The Henson Journals

[112]

Saturday, August 20th, 1921.

After breakfast we packed, bade farewell to the Dean and his family, and went off to Hallshanger, near Ashburton, where we had been arranged to spend the week–end with Mrs T. R. Buchanan. The weather was fine and warm: our route lay through charming country. We turned aside from the main road in order to visit Boevey Tracey, a picturesque village with a fine parish church, distinguished by an unusually pleasant rood–screen. We continued the journey through Ilsington, where we saw another fine church, also adorned with a rood–screen. Here the parson was sufficiently disclosed by the appearance of the Church to be a "spike". He was (or at least a clergyman whom we assumed to be the parson) in the churchyard, and had some avid speech with us as we passed out. We continued our way over the moor by a very indifferent road to Hallshanger, where we arrived in good time for lunch. In the afternoon, Commander Paget & Mrs Paget, who are also Mrs Buchanan's guests, motored with us to Sharpham, where M & Mrs Parker reside. This house with its ample and beautiful grounds commands the noblest prospects of the Dart valley. We stopped at Totnes, & viewed the very magnificent parish church. The tower is a conspicuous object, & the coloured stone–screen is notable even in a county so full of chancel screens. The main street of Totnes is a quaintly interesting object, very narrow & steep, yet constituting the main road between London and Cornwall. The beauty of the evening added to that of the country made the drive very agreeable.