The Parish of Shaugh is about 8 miles north-east of Plymouth and runs from Shaugh Bridge at one end to Lee Moor on the other,with Shaugh Prior andWotter in between.Although only just over 3 miles from one end of the parish to the other, the contrast is almost unbelievable. Lee Moor and to an extentWotter, have a bleak beauty with a barren white landscape, scarred and desolate with spoil heaps from the local clay works that could make you think you are on the moon. In stark contrast at the other end of the parish, Shaugh Bridge is a well-known beauty spot which is visited by thousands of walkers, climbers and families throughout the year.With its meeting of two rivers overlooked by the craggy Dewerstone it provides pleasure for all those who visit.This book is not meant to be the history of Shaugh because that can be found elsewhere.“It’s a Shaugh thing” is a loving an unashamedly nostalgic and pictorial tour, with memories and stories from those who have either lived in, or visited the parish.

Don Balkwill grew up at Shaugh Bridge during the fifties and spent much of his young life exploring the Dewerstone and the surrounding area.Although he and his family moved away he has always considered this beautiful part of Devon to be his spiritual home.Whilst researching a book on Shaugh School, people who had either lived in Shaugh or had visited the area began sending him personal memories and photographs of the parish. Being a con-firmed nostalgic himself he decided to create a book containing those items, to provide a lasting memento of the area for future generations to enjoy.Don has written a number of stage plays, panto-mimes and scripts for murder mystery evenings.

Imprint: Halsgrove. ISBN 978 1 84114 694 2, hardback, 297x210mm, 160 pages. Published October 2008.

REVIEWS: Dartmoor News, Western Morning News.