Barnstaple is a town in North Devon on the mouth of the river Taw. It’s a market town, but the Pannier Market, which opened in 1856, is currently being refurbished, so is closed at the moment, which is a shame as it looks like an attractive building from pictures I’ve seen of it online. The Waterstones is located in the High Street in the heart of the town.
Barnstaple
Clockwise from top left: Smurfs! They were doing some kind of escape room. The Albert Clock (1862), Salem Almshouses, Penrose Almshouses
After leaving Barnstaple we headed north to Ilfracombe on the coast to visit two statues.
The first is of a teenage girl called Ekaterine Frolov who tragically fell to her death in fog whilst studying in England in the year 2000. Although sad, I think the statue, which stands on the top of a hill surrounded by great views, is a beautiful tribute to her and has an Art Deco feel.
The second is by artist Damien Hirst (possibly best known for his artworks preserving dead animals in Formaldehyde!) – she’s called Verity and stands some 20 metres high! She is an allegory for truth and justice, and stands in the harbour overlooking the sea. Installed in Ilfracombe in 2012, she is on loan to the town for 20 years. Love her or hate her, she’s certainly striking!
Currently reading Black Gold: The History of How Coal Made Britain by Jeremy Paxman
Janet's Adventures in Waterstones 