He played an important role in introducing
British institutions such as the courts, trial by jury, English
common law, freehold land tenure, and in abolishing slavery
in Upper Canada. He died in Exeter in 1806 and was buried in
the Wolford chapel, which has been owned and maintained by the
Ontario Heritage Foundation since 1982 and attracts many Canadian
visitors each year.
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Gittisham
If
you want to see a "chocolate box" Devon village, then
pay a visit to Gittisham. Just a couple of miles from Honiton
the village is centred around the beautiful 15th Century Church,
and consists of mostly cob houses with the traditional Devon
thatched roof.
The
entire village used to be owned by one family, but it was recently
put up for sale. After a lot of national publicity a buyer was
found and now most of the village properties are owned by the
Northumberland & Durham Property Trust, who have allowed
the tenants to continue renting their properties.
Accommodation
in and around Honiton
There
are many hotels, bed and breakfasts and self catering cottages
around the Honiton are. Coombe House Hotel is very well known
in Devon and is located in a beautiful setting in the village
of Gittisham.
If
you prefer self catering why not try Odle
Farm Cottages, just outside Honiton in Upottery. There are
four cottages to choose from, sleeping from 2 to 5 people.
Alternatively,
the Honiton Tourist Information Centre will provide you with
advice on local B&B's. You can email Honiton
TIC here.
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Dunkeswell
Just
north of Gittisham is Dunkeswell, where you will find the American
Memorial Museum.
During the Second World War, the US Navy had a base at Dunkeswell
Airfield. Today the Museum is home to an exhibition to honour
the men who formed the US Navy's anti submarine Bomber Command.
Approximately
183 US servicemen were killed whilst on active service at Dunkeswell.
Their names are recorded on the memorial tablet by the doorway
of Dunkeswell Parish Church. Ex servicemen from America still
return for the annual memorial service held in Dunkeswell Church.
Amongst
the Bomber Crews was Joseph Patrick Kennedy the elder brother
of President John F. Kennedy.
Joseph Kennedy served with squadron VB110. Just before his tour
of duty was to end, Lt Kennedy volunteered for one further mission
which involved low level flying and a parachute jump. This mission
was to be Top Secret as part of project Anvil, the target being
the German V3 Supergun site at Mimoyecques, France. On 31st
July 1944 Joseph Kennedy flew to Fersfield Airfield in Suffolk
from Dunkeswell, in preparation for his final mission. Unfortunately
the mission went terribly wrong, and on 12 August 1944 Joseph
Kennedy died, shortly after take off. Full details of the accident
can be found at the US
Aviation Musuem
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