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Fremington Quay Devon CAM
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The Quay Cafe
Place: Fremington Quay
Category: Attractions
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About: An excellent cup of tea was enjoyed at this award winning cafe when visited. The renovated railway station overlooks the Taw Estuary and is just three miles from Barnstaple.
Photograph Added: 14th August 2006
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Taw Estuary
Place: Fremington Quay
Category: Rivers and Waterways
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About: Boat moored next to the beautiful Taw Estuary. The Taw Estuary is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and is home to a range of protected species including otters, badgers, bats, and barn owls.
Photograph Added: 14th August 2006
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View area map / aerial photograph.
About Fremington Quay Devon.
Fremington is located three miles west of Barnstaple. the village has an interesting church named St Peter where it is still possible to see traces of coloured soil on the pulpit from when it was buried in the reformation. This church underwent a big change in 1867 when it was refurbished in the Victorian style by the architect Sir George Gilbert Scott.Fremington was once famous for its Fishely Pottery which was made using clay from its own pits in the east of the parish. This same clay was also used to make Barnstaple's Barumware.
Geographically, the centre of the village is approximately a mile south of its Quay an historic wharf situated on the southern bank of the River Taw.Today it seems impossible that in the early twentieth century this was a busy port between Bristol and Lands End. Ships brought in coal which was loaded by cranes onto the waiting railway trucks and local clay, ceramics and other local produce was also exported from here. The London and South Western Railway stopped at the Quay using the tracks which had been laid down in 1846. Unfortunately for the area times change and 1982 the very last clay train left the station so without a railway the whole place fell into disrepair. Fremington Quay has since been redeveloped both for recreation and conservation. What was the old railway line has become part of the Tarka Trail and it still uses the old iron railway bridge to cross the pill. Grass was planted on the site, paths and cycle tracks were created. A replica railway station was built to house the Fremington Quay Heritage Centre and Café. This heritage centre has a wonderful photographic display depicting the history of the quay and its local pottery, along with a collection of period bicycles which include penny-farthings and boneshakers. The Tarka Trail itself is actually 180 miles long and it is usually possible to hire bikes from the Bike Trail Cycle Hire, Stone Barn, at Fremington Quay. There is a large assortment of bikes including tandems and trailers for toddlers. For the less energetic the trail is a good place for walking, bird watching and the track is also suitable for wheelchairs. From first hand experience it is possible to say that the café served a very good cup of tea and the scones were excellent.
Fremington Quay is definitely worth seeking out, the Quay is rather well hidden but it is a charming place to sit and enjoy a picnic surrounded by picturesque scenery.
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