Devon Photos #4

 The countryside east of Torrington, on the way to St. Giles in the Wood (the "wood" long ago being cut down) for farming.

 Here is the open "square" west of the church

 St Giles' Church

 House to the right of the church

 The tower is the oldest remaining part of the church, and would have been here in the 1600's and 1700's when Brinsmeads were common here.

 Gravestones have been moved to the edge of the churchyard, making it difficult to read some of them. Thankfully I found the stone for Thomas Brinsmead, husband of Susannah (buried at Weare Giffard). Another interesting person from this area was Tristam Risdon.

 The old Post Office

(nearby is the farm where Thomas Brinsmead farmed & built a Methodist Chapel)

Holstein cow grazing on St Giles' Common

That night, south of Torrington, my family explored Halsdon Nature Reserve... it has nice walks along the River Torridge.

I did not include photos I took of Taunton in Somerset, another interesting area that has Brinsmead connections. The remains of the castle are visible there, but most of it has been remodeled into a hotel and museum.

My enduring experience though, will be staying in a cottage in North Devon, looking south at Dartmoor and wondering at the beauty of this land of the Two Rivers, the Taw and the Torridge.