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TORCROSS and SLAPTON |
SOUTH HAMS VILLAGES |
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The pretty village of Tor Cross nestles between the beach and the fresh water lake (Ley) nature reserve. The village is at the western end of Slapton Sands (a shingle beach) in the centre of Start Bay. From the top of the hills above the village there are wonderful along the "sands" and Ley. The village has an active artist colony and a choice of restaurants, cafes and pubs offering excellent food and drink. |
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Slapton Sands was used as a battle practice area, by the Americans, for the Normandy Invasion. One exercise went disatrously wrong and almost 800 servicemen lost their lives. In 1984 one of Sherman tanks which was lost when a landing craft sank, was recovered from the seabed and now stands at Torcross as a tribute to those lost on that fateful day. The village, and surrounding area was evacuated (3000 residents had to leave their homes) when the USA Army commandeered the area for the battle practice, and in recognition of this sacrifice an obelisk was erected, by the USA, just back from the beach. |
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The village of Slapton lies just inland. The ruined tower is the sole remains of a college of
Chantry Priests established in 1373. All but the tower was demolished during the abolution by
Henry VIII in 1545. Do not miss the refreshments offered by the Tower Inn (The Independent voted
the garden as one of the Ten Best Pub Gardens in Southern England) - a pleasant evening can be
spent in the garden watching the tower's bat colony catching insects. |
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