Chapter Twenty Seven - A Fine Spectacle

The scene shifts from coast and countryside to the bustle of a Barnstaple town fair, where Boutport Street and Bear Street are alive with noise, colour, and spectacle. Amidst the crowds, we meet two striking figures for the first time — Parson Chowne and Parson Jack Rambone. Blackmore draws inspiration here from the notorious Reverend John Froude (often written Founde), one of Devon’s infamous “Hunting Parsons”, clergymen remembered as much for their unruly behaviour and mischief as for their ministry. The “Hunting Parsons” were clergymen in 18th and early 19th-century Devon who gained notoriety for their rowdy lifestyles. Rather than setting a pious example, some became infamous for drinking, gambling, womanising, and even leading hunting parties across parish boundaries. The most notorious was Rev. John Froude of Knowstone and East Anstey, remembered for spreading mayhem in his community and inspiring local legends. Blackmore’s characters Parson Chowne and Parson Jack Rambone reflect this reputation — blending historical memory with fiction to create vivid, larger-than-life figures who bring both menace and energy to the novel.This chapter blends lively fairground atmosphere with sharp character study, marking a turning point in the novel’s cast of personalities.For listeners from South Wales and North Devon, it’s a reminder that Blackmore rooted his fiction in the real quirks, legends, and reputations of the communities he knew.