We had a really good Christmas and New Year on site, with the site managers arranging a couple of events over the holiday....
On Christmas Eve we had a mulled wine and mince pie get-together with other campers and on New Years Eve a barbeque and bubbly meet-up.
Anne and I were really surprised how many people were camping out over the holiday period the site being almost half full over Christmas and every useable pitch in use over the New Year.
Since then Anne and I have spent a few days away from site on a visit to Ifracombe on the North Devon Coast....
I haven't been to Ilfracombe since I made a trip to Lundy Island in the Bristol Channel a number of years ago.
I wanted to go back for another visit as I had heard that Damien Hirst had arranged for one of his sculptures to be placed there....
As the sculpture has the same name as my daughter (Verity) it had found it's way on to my 'must visit' list.
The harbour at Ilfracombe makes a very attractive scene as can be seen in the image above.
Unfortunately during our visit we had some very heavy rain but it didn't spoil our visit too much.....
Ilfracombe harbour is a working harbour and as we walked down from where we had parked the car we passed lots of lobster pots all stacked up waiting to be used....
As we walked from the car park we had our first view of Verity standing on the far harbour wall.....
Verity is 20.25 metres tall and is situated at the entrance to the harbour and she looks out over the Bristol Channel towards South Wales.
The statue is made from stainless steel....bronze and glass fibre reinforced polymer.
She is on a long term loan from Damien Hirst to North Devon Council and is an allegory for truth and justice.
She stands on a base of scattered legal books and holds the traditional symbols of justice....a sword and scales.
She arrived in Ilfracombe in three sections in October 2012 and she took a week to assemble on site and was hoisted into position with a 250 tonne crane...
Unlike my daughter, Damien Hirst's Verity is not the prettiest female I've seen and as a sculpture might not be to everyone's liking but she was certainly worth a visit.....
We enjoyed our visit to Ilfracombe very much in spite of the continuing wet weather....
Now we are back at Eva the Eriba the rain has stopped and it has now got a lot colder... they even had a dusting of snow today up at Princetown just a few miles up the road from our campsite.....
I wonder if we will be getting snow here next....?
On Christmas Eve we had a mulled wine and mince pie get-together with other campers and on New Years Eve a barbeque and bubbly meet-up.
Anne and I were really surprised how many people were camping out over the holiday period the site being almost half full over Christmas and every useable pitch in use over the New Year.
Since then Anne and I have spent a few days away from site on a visit to Ifracombe on the North Devon Coast....
I haven't been to Ilfracombe since I made a trip to Lundy Island in the Bristol Channel a number of years ago.
I wanted to go back for another visit as I had heard that Damien Hirst had arranged for one of his sculptures to be placed there....
As the sculpture has the same name as my daughter (Verity) it had found it's way on to my 'must visit' list.
 |
| View of Ilfracombe Harbour |
Unfortunately during our visit we had some very heavy rain but it didn't spoil our visit too much.....
 |
| Lobster pots stacked up in the harbour area |
 |
| Our first view of Verity on the harbour wall |
Verity is 20.25 metres tall and is situated at the entrance to the harbour and she looks out over the Bristol Channel towards South Wales.
 |
| Verity - A closer view |
She is on a long term loan from Damien Hirst to North Devon Council and is an allegory for truth and justice.
She stands on a base of scattered legal books and holds the traditional symbols of justice....a sword and scales.
 |
| Verity - Another view. |
Unlike my daughter, Damien Hirst's Verity is not the prettiest female I've seen and as a sculpture might not be to everyone's liking but she was certainly worth a visit.....
 |
| A general view of Ilfracombe town |
Now we are back at Eva the Eriba the rain has stopped and it has now got a lot colder... they even had a dusting of snow today up at Princetown just a few miles up the road from our campsite.....
I wonder if we will be getting snow here next....?
Ilfracombe is always worth a visit especially around the harbour, although the town when I was last there has seen better days. I've spent a few days camping on Lundy, its a fantastic place and the trip on the MV Oldenburg when the sea is rough is awesome.
ReplyDelete*Dave*
ReplyDeleteI agree with everything in your comment Dave.
During my visit to Lundy a few years ago I too camped out, making the trip with fellow members of the 'Backpackers' club.
I had always wanted to see the island ever since I read a book about it at the age of twelve... It took me almost fifty years to make the trip though.....Life just got in the way!
Hi Trevor,
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful set of photographs and history to go with it!
I am married to a classically trained Metalsmith who will enjoy looking at the statue of Verity.
I will be sure to share your post with her.
Have a Beautiful Weekend!!
Peace :)
*GreenComotion*
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comments Chandra....
I was very interested to hear that you are married to a classically trained Metalsmith....
I hope she enjoys the information on Verity.
There is a lot more information ref Verity online just google 'Verity Ilfracombe'
Wow, what an interesting place. I don't know if I would have approved of the statue if I lived their but seeing the pictures and reading up about it I have to say I like it! I like the image I like the split view, I like the theme and I like the sheer size of it. I hope the locals who originally opposed it can see the beauty. Thanks for posting.
ReplyDelete*David J*
ReplyDeletePleased that you enjoyed reading about Verity Dave....Thanks for dropping by....
Trevor We did that trip nearly 10 years ago (Oct 2006) followed by a great backpack along the North Devon coast in glorious weather!! Howard
ReplyDeleteI've only been to Ilfracombe once arriving and departing by boat on the same day from Clevedon about 8 years ago. There was enough time to have a wander around but not enough as a photographer to grab the view in your first image. Not sure what I think about Verity but I find despite the meaning of unusual sculptures, they seem to grow on people.
ReplyDelete*Howard*
ReplyDeleteThat was a brilliant trip Howard...I often look back on it with good memories of the camp on Lundy and the backpack along the North Devon coast that we did to complete the trip..... Happy days!! I just can't believe that it is almost 10 years ago...
*J_on_tour*
Verity is certainly an unusual sculpture J. I personally don't find it very attractive but I do find it interesting......