Eli’s children

Eli has a role in Barefoot on the Cobbles as Clovelly’s carrier, primarily taking goods and passengers from Clovelly to the main town of Bideford. He is still using his horse and cart, in the face of competition from motorised alternatives. Born in 1871, Eli grew up in a Bucks Mills’ fishing family but moved to Upper Clovelly in his teens, to become a carpenter. In 1899, he married the daughter of the family with whom he lodged. They moved to Independent Street, in the village of Clovelly and later to The Bow. Eli’s father became a fish merchant in his later years, taking fish from Bucks Mills to market and perhaps this motivated Eli to become a carrier. As the twentieth century progressed, Eli moved with the times and worked as an attendant at the visitors’ car park in Clovelly. He died In 1955.

‘It was New Year’s Eve when Captain Jenn sent word for Eli to bring out his cart and collect the Clovelly crew members from the train.’

Barefoot on the Cobbles will be published on 17 November 2018. More information about the novel can be found here. Copies will be available at various events in the weeks following the launch or can be pre-ordered from Blue Poppy Publishing or the author.