|
|
Bude like so many of the
"West Country" holiday resorts Bude sprang to prominence in the
Victorian
era, with the advent of the railway. Although Budes origins can be
traced a lot further back than the 17th century. Indeed Budes
history
can be traced back as far as the Roman period of our history. But once
again it was the industrious Victorians,
that put
Bude on the map as a holiday resort. Bude is located on the Atlantic
Heritage Coast, and the towns beaches provide great surfing
for enthusiasts. Bude is also on the famous South West
Coastal Path. In 1823, a canal was constructed its purpose was to
carry beach sand, which was being used as a fertilizer 20
miles, inland to Launceston. The building of this
canal was instrumental in bringing development and prosperity to
Bude. Today The canal is used mainly for pleasure-boating and
fishing.
English Civil War In
1642, the English civil war between King Charles
the 1st, and the English Parliament and people broke
out. The cause of this very destructive war?. A autocratic
King, Charles the 1st,( who believed in the "divine
rights
of kings," a old act that was laid to rest at Runneymead ) Charles was
frustrated by parliament, questioning his decrees, particularly in the
case
of the levying of taxes
without parliaments consent. King Charles tried to re-activate the old
law. The law he
tried to revive was: ( the afore-mentioned Divine right of Kings)
This meant whenever there were fears of a foreign invasion,
Kings were able to order coastal towns, to provide ships or the money
to build ships, for the countrys defense. This
however was only one of the many
causes of
widespread opposition to his rule, for together
with what parliament and the protestant English people
perceived
as a Catholic takeover of puritanical England.
( Religious conflicts had permeated Charles' reign. He married a
Catholic
princess,
Henrietta Maria of France,
over-ruling the objections of parliament, and even worse public
opinion. He further
allied
himself with controversial religious figures, including the
ecclesiastic
Richard Montagu, and William Laud, whom Charles
appointed Archbishop of Canterbury.
) Many of Charles subjects felt this was aimed at bringing the Church
of
England too
close to Roman Catholicism.
Charles also attempted to force religious reforms upon Scotland. This
led to the
Bishops Wars. King Charles the 1st, however brought things to a head
when he enraged parliament, and the general
population, by going one step to-far; he
invaded the Houses of
Westminster with armed men to arrest the five members of parliament,
who
were most
vocal in opposing him.
( These members were Arthur Haselrig, Johm Pym, John Hampden, Denzil
Holles, William Strode ) However forewarned by the Earl of Essex, the
members
were not in the house. The speaker of the house William Lenthall, when
asked by the King if he knew their where-abouts famously declared ", I have neither eyes to
see nor
tongue to speak
in this place, but as this House is pleased to direct me."
This
act by the King was the straw that finally broke the camels back, as
far as parliament, and the
people were concerned.
They took up arms to
defend
their rights, enshrined in a sacred document signed in a
meadow at Runnymede on June
15
1215. Yes the English people were going to defend the MAGNA-
CARTA. Cornwall declared its allegiance for
the
Royalist cause. And the town
of Bude became a royalist
stronghold, and a vitally important town, for Bude was central to the
royalists West Country strategy. In 1643, the royalist forces commanded
by Sir Bevil Grenville.
won victory in the battle of Stamford Hill. But ultimately this was to
prove a hollow victory. For the
royalists cause would be lost at the battle of Torrington (1646 )
victory would belong to the English
people and their parliament. One interesting fact is that the
famous Cornish giant, Anthony Payne, was enlisted as a
bodyguard to Sir Bevil Grenville, Payne survived the war to
live and die in the Grenville's manor house at Stratton. It is said
when
Payne died the house had to be reconstructed to allow his body
out.
Today one will find that on many of the beautiful churches of
Cornwall,
that the royal crest can be seen. King Charles1st, granted his crest to
the
Cornish people in recognition of their loyalty to his
cause. The English civil war throws up yet
another quandary. Knowing the Cornish peoples love of their
history, culture, and origins. Why did they side with a man who desired
a
very autocratic rule that would deny them all of these things?. Was it
the fact that their native tounge has more in
common with Britany, than with English ? and combining this with
the fact that Charles had very close intimate connection's with the
Fench.? Was
it these factors that decided Cornwall to declare for the Royalist
cause?
The Ship Wreckers:
Tales of ship wrecking abound in the "West
Country" and indeed this illegal and nefarious activity, did indeed
occur. Ships were
deliberately lured to destruction on to the rocks, by wreckers
inland waving
lanterns, to mislead the ship's captains in-to thinking that
on seeing a light to port that there was another ship in between them,
and the coast, thus giving them
the impression that there was plenty of sea-room between their ship and
the land. This activity was not however as most people believe
performed
by
the inhabitants of coastal towns, or villages. No for these people were
also-of- the-sea, and would not think of luring fellow sailors to
their doom. No most of the wreckers were farmers, or inland people. But
before we condemn these people to harshly we must take into context the
extreme poverty that was their lives, and it was this abject poverty
that
drove them to commit such terrible acts. Smuggling however is a
different story it was wide-spread, and in
Cornwall it was practically a cottage industry. And the poor revenue
men
were run ragged by the wily smugglers of the "West Country"
Surfer's Paradise: "The
long, wave and the thundering shores
of Bude." These
word's were penned by Sir Alfred
Lord Tennyson in his poem The Birth of King Arthur.
And they
sum up Bude of to-day. For the Atlantic waves that roll in are a magnet
to surfer's from all over the country. Like Croyde North Devon, Bude
has been called England's answerer to Bondi Beach. Indeed it was in
Bude that visitors to our shores set up the very first surf rescue
service. Yes in 1953, it was Australian surfers who set up this
service. And it is still in existence today: I always knew them
Aussie's were good for something besides cricket.!!!
Places of interest, Bude offers a wide range of amenities, for
the holiday maker, and a visit to the splendid visitor center in the
crescent car park would be an excellent placed to start. It holds an
extensive display by the North Cornwall Heritage Coast and Countryside
Service, there is also a children s play area, information is readily
available in the center, on full range of where to go, and what is of
interest to the
holiday
maker, with trained staff who are only to pleased to help you plan your
holiday itinerary.
Beautiful Widecombe Bay, lies just south of Bude an area of outstanding
natural beauty. The bay is ideal for families, with miles of
golden sands, and rock pools galore for the children to
explore.
Heavy Atlantic rollers entering the bay also make it the ideal
place to surf. The ubiquitous South West Coastal
Path also encompasses Widecomb
Bay. The coastal path, offers walkers a
superb panorama of
the coastline. Ploughill is a very picturesque village, lying one
mile to the north west of Bude. The village has been the winner of the Best Kept Village award
on a number of occasions. And the beautiful old
church St. Olaf, of Norman origin is one of the most treasure
churches
in Cornwall. St. Gennys perched 400 feet, up on the cliff is a
delightful little village overlooking Crackington Haven. Like
Clovelly North Devon it clings to the hillside, and looks out to the
great headlands, which drop sheer down to the sea, Also like Clovelly
it
is a tribute to the people who centuries ago constructed it. It is
truly amazing that given it's precipitous location that the village has
not only survived, but is still alive, and vibrant as
the
day it
was created.
Yes whatever the weather.( we all know and love the English summer
weather !!! ) Bude has something to offer everyone: Summer theatrical
shows, and concerts, plus numerous fetes, and events, many with an
historical theme, which are re-enacted for visitors. Bude carnival
week, mid July, is not to be missed. Bude also host's a internationally
renowned 8 day Jazz Festival (25th August, to the 1st September, which
now in its 7th, year) Bude
even has a local football team, know localy as the Seasiders. So if
like
me you are a fan of the beautiful game, you can find out all
about the club, by visiting their offical website on right of
screen. Yes as I said Bude has
indeed something for
every-one!
|
|
|
