From Exeter to Tiverton is 13 miles-Crediton, 7-Chulmleigh, 213-South Molton, 29-Barnstaple, 37-Bideford, 394.

Crediton is an ancient and populous town situated on the Creedy, between two bills. It has twice suffered severely from fire. The church is an elegant Gothic structure, in which is a beautiful altar-piece. Pop. 1851, 3934. Near Crediton are Downes, (J. W. Buller, Esq.) Creedy House, (Sir H. R. Ferguson Davie, Bart.) and Fulford Park, (B. Fulford, Esq.)

South Molton is an ancient market and borough-town situated on an eminence near the west side of the river Mole. It has a guildhall, a spacious church containing several monuments and a good altar-piece, a free school, a charity school, &c. Pop. 1851, 4482. Between South Molton and Barnstaple is Castle Hill, the splendid mansion of Earl Fortescue, Lord-Lieutenant of the county. Barnstaple is an ancient place situated on the Taw, and is one of the neatest towns in Devonshire. Previous to the Conquest, it was a royal demesne, and is said to have been constituted a borough by King Athelstan, who built a castle here, of which nothing now remains except a high artificial mound. The woollen trade, which the town once possessed, has declined, but it still carries on a trade in timber, baize, silk stockings, and waistcoats. It has a spacious church, a guildhall, a theatre, charity, national, and free grammar schools. The poet Gay was born in the vicinity, and received his education at the grammar-school here. Barnstaple returns two members to Parliament. Pop. 1851, 11,371. A few miles from Barnstaple is Tawstock Court, the seat of Sir B. P. Wrey, Bart. beautifully situated and surrounded by extensive woods and grounds. The church contains a number of handsome monuments. Eight and a half miles from Barnstaple is Bideford, pleasantly situated on the banks of the Torridge, over which is an ancient bridge of twenty-four arches. The view above the bridge is remarkably picturesque. Bideford has greatly increased in importance within a few years, and now carries on an extensive trade. Pop. 1851, 5775. Near the town is Moreton House, L. W. Buck, Esq. Thirteen miles and a half from Bideford is Hartland, a small sea-port town, bleakly situated on a neck of land cal led Hartland Point. Pop. of par. 2223. The church, a large and handsome structure, forms a landmark to mariners. About 6 miles from Bideford, and 45 from Exeter, is Torrington, a populous and flourishing town, finely situated on the east bank of the Torridge. A bowling-green now occupies the site of the ancient castle. The views from the two bridges in the vicinity of the town are extremely picturesque. Pop. of par. 3419. Ten miles and a half from Torring, ton, and 28 from Exeter, is Hatherleigh, an ancient but inconsiderable market and borough town, situated on a branch of the Torridge. The manor anciently belonged to the Abbot of Tavistock. Population, 1882. About 21 miles from Hatherleigh, and in Cornwall, is Stratton, famous as the place where the Parliamentary forces under the Earl of Stamford were defeated by the Cornish Royalists under Sir Beville Granville. Two miles from Stratton is Bude, a considerable watering-place. Five miles from Stratton is Kilkhampton, where there is

112

EXETER TO TEIGNMOUTH, TORQUAY, AND DARTMOUTH

a fine old church containing several ancient monuments, among others, one to the memory of Sir Beville Granville, who was killed at the battle of Lansdown The church-yard was the scene of Hervey's" Meditations among the Tombs"

LI. EXETER TO TEIGNMOUTH, TORQUAY, AND DARTMOUTH,

Eight miles from Teignmouth is the much admired and rapidly-increasing watering-place of Torquay, beautifully situated on the north side of Torbay. Kent's Hole, a cavern scarcely a mile from the town, is interesting to geologists on account of its ossiferous remains. Close to the town is Tor Abbey, the seat of R. S. S. Cary, Esq., and in the vicinity is Bishopstowe, a seat of the Bishop of Exeter.

Twelve miles from Torquay is Dartmouth, a considerable sea-port town, situated at the mouth of the Dart, which here forms a spacious harbour, capable of accommodating 500 sail. The Parish Church, of great antiquity, contains a curiously painted screen and pulpit. One of the doors is remarkably quaint. The bay is one of the most beautiful on this beautiful coast-the banks consisting of lofty wooded hills shelving down to the water. The Dart is navigable from this place to Totness, a distance of 10 miles, and a sail from the one point to the other will charm any lover of fine scenery. The town returns one member to Parliament. Pop. 1851, 4508. In the immediate vicinity of Dartmouth is Mount Boone, the seat of Sir H. P. Seale, Bart.

Five miles from Dartmouth is the busy fishing town of Brixham, remarkable as the landing-place of William III. in 1688. 4 miles from Dartmouth, near Galmpton, is Lupton House, the beautiful seat of Lord Churston.

4

12

14 Haccombe House, Sir

161

18

221

114

ON RIGHT FROM EXETER.

EXETER TO PLYMOUTH AND DEVONPORT, &c.-Continued.

Plymouth, a sea-port town, lies 192 miles in a direct line west-south-west of St. Paul's, London, 216 miles from the General Post Office, London, by the nearest mail road, and 247 miles by railway from Paddington. It derives its name from the river Plym, which here meets the Tamar, forming by their junction an excellent harbour, divided into three parts. The town was incorporated by charter in 1438, in the reign of Henry VI. In the reign of Elizabeth a new charter was bestowed on the corporation, on the solicitation of Sir Francis Drake, who also brought water to the town from Dartmouth, by a winding channel 24 miles in length. Plymouth suffered much from the plague in A.D. 1579 and 1581. It again broke out in 1626, and carried off two thousand persons. In the civil wars Plymouth embraced the Parliamentary side, and was several times besieged by the royalists, but without success. The town is ill laid out, and the streets are narrow and inconvenient, except those near the public promenade called the Hoe. The principal buildings are, the noble Ionic structure in George Street, containing the Theatre, Assembly Rooms, and the Royal Hotel; the Athenæum, the Public Library, the Custom-house, the royal baths, the new hospital, the Guildhall, the Freemasons' Hall, the Mechanics' Institute, &c. The church of St. Andrew is spacious, containing, among other monuments, one to the memory of Charles Matthews the comedian. Here are also numerous meeting-houses, and charitable and educational institutions. Plymouth is one of the principal sea-ports in England, and is defended by a citadel and fortifications on the mainland, as well as on Drake's Island, &c. The harbour comprehends the Sound and its various arms. The estuary of the Tamar forms the harbour for the ships of war, and is called Hamoaze. This noble basin is four miles long, has moorings for nearly 100 sail of the line, and is usually studded with ships of war. The estuary of the Plym, called Catwater, forms another harbour, chiefly used for merchant vessels, and is capable of containing 1000 sail. An Act of Parliament was obtained, in 1840, for the erection of a pier in Mill Bay for the accommodation of the largest class of steam-ships at all times of the tide. The breakwater, commenced in 1812, is one of the most stupendous works of modern times. Its base is about a mile long, and the top forms a promenade, at the end of which there is a lighthouse 68 feet above the level of the breakwater. Plymouth carries on a considerable trade with the West Indies, the Baltic, and the Mediterranean, and coastwise with London and other places; and there is an active fishery, especially of whiting and hake. The imports are timber and West India produce; the exports, manganese to Scotland, wool to Hull, and

lead to London and Bristol. The customs revenue of the port in 1857 was £266,667. The manufactures are sail-cloth, glass, soap, starch, and sugarrefining.

Races are held twice a-year on Chelson Meadow, and there is an annual regatta in the Sound. In August, the scenery on the rivers Tamar, Tavey, St. Germans, and Yealm, is charming beyond description, and several weeks may be most agreeably consumed in excursions from Plymouth. Eddystone Lighthouse is 14 miles from the town, and is visible in clear weather. Plymouth returns two members to Parliament. Pop. in 1851, 52,221. (See also Devonport, p. 116.) LIII. EXETER TO PLYMOUTH AND DEVONPORT THROUGH