Shute Beacon.

Shute Beacon has always been one of my favourite places. I remember lots of school trips back when it was rubble, how when we were a part of getting it rebuilt. The view has always been spectacular, but when were getting it rebuilt we planted thousands of trees which had started to block the view.

 

     

This is the layout I made when I first started digital scrapbooking back in 2007. This was one of my first attempts. I love the journaling although I think it needs more of the story about our role in rebuilding it that’s why I’ve decided to redo it.

 

In 1588 the Spanish Armada approached Britain, but the British were prepared they had set up a series of beacons each with their own beacon house on of the hills along the south coast of Britain to quickly pass the message to London. Very few beacon houses remain.

Over four hundred years later the children of Shute County Primary School go the one is Shute repaired. It now stands proudly overlooking the valley surround by the trees that were planted.

 

So here is my new layout. It much better tells the story.

In 1588 the Spanish Armada approached Britain, but the British were prepared they had set up a series of beacons each with their own beacon house on of the hills along the south coast of Britain to quickly pass the message to London. Very few beacon houses remain; this is one of only two in Devon.

Local rumour has it that the actual beacon basket is buried in a ditch at the bottom of the hill. The purpose of the Beacon House was for a lone man, without even a dog for company, to sit waiting for the moment when it would become his turn to be a part of history and light the beacon fire.

Every British school child knows the story of how Sir Francis Drake was playing bowls when the Armada was sighted off the coast when began the process of the beacon fires being lit.

In 1993 Shute Beacon House was only partially still standing, the remains of this building which played an important part in British history which had stood for over four hundred years was in danger of being condemned.

Our teacher Miss Templar I remember was very big on local history and through her efforts the school got involved in have it rebuilt. I remember numerous visits as it was being reconstructed and spending Saturdays planting lots of trees, which are now obscuring the view as far as Axmouth five miles away.

The Beacon as us locals call it is one of my favourite places not only for it’s beautiful, it’s peacefulness but for playing a big part in my childhood.

 

Shanna xx

P.S My new blog header shows part of the view.