Visiting Clovelly
Princess Royal visits Clovelly to unveil Shipwrecked Mariners Society plaque
Clovelly estate is home to the Rous family and has been for over 400 years. From Elizabethan times until today, it has remained in private ownership. Consequently this has helped preserve its originality and atmosphere. The village remains a fully functioning working fishing village, clinging to a 400 foot cliff, overlooking Bideford bay. It has no vehicular traffic on its steeply cobbled street, just donkeys and sledges. Donkeys used to be the main form of transport for centuries. These days the main roll for them is to give children rides during the summer or posing for photographs in the street, whilst enjoying their retirment. The man-powered sledges transport all goods to and from the village, from groceries to furniture. Moving house in the village is a very demanding proposition. This might partly explain the generations of families that are living here today.