Devon Versus Cornwall
6 Light-Hearted Quarrels between Devon & Cornwall
It’s fair to say that a friendly rivalry exists between the neighbouring counties of Devon and Cornwall. From amusing spats about cream tea etiquette to wrangles over wrestling tactics, these beautiful south west counties remain stubborn to a fault on matters of prestige, provenance and tradition.
We’ve picked out some of the region’s most longstanding and entertaining disputes, all of them adding to the character of this much-loved corner of the British Isles…
Stuck in a Jam…
Let’s start with the bun fight to end all bun fights, a fall out that shows no sign of ever simmering down. It’s right up there with the great chicken and egg debate, a cream tea conundrum that continues to divide opinion – which comes first, the jammy wodge or the creamy dollop? Only last year this boisterous West Country barney made the headlines when the National Trust shared a sumptuous image of a scone slathered in cream and crowned with jam…so what’s the problem? I hear you murmur…Well, the setting for this charming tabletop scene was Lanhydrock, the heart of Cornwall, a place where cream always rests atop of the jam and anything otherwise is sacrilege, some disgruntled Cornish locals going as far as to call it ‘cultural vandalism’. Holidaymakers beware, next time you’re down visiting the sunny South West make sure you double check your bearings before you do your dolloping.
Crustiness over Pasties…
From one disputable West Country delicacy to another, a row that’s been baking for decades over the true origins of the traditional Cornish pasty. The discovery of a medieval Plymothian accounting book added traction to this ongoing cross-county contretemps, 16th century proof that pasties were being bought and sold in Devon all those moons ago. Prior to the revelation, a Cornish pasty recipe had been found scribbled in a culinary Devonshire archive in 1746, the first strong evidence to suggest that one of Cornwall’s finest exports are in fact of Devonian pedigree.
However, the plot thickens, as one Cornish chronologer claimed that depictions of pasties can be seen in primitive Cornish cave paintings dating back as far as 8000 BC, when it’s believed that leaves were used for crimping and wrapping instead of pastry, thus trumping the whole debate. It would seem that the pasty’s spiritual home will always be Cornwall, the once staple diet of hard-grafting tin miners who would eagerly follow the baker’s cries of ‘Oggy, Oggy, Oggy’ and the wholesome smell of freshly baked fayre. The fact that the World Pasty Championships are held annually in Cornwall also adds credence to the county’s grandfather rights.
Bragging over Beaches…
Both Devon and Cornwall are considered the setting for some of the most beautiful beaches in the UK, golden sands and sparkling bays the hallmarks of this exquisite coastal corner. The south Cornish coast plays host to tranquil waterways and sheltered coves while the north coast is renowned for its rugged and majestic headlands. The same goes for Devon, which can boast the enchanting estuaries of the South Hams and the sweeping sands of the northern shores. Both counties are home to some amazing surfing beaches, attracting droves of watersports enthusiasts with their barrelling swells. The squabble over which shire has the best beaches continues to rumble on, but we at Toad Hall Cottages think it’s fair to say both of these precious coastlines are as gorgeous as each other.
My Pirate’s More Skullduggerous than your Pirate…
The West Country is famous for its long and colourful history of pirates, smugglers and rogues, and nowhere more so that the rugged coves of the Devon and Cornwall coast. Make no mistake about it, many of these bootleggers and moonshiners were vicious, hard-nosed outlaws who topped the local sheriff’s most wanted list, no doubt headed for the gallows if they were ever caught in the act. Cornwall can swagger about some of the region’s most cunning and infamous smugglers, from John Carter of Breage, more commonly known as the ‘King of Prussia’, to the legend of Cruel Coppinger who arrived to wreak havoc on Kernow from a foreign shore, both of them adding to the endless tales of skulduggery and lawlessness. Devon can crow about playing refuge to some of the seven seas’ most infamous pirates and privateers with the likes of Henry ‘Long Ben’ Avery, Captain John Phillips and Sir Frances Drake all prolific plunderers for queen, country and otherwise. When it comes to rascals, chancers and scallywags, it would seem both Devon and Cornwall are as bad as each other.
Sunshine Squabbles…
Trailing only to the bright city lights of London, Devon and Cornwall remain the top staycation destinations for Brits on tour. This is largely down to the consistently balmy weather we enjoy in the West Country, anything from soaring sunny climes to those long Indian summers. Coupled with the stunning coastline and picturesque countryside, it’s no wonder that our soft, white sands and turquoise waters are so often mistaken for the more distant shores of the Mediterranean. Tourism polls indicate that Cornwall just edges past Devon in terms of popularity, however, despite all the rivalry, statistics reveal that Cornish folk are most likely to choose neighbouring Devon as the location for their UK getaways, and vice versa….
Red Carpet Rumblings…
The theme for our final skirmish is the silver screen, with both of these spectacular counties providing backdrops and settings for Hollywood blockbusters and prime time dramas, resulting in some inevitable one-upmanship. Devon’s roaming wilds and country estates have featured in a long list of award-winning films, Spielberg’s War Horse and Ang Lee’s adaptation of Sense and Sensibility to name a few. Across the border, Cornwall can also boast a star-studded roll call of movie location credits with titles such as Edge of Tomorrow starring Tom Cruise, controversial cult classic Straw Dogs led by Dustin Hoffman, and Mel Gibson’s Apocalypto all taking centre stage… and not forgetting the roaringly successful dramas that are Poldark and Doc Martin. Let’s draw a line under this squabble by saying that both Devon and Cornwall share firm footing on the red carpet.
Discover the golden beaches and sparkling bays of Devon and Cornwall when you pick up the keys to your Toad Hall cottage.