Devonshire's East Devon magazine September October 2018
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•<br />
CERTIFICATE of<br />
•<br />
•<br />
the<br />
What's On: <strong>September</strong> & <strong>October</strong> 18<br />
interview<br />
hubcast<br />
This is Laura’s story - one of love,<br />
intrigue and tragedy<br />
The Dolls House is an exquisite replica of the interior<br />
of Oldstone, a mansion house at Blackawton near<br />
Dartmouth. Sadly it is now a ruin but as with many old<br />
houses it can give up a story from the past.<br />
01803 840387<br />
www.totnesrarebreeds.co.uk<br />
Celebrating<br />
of family fun ! 1978 - <strong>2018</strong><br />
years<br />
Laura Dimes<br />
at 24 was the<br />
youngest of<br />
four. All her siblings<br />
had married leaving<br />
Laura rather lonely<br />
and she spent much<br />
of her time riding the<br />
grounds and walking<br />
her collie in the<br />
woods. One morning<br />
in 1884 she rode out<br />
and though usually accompanied<br />
by the groom, on this day was<br />
alone when she encountered the<br />
dashing Hugh Rutherford Shortland,<br />
son of a doctor. He was related to<br />
the Governor of New Zealand and<br />
notorious for several local business<br />
interests.<br />
Laura fell head over heels in love<br />
but Laura’s mother and father<br />
disapproved of the association<br />
and any engagement. Despite this<br />
they obtained a special licence and<br />
were married on 8th April 1884 at<br />
Kingsbridge Registry office. Hugh<br />
and Laura parted immediately, Hugh<br />
on a pre-planned trip to New Zealand,<br />
Laura to Oldstone to present a fait<br />
accompli to her parents.<br />
Hugh had been gone three weeks,<br />
when on 25th April Laura, after her<br />
morning ride changed into a dress,<br />
hat and gloves, and set out for her<br />
usual walk in the woods - but this<br />
time did not return!<br />
A Mrs Luckcroft made the grisly<br />
discovery and found<br />
Laura fully clothed<br />
standing upright in<br />
the pond with her<br />
hands outstretched,<br />
a few inches of<br />
water covering her<br />
head. At the inquest<br />
evidence suggested<br />
that it appeared<br />
there had been no struggle or attempt<br />
to get out of the pond as the depth<br />
was only 6ft 3 inches. Sergeant<br />
Mills reported he did not suspect<br />
foul play. The Jury returned an<br />
‘Open’ Verdict and the Blackawton<br />
mystery was forgotten.<br />
However there still remain to this day<br />
unanswered questions and theories:<br />
Why did Mrs Dimes later say, most<br />
curiously, she thought Hugh had<br />
deferred his visit to New Zealand?<br />
Laura was supposed to have received<br />
a letter from Hugh in New Zealand<br />
on the morning of her death.<br />
Was there a faded bruise on Laura’s<br />
temple? Was it a quarrel over money<br />
that went wrong? The Dimes were<br />
a wealthy family - could this be a<br />
motive?<br />
Finally the case collapsed and<br />
Hugh departed to New Zealand<br />
immediately.<br />
Why not come and learn the full story<br />
at Dartmouth Museum and make<br />
up your own mind? dartmouth.org<br />
2014<br />
2015<br />
• HALL of FAME<br />
EXCELLENCE<br />
2016<br />
2017<br />
hubcast<br />
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What’s on in <strong>Devon</strong><br />
25<br />
HUBCAST - promoting events and places across <strong>Devon</strong>