When the Queen came to Dawlish

Following the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Dawlish Nub News would like to pay tribute to her with the following article.

Queen Elizabeth II once came to Dawlish - but not as Queen.

She came as a child with her mother and sister, when she was still known as Princess Elizabeth of York.

Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret (front) on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, after the coronation of King George VI on 12 May 1937

The Queen Mother, then the Duchess of York, would take Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret down to Dawlish to stay with her aunt.

Her aunt was one Miss Violet Cavendish-Bentinck, and she lived in a property now known as Weech House on Empsons Hill.

Weech House today (Nub News/ Will Goddard)

There, they would enjoy a holiday - further details are not known, but it has been confirmed that they stayed there in a 1984 letter replying to one Major JHC Sawrey-Cookson from the Queen Mother's private secretary.

It reads: "I have mentioned to Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother the matter that you raised, and I am asked by Her Majesty to tell you that she remembers Queenscot [that is, Weech House] quite well and did in fact pay one or two visits to her Cavendish-Bentinck Aunt whilst she was living there."

Today, part of the original servants quarters of the house are available to stay in as accommodation - known as 'Little Weech'.

SEE ALSO:

How you can pay your respects to Queen Elizabeth in Dawlish and Teignmouth

Tributes paid in Dawlish for Queen Elizabeth