Friday 24 July 2015

Lyme Regis

From Sidmouth we drove along the coast road to Lyme Regis, a place we know well. When the children were small we would pack a picnic and spend the day here on the beach to the east of the town, clambering over the wooden groynes until we had a space all to ourselves.
Lyme Regis, mid 1970's, the Duchess sails her boat.
We always kept a close eye on the tide so that we could get back into town without having to swim!
Lyme Regis is on the 'Jurassic' coast, a World Heritage Site. The town is famous for fossils found in the cliffs and on the beaches and decorative lampposts along the seafront remind you of the fact.
Here's my photo for Friday Skywatch
This town has a different feel from sedate Sidmouth, it's more of a family affair, busy throughout the summer but, I am told, very quiet in the winter.

We parked near to Sherborne Lane 

and walked up the steep little street
looking at the pretty houses
with their equally charming gardens.


We knocked on our friends' front door but nobody was home.
That will teach us not to forward plan!

It was 'thrang wi' folk' on the seafront!

Everyone was having a lovely time.





The houses on the seafront are a delightful jumble of styles.

Look at the fabulous lead pipework.

Ammonites crop up all over the place.









The harbour wall, known as 'The Cobb', has two literary claims to fame, the first being in 'Persuasion', my favourite Jane Austen novel, when Louisa decides to jump from the narrow steps leading from the higher level of the wall into the arms of Captain Wentworth.
Of course she comes to grief. What a silly girl!
Then John Fowles, who lived in Lyme, wrote 'The French Lieutenant's Woman' which was made into a popular film starring Meryl Streep. She is seen in the opening sequence of the film standing at the far end of the Cobb with her black cloak blowing in the wind. (Rather her than me - the Cobb wall slopes at an angle down to the sea and even in calm weather it gives me a disconcerting sailor's roll to walk on it!)
It was a delightful trip down memory lane and we repeated some of the things that we have done many times before such as watching the fishing trips going out of the harbour and browsing - and buying - in the secondhand bookshop.
And the sun shone all day long!

17 comments:

  1. What an awesome place to visit. I love the views of the water and the houses are so cute! I love the lamp post shots. Wonderful photos, enjoy your weekend!

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    1. Yes, the houses are very attractive but perhaps the owners get pretty fed up with people like me gawping at them and taking photos!

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  2. Thanks for taking us on your trip I loved that Skywatch photo, nothing but blue sky and gulls.

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    1. Hi, Doc, I'm always wanting to comment on your posts, which make me smile, but I'm told to leave email addresses of other people which I don't want to do. Can it be made more simple?

      I love the sound of the gulls and the sight of them hanging in the wind, but, my, they are vicious creatures, don't be eating anything while walking along the seafront!

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  3. Lovely romp through a colorful town. Love the multi-colored beach cabanas. Thank you for your comment about the pink clouds from Skywatch. In the US, it's called "cotton candy"!

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    1. I love peering nosily into the beach huts, they each present a perfect little tableau.

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  4. It looks a lovely place. Persuasion is my favourite Jane Austen novel, so one day I hope to visit in person. Until then, thank you for sharing your visit.
    Best wishes
    Ellie

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    1. I've commented on 'Persuasion' over on my Miss Cellany site. Hope you get to vista Lyme some time, Ellie.

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  5. A delightful day and town to share with bloggers! Wales is far away, but someday?
    Those delightful cabins--are they owned or rented?

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    1. I think that the beach huts are owned by the town council and rented out but am not sure. I know that elsewhere when huts become available to buy they sell for ridiculously high prices. They usually are handed down within the family. Needless to say, I covet one!

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  6. Those seafront homes look really cool! I like your vintage shots, too!! Happy weekend.

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    1. The black and white photos are of our elder daughter, now aged forty-three! Happy memories!

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  7. Lovely! Another place in UK I desperately want to visit. I especially loved the photo of the little flower shop with the bird cages... so sweet. And the old black and white photos are great as well. Thanks for sharing it. Have a joyful weekend.
    Alex

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    1. Yes, I'm sure that you would enjoy wandering around Lyme, Alex. I wonder what you will make of the next place on our trip!

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  8. Lyme Regis another beautiful place in England. So nice to see these pictures, we were there a long time ago with still little children on holidays.
    Have a nice Sunday!

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    1. Sunday, and it's pouring down with rain. I picked raspberries from the garden yesterday so today is perfect weather for being in the warmth of the kitchen stirring the jam pan!

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  9. What a lot of pictures! It looks like a great time was had. The lighthouse is always a favorite.

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