Gerald Millington, originally from Hertfordshire, studied Local History in his spare time until he retired to Otterton 18 years ago. He and his wife moved to this part of the country to be near her family. Discover the treasures of Otterton with Gerald as he shows you around....

I first visited Devon with my family in 1943, when we stayed in Sidmouth. A walk on Salcombe Hill first opened my eyes to the beauty of East Devon.

I was just 15 years old and it was wartime. Protective invasion scaffolding still stood on the beaches. My creative instincts were stirred and I wrote a short essay on the gorgeous rolling hills and deep valleys around me.

There and then I vowed to live in this delightful countryside.

Otterton's church stands out on the skyline

Otterton is a small village of about 600 souls tucked into the folds of the hills to the east of the river Otter.

Crossing the nineteenth century bridge over the river you discover the charm of this delightful place.

Picture postcard pretty

Passing the water mills, a vista opens to the village green with its row of thatched cottages and the distinctive church towering majestically above.

The village street with a very varied selection of cottages and farmhouses is just the sort of picture postcard village holiday makers crave.

From ancient to modern

Basclose - typical Otterton farmhouses with their beautiful traditional thatching

Thatched, cob, brick...all are here for the tourists to rave over.

Even the twentieth century buildings, which intersperse the more ancient ones seem to be part of the natural evolution.

Otterton has evolved over the past 1,300 years. The Saxons first settled here and by the time the Normans arrived Otterton was the largest settlement in the South East of Devon.

Sunset over the estuary of the Otter

Yes - Budleigh Salterton, Sidmouth, Exmouth and Topsham were virtually non-existent! But Otterton Mill was already in operation.

At that time the river Otter had a large open estuary with direct access to the sea and in fact Otterton was a port.

Continue Gerald's tour of Otterton