Post by Dave on Jul 2, 2017 15:50:31 GMT
Homeyards Botanical Gardens Shaldon 2nd July 2017
About two years ago I came across some pictures on the internet of Homeyards Botanical gardens in Shaldon across the water from Teignmouth. It was a garden I never knew even existed and I put it on my must visit list mainly for the then ruined mock castle there.
The gardens were a project taken up by Maria ‘Laetitia’ Kempe Homeyard shortly after her husband’s death in the late 1920s. Mrs Homeyard desired a ‘pleasure ground’, and commissioned Thomas Rider of Southwark for its construction.
The project provided work for unemployed shipwrights, specialist stonemasons and twelve gardeners. Maria’s husband, William Newcombe Homeyard, was the inventor of Liquifruta cough syrup, (said to treat anything from whooping cough to bronchitis), and it is believed that the couple often brought workers from the factory on holiday to Shaldon with them. It is not surprising then, that Mrs Homeyard chose the imposing hills above the village for her garden.
In its heyday, the summer house( Mock castle) was regularly frequented. Mrs Homeyard would entertain friends with tea and leisurely games of bridge in this dainty castle folly
The castle is not the only enticing feature. The witch’s cave, a small grotto made of Torquay limestone, is said to be where ‘Old Mother Gum’ comes down from the woods at dusk to take tea.
There was no heir to inherit the gardens following Mrs.Homeyard’s death in 1944. Eventually it was sold to Teignmouth Town Council for a nominal sum, and today visitors can access the gardens for free.
Sadly over the years the castle was ruined when the lead roof was stolen and other damage was caused to it. But today the Friends of Homeyards Botanical Gardens have worked hard to restore the castle and it now has a new roof and I believe at some point when it is all finished there will be a café inside of it.
There was meant to be a grant opening of the castle last month, but there are still some issues with damp etc and until they are sorted out the opening ceremonial has been put on hold.
You can not visit Shaldon with out walking through the old smugglers tunnel but I so nearly turned around and headed back for home when I was unable to find a parking space in the packed car park. Luckily I found a spot in one of the side roads off the main road from Torquay to Shaldon before it drops down the final steep hill.
It was so good to see all the work the friends of the gardens have done so far to restore the gardens and one only hopes the friends of Oldway can in time enjoy the same success with our very own jewel in Torbay
