The day I met pop royalty the Jacksons and the time I discovered I was staying almost next door to my Grandfather’s house whom I never met was a strange juxtaposition for me?
Appledore in North Devon is the place that brought these two random happenings together during a Christmas period stay at Dock Cottage.
Add in the research of a family friend. A genealogist and life unlocked another page of family history that I was never aware of.
Dock Cottage at Appledore, North Devon.
I did know of my mother’s connections to the area in general. However, with her no longer being with us. Well for 40 years, and then her direct connections to the village being over 110 years ago these lapses in family history do tend to dim and fade.
Meeting a cousin was the key. And a What-sapped message pinged in from Kirsten our go-to historical researcher had literally before we had left for our meeting answered a question.
Quirky and friendly Jack Sprats, finding out more about Appledore and the Jacksons.
Walking over to ‘Jack Sprats’ we were informed that a house just yards away from where we were staying was indeed home to my grandfather back in the 1921.
Christmas Cottage And My Grandfather Nearly Next Door
Felix Augustus Abbott with his wife Mary and children Doris, Irene, Linda and Margaret my mother. This house yards away had been their home over 100 years ago!
Felix Augustus Abbott the Grandfather I never met but just doors away this Christmas.
This shipyard foreman must have trodden on this very street many times. With the ship building and dry docks still surrounding this whole river side area of Appledore.
A cosy Christmas period with classic estuary views was to be home for a week. And which unlocked these unknown family memories too.
Dock Cottage and the desert sands through the window. Appledore, North Devon.
I guess our holiday period was somewhat different from the Victorian, Edwardian and Georgian christmases that the Abbott’s had experienced?
Some things that probably did and has not changed was the ebb and flow of the River Torridge. Situated directly outside the property.
Early morning sunrise on the shortest day. Appledore, North Devon.
Catching the warm red sky sunrise over Instow on the far shore which later in my own story was the place of literally bumping into 80’s pop royalty.
The cottage with its marine comings and goings on the doorstep was in a perfect position to experience close-up some of many maritime movements.
Deo Gloria working at Christmas time from the cottage terrace.
One evening it was striking to suddenly see a fairly large illuminated dredger the ‘Deo Gloria’ passed by just yards away from the window. Even larger vessels at times run similar route to and from Appledore ship yard.
Negotiating this very narrow channel that allows shipping to pass as further up the river to Bideford some 2 miles further around the bend in the river.
Appledore Still Ship Building
Even much larger vessels at times run this route from famous Appledore ship yard. Currently they are building a replenishment ship for the Royal Navy. That will be a sight from its terrace when that’s launched!
Making the most of the high tide. Gigs and yachts off Appledore, North Devon.
Gigs, fishing boats and yachts making the most of the periods of high tide. However, when the sea does recede its a striking almost sandy and desert landscape that is left.
At low tide the desert starts to appear at Appledore, North Devon.
A 500 metre wide estuary of exposed sand leaving just a narrow but deep channel some around 50 metres wide for the water to run out to sea all part of that endless tidal ebb and flow cycle.
Something that also helps to entertain guests at the Dock Cottage as its always a such a different view throughout the days and nights of your stay.
Certainly it was chilly this year over Christmas.
Dock cottage terrace at Appledore, North Devon.
But in Spring, Summer and Autumn drinks and meals on the terrace watching the maritime and bird life would certainly be a real hit with guests.
Suitable for a family or friends with up to three bedrooms, lounge, dining room and kitchen. Baths and showers and toilets a plenty.
Riverside views are its main claim to fame. I fully understand why it will be a good choice for river view fans in future.
Cosy colourful streets of Appledore, North Devon.
Constant and slowly changing backdrop mirroring the pace of life in the cosy village of Appledore.
Several hundred yards past the village quay and its centre the river Torridge meets with the River Taw before they both flow westwards out and over the ‘Bar’.
Ready aye ready…the Appledore, lifeboat.
A formidable and noted hazard to shipping and sailors.
Appledore Maritime Museum
Only at key times of the tides is it safe to cross the shifting sands of the Bideford Bar. A graveyard of ships for hundreds of years. Rescues at sea are very much still part of the work undertaken by the Appledore lifeboat. Situated just a few miles from the ‘Bar’ itself.
North Devon Maritime Museum. Appledore, North Devon.
A Maritime Museum in the village is well worth visiting. The history of rescues and the many sea going stories of the village and its people are well documented and presented. All aided by a very helpful team there.
The fairly compact nature of the village and its narrow winding lanes make it such a charming place to tour. Colourful cottages jammed together. Must be here that one can surmise how these streets and lanes were trod by some of my former relatives. Some 120 years in it’s past.
Appledore And The Jacksons Plus My Grandfather
More famous feet have indeed trod around Appledore more recently. That is where this connection to the Jacksons came about.
Tito flanked by Taj and TJ whilst walking at Instow with a film crew, North Devon.
During 2008 by chance I was staying over the estuary in Instow. It was pointed out to me that a film crew were tagging along with a group of people on the beach. This turned out to be some some of the Jacksons!
Tito being the most visible along with two of his sons TJ and Taj strolling on the sands of Instow.
Unknown to me they had recently taken up residence for a while in Appledore.
Appledore and the Jacksons. Tito whilst at Instow. North Devon.
With Tito saying, “When I saw Appledore I loved it, because the people are very mellow and calm. You met the same people every day and hung out with them. I loved talking to them about fishing and houses and music.”
Who ever would have thought that a connection with a small Devon fishing village. Plus a link to one of the most famous Pop music bands of the last 50 years all now become part of my family history too.
Strange but true!
