(f •••*. ( ; I o _- I ° & j^ ®; Sfc *-% (£>> '4 jk, '^i 0F>> wnt. onStont fy m)^Tm,^m$i toiEJssra's ©j^nsm^i PuilTSted^y E . C ocfcr em , Torofu.a-y. THE PANORAMA OF TORQUAY, DESCRIPTIVE AND HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE DISTRICT COMPRISED BETWEEN THE DART AND TEIGN, BY OCTAVIAN BLEWITT. ^ecmrtr ©fctttfliu EMBELLISHED WITH A MAP, AND NUMEROUS LITHOGRAPHIC AND WOOD ENGRAVINGS. 3Utllf0tt SIMPKIN AND MARSHALL, AND COCKREM, TORQUAY. MDCCCXXXII. ; — Hie terrarura mihi prseter omnes Angulus ridet, ubi non Hymetto Mella decedunt, viridi que certat Bacca Venafro ; Ver ubi longum, tepidas que praebet Jupiter brumas. Hor. Car : Lis. 11. 6, These forms of beauty have not been to me As is a landscape in a blind man's eye But oft in lonely rooms, and mid the din Of crowds and cities, I have owed to them. In hours of weariness, sensations sweet, Felt in the blood, and felt along the heart, And passing even unto my purer mind With tranquil restoration. Wordsworth. v. entorrtr at gztztitititx!? %att. n ^ TO HENRY WOOLLCOMBE, Esq. Clje \Bvesitismt, AND TO THE OTHER MEMBERS OP THE PLYMOUTH ATHENAEUM, THIS ATTEMPT TO ILLUSTRATE ONE OP THE MOST BEAUTIFUL DISTRICTS OF £0uti) Btban, IS RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED, WITH THE AUTHOR'S BEST WISHES FOR THE INCREASING PROSPERITY OF €f)Z Iitftttuttfftu PREFACE. In presenting to the public a new edition of this Sketch, a few words may, perhaps, be expected from me ; and I offer them the more willingly since it is my duty to acknowledge here the sources of my information. The following pages have been wholly re-written, and now contain more than ten times as much matter as the first Edition,—although that impression has been twice pirated. It is hoped that the change will prove valuable to the tourist. Topography is not a light field, and if this attempt to give to a local work a tone of general and scientific interest be not successful, I trust that others will at least profit by the example. Had more time and op- portunities been allowed to me, the book might have been more interesting and perfect ; but it already exceeds the limits of other similar pub- lications, and if it transgresses in this particular, it will not fail to enjoy the countenance of good company. The assistance I have derived from many literary and scientific friends has added much to its value, and the most pleasing office is to return thanks for this kindness. To the Yl. PREFACE Venerable Archdeacon Froude, to the Rev. H. F. Lyte of Brixham, to the Rev. Roger Mallock of Cockington Court, to Henry Cary. Esq. of Tor Abbey, and to the Rev. Robert Gee of this place, for I am indebted much interesting intelligence ; —and to Archdeacon Froude and Mr. Lyte, in particular^ for many valuable directions how to proceed in the course of my inquiries. To Dr. James Clark of London, the Author of the Treatise on the Influence of Climate, my acknow- ledgments are due for the obliging mariner in which he revised that part of the work which his volume so ably illustrates; and the Rev. George Oliver of Exeter, and Mr. Brown of London are no less entitled to my thanks—the former for his aid and exertions in the arduous field of Ecclesiastical Antiquities—the latter for his constant instructions on the subject of Ancient Architecture. Nor must I omit to mention the aid afforded me by the Rev. J. M. Glubb of Dartmouth,—Henry Woollcombe, Esq. Pre- sident of the Plymouth Athenaeum,—William Brockedon, Esq. of London,—and J. M. Rendel, Esq. Civil Engineer. But above all are to be mentioned the obligations under which I am laid by the assistance and contributions of Mrs. Griffiths and Thomas Northmore, Esq. The article on Natural History will be acceptable to ail, containing, as it does, the most recent of PREFACE Vll. Mrs. Griffiths's truly beautiful discoveries in the difficult department of marine botany : —Mr. Northmore's Letters will also be perused with lively interest, while the opinions which they advance wiH sufficiently speak for themselves. They will also show how necessary is the inquiry after truth, and how often men rise to fame on the discoveries of others. It is the Author's most earnest hope that the introduction of scientific subjects into the work may be well received : it must not be forgotten that the local histories of Switzerland are far superior to those of England in this respect ; and although I regret that it is not in my power, at present, to render the Geological Sketch more perfect, an apology will scarcely be required by those who know how much this neighbourhood is deficient in philosophic energy. Nor was it possible to define more accurately every part of the district on the small scale of the Geo- logical Map; but it appeared more desirable to give a general outline from De la Beche, although diminutive, than to omit it altogether. A few words may be said of the Illustrations. The artist of the Lithographs has incorrectly lettered the ruins of the Church and Chapter House at Tor Abbey "Entrance" and "Ruins of the Chapel)' and has unfortunately omitted to insert in the Vignette Title Page the name Vlll PREFACE of Mr, Gendall of Exeter, by whom it was first painted,—and to whom I now beg to restore the justice he deserves. For the Sketch of lis am Cell (engraved, along with all the wood cuts, by Hearder, of Plymouth) we are indebted to Mr. T. H. Williams,—those of the Doorway and Pulpit at Paignton were reduced from the drawings of Mr. Brown. There are a few typographical errors, but they will be readily detected, with the exception of the misprint of towns instead of houses at page 120 of Mr. Northmore's Letter. None but those who have experienced what Miss Landon calls the awful reality of a proof-sheet, can form any idea of the difficulty of getting a work through the press of a small provincial town, without these occasional inaccuracies. I trust, however, as no pains have been spared in the work, that the inhabitants of Torquay will receive this volume as the parting gift of the Author, with his best good wishes for their prosperity and for the welfare of their beautiful town. O. B. Torquay, Sept. 1832. Erratum. It is incorrectly stated at page 68, that Livermead House is a boarding establishment ; now, we beg to remark that it is simply a lodging house, and must be regarded as such. The Author will feel obliged by the correction of any other errors which may have occurred in the work. — ; CONTENTS AND ILLUSTRATIONS OF €1)Z Panorama at QCavquxyi. Introduction. Chorography of Torbay : —outline of the coast Geological Illustrations of the District, and General History Pp. 1. to 33. PART II. The Topography, Climatology, Statistics, and public Establishments of Torquay 34 to 73. PART III. Natural History of the Torbay District ; Botany of Torquay, Marine Botany of Torbay, Conchology etc. by Mrs. Griffiths 74 to 83. PART IV. Walks; Excursions; Sketches of Scenery ; Topogra- phy, and local History, Walks, etc.—I. Tor Abbey and Tormohun, 84-87. II. Tor Abbey Sands and Livermead, 88-89. III. Chapel Hill, 90. IV. Meadfoot, Ilsam, Ansty's Cove, and Torwood, 91-92. V. Park Hill, 93. VI. Babbicombe, 94-95 ; St. Mary Church and Barton, 96; Stony Valley, and the Warberry, 97. VII. Cockington, 98-100. VIII. Watcombe and Maidencombe, 100-1. — IX. Paignton, 101 ;—Goodrington, 102 ;—Elberry Cove, 103 ; Paignton Sands, 104. X. Compton Castle and Marldon, 104-7. XI. Kent's Cavern, with Mr, Northmore's Letters to Mr. Blewitt, 107-38- Excursions. I. Brixham and Berry head, 141-49. II. Dart- mouth and up the Dart to Totnes, 149-58. III. Banks of the Teign, Combe, Stoke, Newton, and Haccombe, 158-165. IV. Berry Pomeroy Castle, 165-71. V. Wolborough, Bradley, — — CONTENTS. Ogwell, Denbury, and Ipplepen, 172-76. VI, Dartington, 176-79, VII. Ashburton, Holne Chase, Buckfast Abbey, Little Hempston, etc. 179-85. VIII. Chudleigh and Ugbrook Park, 185-86. Dartmoor, 187-99. PART V. ANTIQUITIES. Brit. Rom. Dan. Sax. 200-51. Grecian, 200. British, 201. Roman, 202-7. Danish, 207. &flr fflamsfttvt) 208-15. Parochial History and Antiquities, 215-50. I. Tormohun, 215-23. II. St. Mary Church, 223-29. III. Cockington 229-33. IV. Paignton, 233-35. V.Marldon, 235-36. VI. Brixhara, 236-38. VII. Dartmouth, 238-39. VIII. Banks of the Dart, 239-40. IX. Totnes, 240-43. X. Stokeinteignhead, Combe, etc. 243. XI. Ford House, 243-44. XII. Newton, 244. XIII. Haccombe, 244-45. XIV. Coffinswell, 245-46 XV. Berry Pomeroy, 246-47. XVI. King's Kerswell, 247. XVII. Wolborough, 247-48. XVIII. East Ogwell, 248. XIX. West Ogwell, ibid. XX. Denbury, Torbryan. and Ipplepen, 248-49. XXI. Abbot's Kerswell, 249. XXH. Dartington, ibid. XXIII. Ugbrook, 250. XXIV. Bishop's Teignton, and Harberton, 250. ^rattrrg at ffzmilkg antr Mititwtiani, 251. PART VI. BIOGRAPHY OF EMINENT NATIVES. I. Guy de Bryan, 254.—Sir John Cary, ibid.—Sir John Hody, 255.—Sir William Petre, ibid.—Sir Humphrey Gilbert, 256.— Adrian Gilbert, 258.—John Davis, ibid.—Sir Thomas Ridgeway, ibid.—Dr. Robert Cary, 259.—William Newcommen, ibid. John Lethbridge, 260.—Philip Frowde, 262.—Dr. John Hux- ham, ibid.—Edward Lye, 266.—Dr. Benjamin Kennicott, 267. George Baker, 269.—Dr. Philip Furneaux, ibid.—Robert Sweet, 270.—William Brockedon, 271.—Biographical Summary, 274. Appendix of Local Information, 276. ILLUSTRATIONS. Ruins of the Chapel, Tor Abbey, . » . Frontispiece. Vignette Title Page of Kent's Cavern.