Devon Combe is David's interpretation of the home of a West Country boatbuilder, nestling in a sheltered spot by the water front.
   The West Country has a long and proud history of shipbuilding. The construction of boats and ships grew up as an inevitable part of the whole seafaring tradition in the area.
   In the old days all these bustling centres of shipbuilding would be crowded with sail lofts, timber yards, anchor smithies, hemp works and working shops turning out block and tackle, chains and nails.
   Several local yards used to produce really large ocean-going vessels. As far back as 1568 records show that a 250-ton ship was launched from Appledore in Devon. Large indeed. The famous "Golden Hind," in which Sir Francis Drake set out to sail the world in 1577, was only 100 tons.
   Like many other traditional skills, boatbuilding was often passed down through the generations of a family.