Lynton and Barnstaple - Operations and Development

oh I don't doubt that there was a lot of holiday traffic, there certainly was.

my question or comment was more about how much additional traffic was generated by marketing publications like the books mentioned above.

At a slight tangent, I've recently inherited the GWR publications in castles, cathedrals and Abbeys. Apart from a map of the GWR network in the back, there is little to 'call to action' drive traffic.

 

There's a bitter irony here, in the tag line:

 

My copy of 'Hints for Holidays' for 1931 cost 6d (they were annual). About 70% of it is advertising for hotels and it is 1 1/2" thick, but the 'West Country Country Holidays' was advertised by a poster - reproduced in the Southern Railway (staff) Magazine for May 1929 - with the invitation 'Ask at principle S.R. stations for free booklet on Devon and Cornwall, by S.P.B. Mais.'

 

Brilliant poster though (the painting anyway).

 

It really is. Just 20 years too late.

 

Or 70 years too early. Get me .... in an uncharacteristically upbeat mood this evening.

 

Crumbs, someone talking about a mainline connection a day after a prediction we're going to find Lew - it must be the sun!

 

In which case, no probs as it'll never last!

 

Just been having a good chuckle at some of the objections. ‘Constant tooting like trains do’. Haha, seriously?

Some reasonable and well argued objections too, which can hopefully be addressed.

The new tea room for is looking good. A vast improvement over the tent. Hoping it will be open in time for my visit next month.

 

I've had a look at some of the objections too - difficult to see what's new since they don't appear to be listed in date order. With regard to the 'constant tooting like trains do' - I was amused since you could read it as the trains having a will of their own and tooting when they feel like it. This applies to farm animals 'constant mooing like cows do'; 'constant baaing like sheep do' - one of the objections to my neighbour's planning application complained about their 'very vocal ducks'. Back to L and B - one objections said that L and B had not even been able to buy all the land - suggesting that it was their fault rather than the fact that the owner wouldn't sell!

I feel sure that most of the objections can be addressed.

The Tea room looks really good - there are a few negative comments on FB from 'supporters'!

 

The more reasoned amongst objections may well lead to improvements the L&B may wish they'd thought of in the first place ..... not to mention vastly improved relations with those raising concerns. Listening is an often underappreciated art form.

 

With hindsight, it may become apparent also that at least some of the objections (eg provision of a turntable, 'hordes' of visitors coming by road etc) could have been foreseen and suitably clarified before the applications were submitted or at least as soon as they became apparent. I would imagine that there may well be some objectors who read other objectors' comments first and then picked up on, and repeated and amplified, points which might not otherwise have occurred to them.

 

Indeed, not happy with spoiling the originality of the station.

The reality is that proper visitor facilities were much needed, and they are now likely to attract more custom than the previous tent and generate more cash towards re building the line.

Once Blackmoor Gate is reached and becomes the main visitor hub for the line, then the WB tea room can be re assessed. Possibly demolished and the station returned to originality? More likely retained as a useful facility for passengers to break their journey and take refreshments.

 

C'mon Alan, give it until Lynton reopens!

I do understand where folks are coming from on notnwanting overdevelopment, but things.are what they are and the two inescapable considerations are:

1) The necessity of lines being fully self contained to what would in commercial days have been 'to a fault'.

2) Had our lines proved sufficiently successful to have not needed "preserving" in the fisrt place, there's a better than evens chance most stations would've been developed in some way.

If an intermediate station (which we all hope is what WB will once again be in the not too distant future) attracts sufficient custom to warrant improved facilities then frankly ..... yippee!

 

Sure this isn't Lew but would be a nice one

 

Perhaps slightly off-topic ....

Does anyone on this group own (who know who does?) the Sean Bolan painting of Bratton Fleming Station?
(It's the one on the cover of the book, 'Measured and Drawn')

Thanks in anticipation,

David

 

I would think that @Michael B could give you a pointer...

 

No I don't. I have Sean's contact details from 20 years ago when we were in conversation about the possibility of him doing cover paintings for my intended history, but not since. I don't think I saw his Bratton Fleming Station painting til after that when it appeared on the cover of 'Measured and Drawn'. These details may be OOD but contact me off-list if you want them. At the time, Sean's painting of Parracombe Halt was with Grimes House Antiques, and I see there is a section on their website with one of his drawings (grimeshouse.co.uk) Maybe they can help you. Alternatively contact Stephen Phillips, maybe via his website SD Publications (except that it seems to be out of use at the moment)

 

I have been in contact with Sean Bolan, the artist ….

And it’s as a result of this that I am hoping to trace the painting’s current owner.

David


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Be very interested in current location and background story of finding pilton turntable? Thanks