Old King Cole is a nursery rhyme, perhaps more common in the UK than in the USA. “He called for his pipe, and he called for his bowl, and he called for his fiddlers three” etc. Well, some folks think Old King Cole was a Welsh King of Northern England, after the departure of the Romans. But the people of Bucks Mills in North Devon, think the rhyme is based on Richard Cole, the Lord of Woolfardisworthy (“Woolsery”), who built a harbour by blasting away rock on the beach and making a quay. This allowed ships to bring limestone and coal from South Wales to be processed in kilns built into the cliffs. Richard Cole died in 1614 and there is a monument to him in All Hallows Church, Woolfardisworthy.



There are some lovely doors in Bucks Mills (see previous posts) but here are some new (old) ones.


Rather than the traditional cock as a weathervane, here is a whale.


6 replies on “Thursday Doors Old King Cole”
Fab photos, particularly the two doors
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Perhaps boats went whaling from here (as they did from Whitby in Yorkshire) – whale blubber for lamps, whalebone for corsets etc
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Nice photos.
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These are great doors and wonderful photos. I love that you added the history, especially the folklore. These are the things we never seem to learn about unless they are shared by locals or people in the know. It looks like a great place to spend some time.
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Your first door photo was my favorite…until I reached the second. Both are very special and unique.
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I haven’t thought of that nursery rhyme since childhood and as I started reading your post the words came tumbling out of me. Thanks for the trip down memory lane. Great post – especially love the more weathered door.
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