Winefred, a story of the chalk cliffs

Winefred, a story of the chalk cliffs, which was written by Sabine Baring-Gould at the beginning of the last century.

The novel has been and still is, a perennial favourite amongst the author’s many devotees. Set within the hamlet of Seaton and its environs in the year 1839, a time of smuggling, social prejudice and class distinction, the novel follows the difficult journey of a young girl and her mother towards the fulfilment of their hopes and dreams, and comes to a thrilling climax when the great landslip occurs between Seaton and Lyme Regis during the Christmas Eve of that year.

Each of the main regions on the World Heritage coast has its own unique aspects, whether these be geographical, historical or geological. For example, Charmouth has its abundance of fossils, Lyme Regis has Mary Anning and Jane Austen, Sidmouth has its associations with Regency times.

Seaton, Axmouth and Beer are not rich in fossils, like Charmouth (although we do have our own zone fossil, found mainly at Seaton Hole). However, what we do have, which is unique to Seaton, Axmouth and Beer, is the real character of Jack Rattenbury, the famous smuggler from Beer, and one of the characters in the novel “Winefred” by Devon author Sabine Baring-Gould.

Baring-Gould was a prolific novelist and also famous as a writer of hymns – “Onward Christian Soldiers” and “Now the Day is Over” being his two most famous compositions. It is safe to say that, had Baring-Gould been a little less religious, the novel would have been a “bodice ripper” but, given his background, he settles for an atmosphere of smouldering (but never igniting) sexual tension between Winefred and Jack Rattenbury!

It can be seen that the novel encompasses many aspects of Seaton, Axmouth and Beer’s unique contributions to the history of the Jurassic Coast. The landslip is described in graphic detail, as are the topography of the area around Axmouth, Seaton and Beer, and it takes in many local landmarks which are still here some 150 years after the event.

This is a story not only of the landslip (which is told in thrilling detail) but also of smuggling (with star parts for Jack Rattenbury and his father), the (inferior) status of women in the 19th century and the class differences that operated in those times which made it almost impossible for women of low birth or illegitimacy to break out of poverty. It tells how people had to cross the River Axe using a ferry boat (with an evil ferryman as a major character) and relates in great details the lives of ordinary people of the day.

The book mentions a dealer in semi-precious stones made from minerals and petrified wood from the Undercliff. The river itself is described in great and loving details throughout the book, as is the ferry crossing. It mentions – some in great detail - White Cliff, Beer, Beer Quarry Caves, Rousden and the beach there, Bindon Hall, the Fosse Way, Lyme Regis and Musbury. It tells how birds and rabbits disappeared from the Undercliff just before the Great Landslip and how the sea began to “boil” and a brown island began to appear off shore as the landslip started.

The book has a dramatic, exciting and romantic ending that lends itself enormously to use as an interpretive tool both two dimensionally and three dimensionally. It can be used as an interpretive instrument in so many ways – play, festival, costumer, walks, film, story boards for example – and can be slanted towards any age group or gender.

Landslip Day – a suggestion

The Landslip occurred on Christmas Eve 1839 and was “celebrated” on 25th August 1840 when corn was reaped on the outlying island (Goat Island) by girls dressed as nymphs. “Thousands of people were present, booths were erected, bands played and the affair was as much a jubilation as if in honour (sic) of some great national or local achievement”.

It would therefore seem sensible, for practical reasons, to tell the story of The Landslip and Winefred on or near to 25th August (i.e. the August Bank Holiday). A boat could mock the arrival of Queen Victoria and we could find some “nymphs”, bands, booths and jubilation! Not to mention making cards with ears of wheat on them as souvenirs.

There would be no shortage of amateur dramatic volunteers to take the parts of Winefred, Jane, Olver Dench, Jack Rattenbury, Buckland and Coneybeare. The festivities could span the coastline from the Undercliff to Seaton, to Beer and Beer Quarry Caves.

The script for the play “Winefred” is now finished so let the planning begin!