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Barnstaple
I have a very vague recollection of visiting Barnstaple sometime in the past, but can't be 100% sure. If my glimmer of recollection is correct then I think it was when Pam and the girls travelled down this way with our old friends Tom & Joyce. If that is the case then it was way back in 1981, late July to be precise. We had all agreed, well the adults at least, that we would do anything to avoid a certain event taking place in London, which would be televised and Devon was as good a place as any, miles away from London and with no TV in sight. The event, the future Kings mistaken marraige to Diana Spencer. Back to Barnstaple and the thought of being here before, is because I have the slightest recollection that we all came here. In the back of my mind I knew about the Panniers, the locals name for the indoor market, and the visit we all made to wander around the various stalls. However, right or wrong, dreaming or realism, Pam and I are here now. Sadly, even though the building still stands its use on the day of our visit was very sparse, either a reflection of the times and the competition from the nearby Supermarket, or it was the wrong day to witness the normal hive of activity. Nevertheless I just wanted to see this reasonably well known building and have the opportunity to take some pictures. Prior to visiting the market we had lunch in Wetherspoons, they are everywhere, participating in our usual reposte, sitting at the front of the pub enjoying the view of the towns theatre, partaking of the fresh air coming through the wide opened front windows. It was interesting to note the variety, excuse the pun, of well known artist scheduled to appear, at what is really an out of the way location. There must be sufficient patronage to justify for instance an appearamnce by the veritable cast of "League of Gentlemen", as I can't recall seeing them listed on the programme for either the Theatre or the Royal Concert hall back home. After the market we had a wander down to the River Taw, where we came across an interesting building atop of which an imperial looking statue of we presumed Queen Anne. Our assumption, not based on general knowledge, purely the fact that the cafe, which occupied the building, was called the Queen Annes Cafe. Later, research did confirm that this was the Queen Anne building, which, in a previous life, was the towns heritage centre, converted to its current use some time after 2016. An imposing building with its intricate architecture and imposing statue. A picture of her majesty and, the building she adorns is shown below. The first two pictures show the Pannier Market, firstly the street entrances, through the arches, with the smaller individual shops oppositre. Then the view from inside, showing the length of the building and the impressive arched roof.
Below: pictres of the River Taw, with the main road bridge and the town bypass routn the stance. Next, Qeen Annes cafe, with the lady herself, in statue, rather than in-situ, adorning the top of the impressve building.
