12 things you’ll relate to if you grew up in Devon
Good times...
Last updated 10th Sep 2020
Growing up in Devon... surrounded by rolling fields, trips to Trago Mills and the fantastic tradition of the Tar Barrels in Ottery St Mary, all these things seemed blissfully normal, until you spoke to people from outside the county. And how about the 80p entry to Boxes nightclub in Exeter, for the Maggie Thatcher Experience on a Wednesday night? Ah the memories...
Here are 12 things you’ll relate to if you grew up in Devon
Thinking the Tar Barrels are perfectly normal
Ottery St Mary's annual Tar Barrels seemed perfectly normal, that is until you speak to anyone outside of the county. Now you come to think of it, the idea setting light to a barrel full of tar and carrying them on your back through a crowded town's streets does seem a little… unique.
You know there’s only one way to have a cream tea
If you're from Devon you'll know that the cream (and it has to be clotted) goes first, and then the jam, and if you're really fussy, it should be a plain scone too, never accept a fruit scone!
It’s normal to get clotted cream in ice cream-sized tubs
Friends and family from outside the county might wonder what all the fuss is about, but clotted cream is really the only way to have a cream tea and that's exactly why we buy it in ice cream-sized tubs. Anyone for a proper cream tea?
The grockles ‘invade’ every year
We thought we might have got away with it this year, but alas, every summer it's the same. The M5 and A30 are chocca with tourists, or should we say grockles, coming into the region. We just hope that some of them pass through into Cornwall.
Learning to drive asap so you could actually SEE your friends
If you lived in the country you knew the importance of learning to drive as soon as you could, especially in days before mobile phones, and video calls. If you didn't learn to drive and get a car, the likelihood of getting to see your friends in the holidays, relied totally on the hourly bus (if there was one) or your kind parents.
Driving down country lanes by memory
In deepest, darkest Devon there are rarely obvious landmarks to make your way from A to B, and a mobile signal can't be relied on, so your memory is almost certainly the most reliable 'map'.
We have some of the best beaches
Growing up we'd always have sand in the footwell of the car, going to the beach wasn't just a weekend it a way, it was a daily trip after school, or a day out with your friends, whether you wanted to surf, walk your dog or just relax with an ice cream. From Croyde to Exmouth, Budleigh Salterton to Woolacombe, there was a beach not far away.
You can tell the type of manure by its smell
Granted, this might not be one for people who grew up in a town or city, but if you were in the country then it's likely you could tell the difference just by a whiff of the finest manure wafting your way.
Visiting Anderton and Rowlands fun fair at least once a year
Wherever you grew up in Devon, it’s likely that you would have gone to Anderton and Rowlands fun fair at some point in your youth. The business has been around for 30+ years and is well-known across the county.
Christmas shopping at Trago Mills
Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas if you didn’t pop to Trago Mills for some presents or decorations. It was truly a treasure trove of potential gifts and ways to brighten up your house for the festive season.
The Maggie Thatcher Experience at Boxes in Exeter
Everyone had their favourite nightclub, whether it was Venue in Torquay, Rafters in Newton Abbot, or Warehouse, Boxes and Boogies in Exeter, however one of our favourite nights growing up was the 80s themed, aptly named, Maggie Thatcher Experience on a Wednesday night at Boxes. It was only 80p entry for a night of 80s tunes until 1am.
Queuing for the cinema
Remember joining the long queues outside the cinema for films such as Star Wars, Beverly Hills Cop and Ghostbusters? With no online booking the only way to be certain to see your favourite film would be to turn up early and wait your turn.
Now take a look at things you probably didn’t know about Exeter