In June 2022 I published a country diary titled ‘Linhay, Tallet and Barn.’ https://stephentomlin.co.uk/2022/06/27/linhay-tallet-and-barn/ Traditional west country farm buildings might be something of a minority interest but the spirit of my friend Tom’s writing style comes shining through and the story of their restoration updates my earlier blog.
Linhays, Lintels and Lunkeys by Tom Roskilly, from The Peter Tavy Piper April 2023 (parish quarterly newsletter)
Anyone who casts their mind back to February 2022 will remember that ‘furious winter’s rages’ and in particular Storm Eunice which blew in with gusto on the morning of Friday 18th, leaving a trail of havoc in its wake. Out at Willsworthy brook bridge, a tree fell down and blocked the road, but thanks to the sterling efforts of Tim Dodd, who was working in the area, it was soon cleared for residents to go on with their busy lives.
At Lower Nutley, Janet heard an almighty bang whilst in the sheep shed, and looked out to find the roof of an old shed in the lower field completely gone and deposited in the field above the cottage. The shed, which we have always referred to as ‘The Abbot’s Linnie’, had been useful as a nursery for ewes with young lambs, but alas no more. Scrolling on to May, Steve Allen – an old Tavistock School friend – and his wife Kim were spending a short break in the vicinity and dropped in to see us. He is an actor by trade (AKA Stephen Tomlin), with an interest in all things local and historical and so we took them over the lane to see the old building in its damaged state.
After doing a little research he told us that our building had most likely been an old Linhay, where cattle were sheltered and fed below a sort of loft where hay was stored. The loft area had long gone, and the gaps between the unique round pillars have been stoned in for ages, but nevertheless it has all the features of this type of farm building really only found here in the South West. Suffice it to say that, thanks to a local builder well-versed in the concept of restoration, the Linhay has now acquired a new roof, not only to protect its rather special architecture, but also to give it a new lease of life for sheep-husbandry.
Across the lane, Lower Nutley – aka Old Nutley – is very old as well, and whilst ‘our’ builder was about, he also replaced a couple of decaying Lintels above the front-facing windows. Now, whereas most people will know what a Lintel is, they might not know what a Lunkey is. To tell the truth, I only came across one when I listened to an episode of ‘The Archers’ some years ago, when a chap appeared on the scene at Ambridge to build it.
A Lunkey is essentially a dedicated passage through a stone wall or bank for animals to travel through. You see them around here in several hedge banks, often stock-wired up now because they’re no longer appropriate, much like the stone styles which post-boys used years ago to take the shortest route between distant houses in the parish.
How does all this fit together? Well, Steve played the chap in the storyline who made a masterful job of constructing the Lunkey. Quite clever people, these actors! Oh, and by the way, in 1991 he ‘stormed’ through and won Mastermind with his knowledge of Sir Francis Drake and the Armada of 1588.From what I remember the Spaniards ran into a bit of bad weather as well when they were on the way home that April and it didn’t end well for them. So, notwithstanding climate change, one thing’s for sure: if you’re thinking about more sheep housing, or even crossing the Channel, you can’t go by the weather in the previous year….In contrast with the gales of last year we’ve just had the quietest February the Met Office could have ever recorded!
STEPHEN TOMLIN 