Fishchowter’s Lane is an ancient footpath not far from our house. The Lane has a rich history, dating from at least the 12th century when it was part of the main road from Totnes to Dartmouth. There are various permutations of the name (Fishchowter’s, Fishcheater’s) and as many theories as to what the name means.
I have tried to catalogue how the Lane changes during different seasons in the photographs shown below.
Photos from March 26th 2018
Near the beginning of Fishchowter’s Lane
Fishchowter’s Lane, Totnes with wild garlic and traffic preventer.
Opposite leaved golden saxifrage on Fishchowter’s Lane
Pussy Willow on Fishchowter’s Lane, Totnes
Totnes Castle viewed from Fishchowter’s Lane, Totnes
Wall Pennywort on Fishchowter’s Lane, Totnes
Wild Garlic along Fishchowter’s Lane
Photos from April 22nd 2018
Fiddlehead Ferns on Fishchowter’s Lane, Totnes
Wood Sorrel on Fishchowter’s Lane, Totnes
Yellow Archangel on Fishchowter’s Lane, Totnes
Photos from May 9th 2018
Spring growth on Fishchowter’s Lane, Totnes
Wild Garlic in flower on Fishchowter’s Lane, Totnes
Bumblebee feeding from Yellow Archangel on Fishchowter’s Lane, Totnes
Photos from June 6th 2018
Female solitary bee collecting pollen from flowers on Fishchowter’s Lane
Foxgloves with bumblebee on Fishchowter’s Lane
How the leaves create a green tunnel on Fishchowter’s Lane
Black slip wasp seen on Fishchowter’s Lane
Male early bumblebee
Speckled Wood butterfly on Fishchowter’s Lane
Wall Pennywort on Fishchowter’s Lane
Photos from July 14th 2018
Solitary bee on bramble on Fishchowter’s Lane
Ferns growing along Fishchowter’s Lane
Cows grazing the meadow
Comma butterfly on bramble along Fishchowter’s Lane
Burdock growing along the side of Fishchowter’s Lane
Local reaction to a planning application that would have irreversibly changed Fishchowter’s Lane
Photos from August 1st 2018
Blackberries along Fishchowter’s Lane
Common carder bee and red-tailed bumblebee on thistle
Cuckoo Pint (Arum maculatum) growing alongside Fishchowter’s Lane
Elderberries
Hazelnuts
Hoverfly on thistle
Speckled wood butterfly
Sunlight and hashers’ codes near the watery juction
Having walked from the centre of Totnes last Sunday during lockdown to the top of the hill south of us and then back down Fishchowters Lane, I was intrigued to find out anything about the origin of the name and came across your website with wonderful pictures. Congratulations !
Thanks for your comment, MIchael. There is some information about the name in Valerie Belsey’s book “Green Lanes in the South Hams”. Here is part of a piece I wrote for an exhibition which included some of the photos: “Fishchowter’s Lane has the look of a very old track, a sunken green lane enclosed by trees, used for centuries and worn down by the passage of people, animals and wheels. It is sometimes referred to as Fishcheater’s Lane as it was thought to have been used as an alternative route into Totnes by those wishing to avoid paying taxes on fish. The approach to the Lane lies in a very old part of the town, littered with remnants of past lives. There used to be a leper hospital not far away on Maudlin Road and nearby are the remains of an old Linhay, a particular Devon building used for keeping animals in winter, now used for car parking. Among the buildings of Lake Garden is a tall chimney, once part of a tannery. Sometimes we joke that Fishchowter’s Lane is a portal into a bygone age, and occasionally we meet people along the Lane who have the look of another era, adding to the illusion. “
Thanks Helen, glad you liked the photos, it is a lovely peaceful place. I believe the old leper hospital was further up Maudlin Road and the front wall of Albert Place is supposed to have been part of it.
Just came across your blog regarding Fishchowter Lane and really enjoyed it.
It’s my daily early morning dog walk- up Maudlin road and Kingsbridge Road and back home via the lane.
I can’t compete with your photos but I have been recording fungi in the lane and around Totnes and that can be found here
Went for a walk along the south side of the river towards Ashprington yesterday. Pink Purslane in flower (introduced to UK in 1768) apparently ,alot down this way but little in mid Wales (according to distribution maps) which explains why I’d never seen it before. Also a bit further on Early Purple Orchids in flower on the side of the path. Also noticed Red Campion smut ,Microbotyrum lychnidis -dioicae starting to appear.
I’ve been picking Pink Purslane to put in a glass of water, it lasts amazingly well as a pretty cut flower. Despite the rain, many gorgeous flowers.We need cheering up!
Thanks Gary, there is a lot to see on this river path, I remember seeing pyramidal orchids last year in the low wooded section with the old buidling in it. I walked by the river yesterday from Bridgetown Bridge and found several clumps of pink purslane just beyond Morrisons. I must look out for the smut fungus.
Thanks for your comment Gary, glad you liked the material on Fishchowter’s Lane. I had a look at your fungi pictures and found them to be fascinating. I shall look more carefully next time as I must be missing many of these. It’s possible that I concentrate on different things and miss the fungi,
What time do you walk up Maudlin Road, if you let me know I’ll look out for you?
Hi Philip, I went to a Bowden Pillars Future meeting yesterday in the quarry at the bottom of the lane . I was given a paper copy of their outline plan which looks interesting I’ve photographed and attached it ,for your interest. Gary
Philip Strange Science and Nature Writing 
Having walked from the centre of Totnes last Sunday during lockdown to the top of the hill south of us and then back down Fishchowters Lane, I was intrigued to find out anything about the origin of the name and came across your website with wonderful pictures. Congratulations !
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Thanks for your comment, MIchael. There is some information about the name in Valerie Belsey’s book “Green Lanes in the South Hams”. Here is part of a piece I wrote for an exhibition which included some of the photos: “Fishchowter’s Lane has the look of a very old track, a sunken green lane enclosed by trees, used for centuries and worn down by the passage of people, animals and wheels. It is sometimes referred to as Fishcheater’s Lane as it was thought to have been used as an alternative route into Totnes by those wishing to avoid paying taxes on fish. The approach to the Lane lies in a very old part of the town, littered with remnants of past lives. There used to be a leper hospital not far away on Maudlin Road and nearby are the remains of an old Linhay, a particular Devon building used for keeping animals in winter, now used for car parking. Among the buildings of Lake Garden is a tall chimney, once part of a tannery. Sometimes we joke that Fishchowter’s Lane is a portal into a bygone age, and occasionally we meet people along the Lane who have the look of another era, adding to the illusion. “
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what a lovely series of photos. I found your page while looking for info on the old leper hospital on Maudlin Rd
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Thanks Helen, glad you liked the photos, it is a lovely peaceful place. I believe the old leper hospital was further up Maudlin Road and the front wall of Albert Place is supposed to have been part of it.
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Just came across your blog regarding Fishchowter Lane and really enjoyed it.
It’s my daily early morning dog walk- up Maudlin road and Kingsbridge Road and back home via the lane.
I can’t compete with your photos but I have been recording fungi in the lane and around Totnes and that can be found here
http://devonfungusgroup.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&p=1807&sid=947479f8e0c527ef3ddcafacea92ff4e#p1807
I’m relatively new to Totnes (around 2 years) and the pandemic has curtailed some of my exploration.
I’ll look out for you in passing and give you a socially distanced wave.
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Went for a walk along the south side of the river towards Ashprington yesterday. Pink Purslane in flower (introduced to UK in 1768) apparently ,alot down this way but little in mid Wales (according to distribution maps) which explains why I’d never seen it before. Also a bit further on Early Purple Orchids in flower on the side of the path. Also noticed Red Campion smut ,Microbotyrum lychnidis -dioicae starting to appear.
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I’ve been picking Pink Purslane to put in a glass of water, it lasts amazingly well as a pretty cut flower. Despite the rain, many gorgeous flowers.We need cheering up!
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Thanks Helen, there are many flowers about now, it is a lovely time of year despite the rain and wind.
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Thanks Gary, there is a lot to see on this river path, I remember seeing pyramidal orchids last year in the low wooded section with the old buidling in it. I walked by the river yesterday from Bridgetown Bridge and found several clumps of pink purslane just beyond Morrisons. I must look out for the smut fungus.
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Thanks for your comment Gary, glad you liked the material on Fishchowter’s Lane. I had a look at your fungi pictures and found them to be fascinating. I shall look more carefully next time as I must be missing many of these. It’s possible that I concentrate on different things and miss the fungi,
What time do you walk up Maudlin Road, if you let me know I’ll look out for you?
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I live in Magdalene Close and generally leave the house around 7.30 a.m and head up Maudlin Road with Jack the white cockapoo
Gary
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Hi Philip, I went to a Bowden Pillars Future meeting yesterday in the quarry at the bottom of the lane . I was given a paper copy of their outline plan which looks interesting I’ve photographed and attached it ,for your interest. Gary
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Thanks Gary that’s very interesting.
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