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Few people who walk or drive past the weather beaten gateway of Old Blundell’s in Station Road, Tiverton, spare a thought for Lorna Doone. Yet it was here, on the triangular lawn known as “The Ironing Box” in front of his old school, that R.D. Blackmore set the opening scenes of his classic West Country novel.

Richard Doddridge Blackmore was born in Longworth, Berkshire, in 1825, the son of a clergyman. When he was still a baby his mother died and he was brought up by an aunt until his father remarried and he came to live back in the West Country, first at Kings Nympton and then at Culmstock. Richard was sent to Blundell’s School in 1837, where he lodged with his older contemporaries John and Frederick Temple, later to achieve fame as Archbishop of Canterbury.

Although Peter Blundell originally founded his school for “the sons of Tiverton”, out of necessity “forreyners” were allowed to make up numbers. They soon dominated the school and this led to fights as described in “Lorna Doone” between John Ridd and Robin Snell. It was a tough regime and Blackmore grew into the fagging system and learned to swim and fight. He was a brilliant scholar, however, and thrived on the mainly classical education, being Head Boy for 2? years, leaving aged 18 in 1843.

His early life and school days obviously made a profound impression on him, especially his visits to Exmoor. All his pastoral tales have intricately worked descriptions of lovingly-observed climate, wild-life and vegetation. It is said that the Doone family may have been based on a Stuart family who fled Scotland in the 17th Century and lived as outlaws on Exmoor.

“Lorna Doone” was first published anonymously in 1869 in a limited 3 volume edition, only 300 sold. The following year it was re-published in one volume and became a huge critical and financial success. It has not been out of print since.