cross-posted from: https://feddit.uk/post/24135483

A 17-year-old from Barnstaple has had a graphic novel commissioned by a Devon arts organisation.

Aaban Aslam was doing work experience in Beaford Arts' photographic archive when staff realised he had a talent for drawing.

Beaford has paid him to create the first chapter of The Widening Gyre as a pilot, and has published it on its website.

The adventure story is inspired by the North Devon landscape and folklore, in addition to the photographic work of James Ravillious and the Oscar-winning cinematographer Sir Roger Deakins, whose early works are in Beaford's collection.

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When Aaban started his work experience in Year 10, he was not doing GCSE art.

The education team at Beaford spoke to the art teacher at his college and he submitted his work for the graphic novel as coursework and completed the course in just four months, gaining top marks.

Beaford Arts director Mark Wallace s

cross-posted from: https://feddit.uk/post/20031129

Two neolithic stone circles have been discovered on Dartmoor, adding credibility to the theory that a “sacred arc” of monuments was built in the heart of the wild Devon uplands.

One of the circles appears to have similar features to Stonehenge, while the second sits slightly outside the sweep of the arc and could have served as a gateway used by pilgrims travelling to the area.

The discovery of the two rings is a result of a lifetime of work by Alan Endacott, a Devon archaeologist and stained glass artist who in 2007 unearthed the presence of the highest stone circle in southern England, Sittaford on Dartmoor

It was the first stone circle to be discovered on the moor for more than a century and reinforced the sacred arc theory. Rather than resting on his laurels, Endacott has kept on searching for more circles and been rewarded with two further finds.

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Endacott believes a sacred arc was int

cross-posted from: https://feddit.uk/post/14184102

The Dartmoor town of Ashburton is famous for many things.

Pivotal in the tin mining industry in the nineteenth century, it is the largest town in the Dartmoor National Park and was recently named one of England’s coolest places to live by a trendy London magazine.

But political history was made in Ashburton, thanks to the Official Monster Raving Loony Party, which was established in 1982 undistinguished rock musician and former DJ David Sutch, known as Screaming Lord Sutch, 3rd Earl of Harrow.

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In 1987 the party was at its most active in Devon. Totnes pub landlord Tim Langsford stood against Tory grandee Anthony Steen in the South Hams at the general election and polled 277 votes. Mr Steen won with 34,218.

Alan Hope, who ran the Golden Lion in Ashburton, then became the first member of the Official Monster Raving Loony Party to hold public office when he was elected unopposed to Ashburton T

An outbreak of a diarrhoea-type illness is expected to last for "at least" a week in south Devon, with people told to boil their tap water until further notice.

Public Health said 22 cases of cryptosporidiosis had been confirmed in Brixham and up to 100 people had reported symptoms to their GP in the last week.

Infections from the parasite cryptosporidium can be caused by drinking contaminated water or swallowing it in swimming pools or streams.

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SWW's chief customer officer, Laura Flowerdew, said there was "no indication" of cryptosporidium in the water when it left the treatment works.

She said the water met all of the UK's standards and requirements.

"We've extended and enhanced our sampling given the issues that have been identified with cryptosporidium in the area," she said.

Ms Flowerdew said it was one of the additional elements of sampling on Tuesday which first confirmed there was concern with the water supply.

"Following that we've immedia

cross-posted from: https://feddit.uk/post/10368165

Web domains in the name of a Liberal Democrat MP that led people to a Conservative rival's website all appear to have been disconnected.

Two sitting Devon MPs, Conservative Simon Jupp and Richard Foord, Liberal Democrat, will go head-to-head in the general election in a new constituency.

People typing in RichardFoord.uk, RichardFoord.co.uk or RichardFoord.com were redirected to Mr Jupp's site.

Mr Jupp previously told the BBC he was "not responsible for the web domains".

Mr Foord, MP for Tiverton and Honiton, had said the links "serve to arouse suspicion and undermine trust".

After it emerged on Monday the links were no longer redirecting people, Mr Foord said he was considering how to take the matter further.

cross-posted from: https://feddit.uk/post/4179659

A peal of clashing bells echoes across the hills. Hundreds of rooks roosting in the cemetery trees splutter into the darkness. At 7.45pm on 5 November, St Michael’s church bells ring out in discord across the village of Shebbear, in rural west Devon overlooking the Dartmoor hills. On Bonfire Night here, there aren’t fireworks, there isn’t even a bonfire. Instead, there is a stone.

Beneath an ancient oak in Shebbear’s village square is the Devil’s Stone. It’s a sarsen – a foreign stone not from this area. The boulder is thought to be quartz composite, where the local geology is predominantly sandstone and shale. No one attending the ritual turning of the stone on 5 November is bothered what it’s made of. It’s that the stone is turned that matters.

Shebbear’s vicar, Reverend Martin Warren, plays a leading role in the ritual. He says the legend of the Devil’s Stone is that it was dropped upon the devil after a celesti

Paignton’s ‘Golden Mile’ is now multi-coloured and residents are in disbelief

Video by "sandpit72".