Christian Mayne

Christian Mayne

Stonehouse Heritage Trail 13, The Monster Skating Ring

Stonehouse Heritage Trail 13, The Monster Skating Ring

Here stood what was known as 'Albert Hall' built in 1871; soon after it was known as The Royal Albert Hall. It was said to be an ugly building on the outside but very pretty and tasteful on the inside. Originally intended for concerts it could seat 2800 people and 4000 standing. By 1875 Thomas Martin the owner following a skating craze decided to put together the 'Monster Rink' here in the hall. It was later said to be the largest in the Westcountry
Visiting Broadhempston

Visiting Broadhempston

Today I took a drive out to Broadhempston, a small village in the South Hams near Totnes. The main purpose of my visit was to see if I could locate the grave of my Great Great Great Grandfather James Elliott (1780 - 1857) who was recorded as being buried in the churchyard of St Peter and St Paul. Broadhempston really does appear to be in the middle-of-nowhere, approached (according to my satnav, anyway) by miles and miles of single track roads with no passing places. A very attractive ...
Tommy’s Junk Shop, Plymouth (now Cafe Momus)

Tommy’s Junk Shop, Plymouth (now Cafe Momus)

Tommy's junk shop, Manor Street, Plymouth shortly before it closed in 2022 to be replaced by Cafe Momus.

Death of Queen Elizabeth II

https://youtu.be/owp8rksdWrA We anticipated it was coming so had the laptop on standby whilst having dinner. This is the news report as it was broadcast live on BBC News at 18:30 on 8th September 2022
Stonehouse Heritage Trail 22, Wolsdon Street Board School

Stonehouse Heritage Trail 22, Wolsdon Street Board School

The school was opened in 1871 and styled into fine fashionable Victorian gothic style of the time. Primarily built for Infants and Girls only this school soon had to increase its capacity steadily as the local populatiuon grew. Initially designed to accomodate 230 pupils, by the early 1900s nearly 600 were present.
Stonehouse Heritage Trail 19, Convent of Notre Dame

Stonehouse Heritage Trail 19, Convent of Notre Dame

This ruin was is the only remnant left of the Convent of Notre Dame. The building was built on land soon purchased after the completion of the cathedral. By October 1865 the convent and girl's school for boarders had opened. Pupils from all over the world would come and stay at this fine establishment. By 1936/8 the convent premises took over the large old Presbyterian Chapel. During the Blitz of Plymouth this building and its chapel.
Stonehouse Heritage Trail 21, St Peter’s Church

Stonehouse Heritage Trail 21, St Peter’s Church

Eldad Chapel was first built here c1830 until it's demise 1846 when the chapel fell into disuse. In 1848 it was renamed Church of St Peter's, at the same a temporary hospital was built nearby to cope with the outbreak of cholera, which was nursed by a group of women who became Sisters of the Holy Trinity who were allowed to receive Holy Communion daily. In 1882 major works were done to the tower, etc. and then during WWII it was gutted, being finally rebuilt late-1950s.
Peli iM2075 Concertina Hard Case

Peli iM2075 Concertina Hard Case

I've been looking for a workhorse case for my Concertina. The original refurbished Victorian jug case feels too nice to drag around pubs and already I can feel it's taking the strain. It's quite hard to find a decent quality and durable concertina hard case- most available from the popular folk music stores are lightweight covered chipboard efforts which don't feel quite up to the job. I tool receipt of a Peli iM2075 Storm Case today which I'd seen recommended elsewhere as a decent ...
Bongo Camping Trip 0.2 – Coombe View Farm

Bongo Camping Trip 0.2 – Coombe View Farm

First time using the Auto Free Top poptop for the kids and as we were camping up with Jono we didn't bother with the awning. A few things: It turns out the sliding door has a childlock. We found this out at 3am when we needed to take one of the kids to the loo urgently. As all our possessions were piled up in the front seats, leaving the vehicle was a complex problem. Make sure the child lock is off! The hatch in the poptop floor is a accident waiting to happen. A child's finger in ...
Car Alarm Problems in Mutley

Car Alarm Problems in Mutley

How can you not get annoyed by having to continuously get up and stop your faulty annoyed car alarm going of repeatably every night?! I shall correct mysleft ... 3am! May I suggest getting it fixed ... disable it or buy CCTV to watch your car, for example... RING DOORBELL are a very fairly priced product. Feel free to shop around... or buy a decent fucking car alarm.
Stonehouse Heritage Trail 10, No Place House

Stonehouse Heritage Trail 10, No Place House

This house first appears in the mid-17th century map alongside a boundary stone. This was the only house on this ridge alongside the leat with views over the Sound and creek. By the early 18th century the house grew into a quadrant structure, with free lined gardens that ran down to the creek's bank. Later in that century the house and its grounds were demolished to make way for the Royal Naval Hospital Cemetery,