CATHOLIC / MARIAN ROADSIDE SHRINES.
"Come on all you Catholics it is time to get back to basics". There were roadside shrines all over England before the reformation. It is now time to start putting them back in their rightful place and for all my American readers then how about America doing this as well? I have always been a fan of roadside shrines which are normally seen in Italy, Spain and Ireland. However, let's not let those country have all the glory we can start to do this ourselves. Here are some examples to get you started. They do not even have to be very big as the final example shows.
This shrine (to St. Dunstan) is outside my old cottage in Dunstone, near Yealmpton in Devon, England.
Marian Shrine Southern Ireland
Marian shrine at the western end of Alexandra Road near to Ringsend, Clontarf, Irishtown, Mountjoy and Marino, Dublin, Ireland
An example from Kefalonia in Greece!
If resources and space are limited then what about something simple?
Hi, I saw your post on roadside shrines and instantly recognised the first one as the statue on the side of Dunstone House. I used to live in Yealmpton, and my mother knew Mrs. Fawcett, who livd in Dunstone house. She told me that the statue was carved by one of the monks from Buckfast in the 1930's. Not sure if this is true or not though. I don't know when you lived in the area, but I was in Yealmpton in the 1970's. Two people I remember are Mr. Anthony and Mr. Ellis from Dunstone farm. Just seeing that little picture brought back some happy memories, and some not so happy,such as walking to Plymstock to Mass every Sunday. It's funny how one little picture can bring back such happy memories.
ReplyDeletePeter
Greetings Peter,
ReplyDeleteGood to hear from you. I have lived at both No 1 and no 4 Dunstone Cottages. No. 4 is right next door to Dunstone House.
I have to be honest your knowledge has been helpful as no one who lived in Dunstone (though there are only 14 houses)seemed to ever know the story of how it came to be there.
I did not know Mr Ellis but, I Mr Anthony (I presume you mean old Bill) was as you know a bit of a local legend. I was next door neighbors with him and he was one of the most wonderful people you could ever wish to meet. He used to work as a threshing machine operator at the turn of the century, before it became properly mechanised. He used to tend his vegetable plot at the back of his house right up to the age of 94 and his only concession to modern machinery was a rotorvator at the age of 90. He had some wonderful tales to tell akin to 'Lark Rise to Candleford'. He had a wonderful birthday party aged 90 where many, many people from that part of the South Hams attended. He died at 94 and was buried at the wonderful Wembury Church by the sea where he had worshiped all his life.
It is a wonderful part of the world around Dunstone and Yealmpton, Modbury (and all the South Hams) and you will not be surprised to hear that I have every intention of returning as soon as possible.
Funnily enough Peter, your post has brought back a lot of happy memories for me as well.
Thank you for that :)
Hi there,
ReplyDeleteI was just looking for information on Dunstone and old pictures and history as I now live at no 4 !
I would love to hear anymore information you have about the house as we I am carrying out some restoration work on the house.
For example I know the house was a single dwelling up until the 1970s, but at this point did it have the porch at the front or was this added later ?
I would love to hear from you.
Kind regards
James
Hi James,
ReplyDeleteCome back in a couple of days and I will answer your questions. It is no problem at all. In fact if you email me at the above email address (top of page) then I can give you detailed information.
Talk soon.