Ilfracombe: home of Henry Williamson

Tarka is the main character in ‘Tarka the Otter: His Joyful Waterlife and Death in the Country of the Two Rivers’ written by Henry Williamson, who was said to have been inspired by an actual otter that he had found and rehabilitated as a child. He based many of Tarka’s adventures in the book on real places in and around the North Devon area. The book has never been out of print since publication in 1927. The Tarka Trail, a walk exploring the natural beauty of the Devon countryside, is named in the book’s honour and a statue of Tarka stands on the harbourside in Bideford.

Williamson moved to Ilfracombe towards the end of his life and lived in this house in Capstone Road. When we wandered past, the house, although proudly bearing the plaque and picture commemorating this, was for sale. I wonder whether the new owners will be fans of his writing.

Capstone Road,

Ilfracombe

You can read about Tarka’s statue in Bidecombe here.