A smart new name plaque has been added to a much-loved and historic corner of Bovey Tracey.

St Mary’s Well sits towards the top of town, and although water stopped flowing into the ancient stone trough many years ago, the spot has become a popular place to take a seat and watch the world go by.

It is built into the garden wall of a house, adjacent to the parish church which is now dedicated to St Peter, St Paul and St Thomas, but previously to St Mary.

Folklore has it that a traveller, possibly St Mary herself, was so grateful for the food and shelter offered by the parish priest and his wife that she bestowed good fortune on them for generations to come. She also turned the well’s frogs golden coloured.

Its traditional bus stop sign and red letter box are complemented by attractive flower beds, tended by members of the town’s Garden Club.

A previous chairman of the club, Julia Mooney, was told the spot would look even better with a name plate, so she set about securing materials and practical help.

The slate was donated by local suppliers Kenmart and the frame in which it now sits created by volunteers at The Bovey Community Workshop known as the Bovey Shed. Julia covered all costs herself as a gift to the community.

She explained: “At one of our meetings for Bovey in Bloom, a judge suggested that we should have a name plaque so I looked into it.

“That was two years ago but we couldn’t put it on the wall itself because it’s listed and its ownership is unclear but it looks very good in the spot we’ve chosen."

Current Garden Club chairman Sue Nickels said: “We look after the garden because it’s a prominent area, especially with the bus stop, and whenever I come up to look after it people stop and say how lovely it is.

“The wet weather has prevented us doing much of late but now with things a bit drier, the new sign will give us motivation.”

Bovey Shed founder Simon Carter accepted the challenge of creating the plaque’s frame and tasked fellow volunteer Steve Ware with the job of making it.

“It was virtually the day Steve joined and he just took it on and ran with it, we’re really really impressed,” he said.

Other work carried out by Shed volunteers at the well has included reinforcing the bench and fitting new feet.

Mayor of Bovey Tracey, Cllr Sheila Brooke said: “I’m thrilled. It’s a real community effort which is brilliant and so typical of Bovey Tracey, all these volunteers looking after the town.

“Without them we’d have none of these lovely things.”

The next big date in the Garden Club’s calendar is the Spring Flower Show at the Methodist Hall, Le Molay-Littry Way, on Saturday April 11.

A variety on classes will be on offer including a Junior Class for all up to 16 years old. Doors open at 8.30am for class entries.