Green lanes

Green Lanes
If you are out for a walk around Tipton and the surrounding area, the chances are that you will take the path of a lane that has been well trodden over hundreds if not thousands of years. The ancient tracks that intertwine across our countryside are the highways of the past, the routes from one village to the next, or even further on to the next local town, city or port . Goods would have been moved through these lanes on foot with the help of a pony or donkey. They would carry packs on with loads such as wool, lace, potatoes, fuel, flowers and fresh foods.  The paths favoured were the ridge tops with good views of the surrounding valleys so that one could see any thieves that may try to hold you up and take your goods. East Hill has numerous paths, being an area that brought people together from the Sid and Otter valleys  heading to Honiton. The higher roads were dry and better drained making them easier to traverse than routes down in the valleys which were often boggy and would easily churn up with mud. The paths up the hillsides were usually naturally carved gulleys made by the rain water running down the valley sides, wearing down the tracks as it flowed. Lanes would be as direct as possible but valley bottom routes would be determined by where the river was either shallow enough to cross or had a bridge. Occasionally cottages stood at the wayside, many folk living in them would be making lace or other produce. At one time cottages stood at Coombe, beside the lane following the goyle, with the stream running through, but they were demolished around 1910.
Sundays would have been a busy day with people travelling to their local church, which would have been either Venn Ottery or Harpford.  Many small tracks lead into Venn Ottery from West Hill, Metcombe, Fluxton, Coombe and Tipton which I am convinced were used by all the people walking to Communion in their Sunday best.
 Trees line the boundaries of  the tracks and fields, great Oak trees tower above the  banks of catkin, blackthorn, may-blossom, dogrose and honeysuckle that add to the colour and scent through the seasons.  Seaway Lane , named as it was the main route to Sidmouth, was once lined with Elm trees before Dutch Elm disease took effect and Green lane was well known for the huge Beech tree on the staggered crossroad that was struck by lightening..The lanes at Venn Ottery have archways of hazel and holly that shade us on sunny days and keep us dry on rainy days. The pathways also hold a variety of wildflowers such as celandines, primrose, bluebells, campions, ferns and foxgloves. Many animals use the tracks to move through the countryside, leaving occasionally through their own gaps in the hedges to find scented secret pathways.
We are so lucky to still have these lanes and walking them does make you wonder who once trudged the same route, through all weathers to get to their destination, maybe stopping to rest by the wayside, with their donkey. On a misty day you can almost imagine the horse and cart coming towards you  over the brow of the hill on Green Lane...but more likely a horserider or an offroad 4 wheel driver nowadays!

"If you have but a slight knowledge of the state of trade in early times, of the industries, customs and dress worn by the common folk you will be able to recreate the story of the past. A sunk lane, a ridge road, will be a page in the book of history, one that is well worth reading. If you see that which is old clearly you will have a greater awareness of the beauty and wonder  of your heritage."
William Rising Bray (Sidmouth 1935)