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Devon, Its Moorlands, Streams and Coasts

Chapter 5 No.5

Word Count: 5976    |    Released on: 01/12/2017

Te

ose banks

nymph dear Lema

h herself det

sh spoils commit

the east they cam

ive earth contain t

rew so great, as

soil, as bees do

ous pride how har

try swam with blo

: Poly-

nd starts across the moorlands towards the north. After a few mile

its feathery, deep green foliage and clusters of scarlet berries. A clapper bridge-that is, a bridge formed out of a single slab of granite-over twelve feet long lies across the Wallabrook near the meeting of the streams. Beside it grows a mountain-ash, and the quivering and wavering leaves, and their shadows that quiver and waver in the ripples beneath, make a profound contrast to that massive, immovable stone, that fr

n that to creep through the hole brings luck. The rock has, of course, been as

heir usual peaceful solitude. Sir John Berkeley, at that time, 'with a good party, volant, of horse and dragoons,' was descending in 'all places in the surrounding country where Parliamentarians were known to be assembled, "dissolving" them, and taking many prisoners.' Of one of these 'necessary and brisk expeditions' Chagford was the goal, and arriving very early in the morning, still in the dark, they fell upon it before day. The chilly January dawn broke over a much-discomforted town, ringing with shots, the trampling of horses, and the clash of steel, but the Royalist troops were sturdily resisted, and Godolphin was slain, it is said, in the

le B

heels of Cha

hin, Trevanion,

Tavistock, and Plympton. Risdon mentions that 'This place is priviledged with many im

ave Perpendicular. In this parish was the barton of Drascombe, and in the reign of Edward I, Walter de Bromehall held it 'by the sergeanty of finding our Lord the King, whensoever he should hunt in the forest of Dartmoor, one

oad and a small stream scramble down a less severe descent between the high sides, from the north-east. But from no point near the bridge would it be more possible to see far up any cleeve, than it would be for a ladybird, perched at one end, to trace all the lines of a stag's horn. If in one direction there was a gentle slope and smiling prospect beyond, the peculiar effect would be gone. There is a stillness, and almost a solemnity, in this little opening closed in narrowly on every side by the steep hills rising straight above it on every side, and looking as unchanging as if what th

Castle. 'This camp is of irregular form, circular towards the north-east and south-east, but almost square on other quarters. On its south side it has a high rampart and a deep ditch. On its northern side, the steepness of the hill formed the only defence.' It has been su

of the king for one sparrow-hawke yearly to be yielded.' Moreton is a small place, and in these days perhaps its most marked characteristic is the Dancing Tree, or Cross Tree, as it is sometimes called, for it has grown out of the steps that encircled the now broken village cross. This tree, an elm, was pollarded, and the branches so trained that

of loyalty was shown. In the afternoon a concert o

assembled in the Cross Tree with their band of mu

risoners of war, staying on

of the inhabitants of Moreton, the tree

themselves, but the most picturesque figure is that of Sir Baldwin, who was 'of so undaunted resolution,' says Prince, 'that, for the honor and liberty of a royal lady in a castle besieged by infidels, he fought a combat with a Sarazen; for bulk

s garrisoned for the King, but was eve

ndows of the north aisle is a bit of very old, though not very beautiful, stained glass. A gallery at the west end bears a series of panels emblazoned with coats of arms. In the chancel is some Jacobean carving, and behind the altar there stand a double row of carved eagles, most of t

ent rector has most kindly allowed me to make some extracts. Mr Brown begins by explaining the meaning of the name, derived from the Celtic Wad, a hill or ridge, which became in time Whit, and don, land-Whitstone, the h

made biographical notes, pithy, and quite free from that too fl

n this parish]. His penuriousness was as remarkable as his taste. Often I have seen him in

ollower of Joanna Southcott, from whom he purchased for half a crown a p

d according to his request near the Rectory Granary. He said that the Recto

of the Sunday School many years. Was for twenty years

est-was made happy by my present of

had never taken medicine

cy was equal to his honesty. He spent all his gains, openly declaring that the Parish should maintain him wh

a week, as Serj. of Marines, once refused a

de a compressed

hristening dinner, and had left Mr Snowden still entertaining a fellow guest. The seizure took place while they were alone. 'Mrs S.

cute distress caused by the high price of food. Wages were particularly low, and a succession of bad harvests raised the price of wheat to famine price, whilst the war with Napole

ey bought for th

5 Bushels at 13d.

; August, 2

per Bush. lo

12 Rice c

for 6

2 1

re is a cry

an for the Na

e navy on every hand, and the Government was making immense efforts to get men and money, the parish provided the bounty-money for a man, perhaps a parishioner, who had

tsman for killin

t of 'Parochial Superstitions,' some of which, but not all, are generally known. He also tells

invented by Jacob Wright, a lively servant of mine in 1814. "'Jacob,' said my master, 'come into my room. I am going to lay the ghost-do

hours, I never saw anything more frightful than myself."' The italics in both cases are his. Superstitions are followed by a long list of words that strike him (who must have come from 'up the country') as peculiar, though many of them are commonly used to-day. And he makes one delight

ls scattered among the oaks that form the chief substance of the coppices. Near Dunsford lies a sea of blue-green daffodil spears, with the pale gold flowers showing among them. These flowers push up among the rustling brown leaves, under interlacing branches overhead, but at a turn of the river a large flat meadow spreads out before one, and here the daff

le Perpendicular, and in the windows of this aisle, and more especially in the east window, is some good stained glass-a rarity in the churches in this neighbo

is Christow, with its granite Perpendicular church.

ussell, 46

ed xix F

s the idea. It may be that he went to church in a very feeble state, perhaps thinking that neither parso

surged backward and forward, the valley of the Teign had its full share of trouble. Those who lived there were too near Exeter for their peace and comfort, and must have been repeatedly harassed by the troops of one side or the

ng given that the house of one Mr Davis at Canonteen (being within four miles of Exeter) stood convenient for a garrison, and might bear a useful proportion towards the blocking up of Exeter, hindering of provision from the Southams, some more of Colonel Okey's dragoons were ordered thither to possess the same, who accordingly went and fulfilled their orde

his ship during the battle of Algiers. A broadside ballad commemorating that splendid fight has a fine disregard for the more pedantic rules of making verse, and the metre is a good exa

TLE OF

, stout and bold, that

victory, Lord Ex

r rights maintain, as

ke lions bold, to se

or

e steady, and mainta

Lord Exmouth to l

uly in Plymout

a signal our anc

great guns, belie

he best we could o

ibraltar, for thre

ll knock'd down, our

way might be, for we

eir burning shot up

order of the ships going into battle

ng more I relate, wh

t afternoon we set

fire-ships so well

their batteries wer

ction's over, and Ch

bound down-there

ir terms of peace, Lo

them again, not one

tified under a licence to Bishop Brantyngham, but now only a very few fragments of it are still to be seen. The manor of Chudleigh was bound to provide twelve woodcock for the bishop's table on the day of his election, but should they be unobtainable, t

antities, and this industry was carried on with varying prosperity through several centuries. In the reign of James I the tra

while Exeter was still holding out against the Parliament, Fairfax and his army were quartered here. The surrounding country is very pretty, and Chudleigh Rock and Chudleigh Glen are particularly delightful. The Roc

k beautiful. 'Fair Rosamond' is so well known by that title alone that it is sometimes forgotten that she was a De Clifford. In her lifet

leig

ly perverted sense of duty and honour.' Farther on he adds that Clifford 'alone of the five had any claim to be regarded as an honest man.' Sir Thomas started a scheme which was practically the origin of the National Debt. Several statesmen who enjoyed the King's favour greatly desired the Lord Treasurer's office, and here Charles displayed his usual astuteness; for, being, as always, in want of money, he said to them that the man who should be Lord Treasurer was the man who could show him a way of putting money into the Treasury. The plan that Sir Thomas proposed to the King, and which was put into execution, Lord Clifford has most kindly sketched out as follows: 'The first Lord Clifford of Chudleigh was made Lord Treasurer by Charles II, and recommended the King to seize the money deposited in the Exchequer and secured by

ale, who was the L of the Cabal. Lord Clifford is wearing a crimson robe, under a magnificent flowing mantle of ermine, and in his right hand is the white wand of office. His face shows shrewdness a

entlemen 'selected' in each county were made out (and have been reprinted among the manuscripts of the House of Lords), and after the last list is written: 'In addition to the above Lists, there was one for Devonshire, which appears to have been given to Earl Shaftesbury ... but which is not forthcoming.' A subsequent collection of the names of t

ings, and those that there are seem completely swamped by numerous modern ones. The parish church, to the south of the town, contains much that is most interesting; and Forde House, a fine Jaco

uth and

the See of Exeter. At the Kingsteignton 'revel' a curious custom used to be observed, for a part of the proceedings was that 'a ram was hunted, killed, roasted, and eaten.' Mr Baring-Gould gives thes

arish lie the remains of a Bishop's palace, 'From ancient times,' says Lysons, 'one o

living near Newton St Cyres. He said that in a general way the women there used to be very sm

nts, broken by masses of wild-flowers of all tints, here scattered thinly, there in clumps, overlaps and creeps down the face of the rock wherever there is foothold. Between Teignmouth and Dawlish an 'island-rock' of the warmest red runs out into the sea, and through an arch in it the rippling

confidently assert that the dwarf-elder (called hereabouts 'Danes-elder') grows only upon the site of old battle-fields 'where the Danes' blood was spilt!' These legends are not altogether

try swam with bloo

vonshire militia flew to arms. 'In twenty-four hours all Devonshire was up. Every road in the county from sea to sea was covered by multitudes of fighting men, all with their faces set towards Torbay.' De Tourvi

90.' It is utter doggerel, but expresses the contemporary views of the people, and was sung to a tune called 'Li

shire Boys m

d come from

were landed

ously had bu

Town they d

id straightw

they had th

urnt poor Ti

-Hill they

eir men up

re Boys did

hey did dis

oat Boys did

other pla

y had retu

Frenchmen had

ieur then do

eign Masters

d's Right

France mainta

fears to lo

ie a Caus

e French, w

down poor T

h Lads will

e Boys will w

pride of M

urn'd poor T

y from

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