Kingsbridge 'estuary' (left and below)
is actually a ria or drowned valley caused by
rising sea levels rather than a true estuary: its
size is out of proportion to the few streams
which discharge into it. It may have been carved
out by glacial melted water at the end of the ice
age.
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Towards the mouth of the estuary is the Bar, a
spit of sand protruding from the east bank which
is exposed at low spring tides. In this state of
tide and with strong southerly winds the bar can
make the entrance to the estuary nearly
impassable.
It is believed that Lord Tennyson's famous poem
"Crossing the Bar" was inspired by a visit to
nearby Salcombe during the 19th century. The poem
begins with the lines:
Sunset and evening
star
and one clear call
for me!
And may there be no
moaning of the bar,
When I put out to
sea.
The moaning refers to the noise of the water
breaking over The Bar. In 1916 the Salcombe
lifeboat, an open rowboat, was capsized crossing
The Bar resulting in loss of life.
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A short distance through narrow Devon lanes
leads to Hope Cove.
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The following description is condensed from
Wikipedia and the local Hope Cove websites:
Hope Cove is a beautiful coastal sanctuary, a
place to relax and unwind. Once a favourite haunt
for smugglers, now a charming holiday
destination.
Hope Cove has a long and fascinating history.
First mentioned in the Azzise Rolls for 1281,
Hope is comprised of two small villages, Inner
and Outer Hope, which are linked by a road and
footpath. For much of its life as a rather remote
fishing village the principal means by which its
inhabitants supplemented their incomes was by
smuggling and plundering wrecked ships.
The main (legal) source of income here was once
from fishing. The locals still talk about the
days when 'Pilchard Cove' lived up to its name
with a thriving industry based on the fish which
has now mysteriously disappeared. In the 1750's,
Jeremiah Milles, a future Dean of Exeter, wrote
that upwards of 20,000 mackerel were taken in one
draught by a boat fishing not far from the shore.
Fishing still provides a boost in income for a
few, mainly from crab and lobster pots.
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Hope Cove was the only place in England where
Spaniards came ashore during the reign of Queen
Elizabeth I. 'St. Peter the Great',
one of the ships of the Spanish Armada, was
wrecked on the Shippen Rock in 1588 and number of
buildings in the South Devon area incorporate old
beams salvaged from Armada wreckage.
In 1760 more than 700 people lost their lives
when HMS Ramilles was wrecked upon the rocks at
the base of Bolt Tail. Another famous wreck was
that of the Finnish Barque, 'Herzogin Cecilie'.
The 334 foot four masted training ship ran
aground on the Ham Stone on the 25th April,
1936.
During WWII Hope Cove was home to numerous RAF
men and women who operated the radar and radio
stations in the area. Many aircrews were boarded
at The Cottage Hotel prior to flying dangerous
missions throughout Europe.
Emperor Haile Selassie spent part of his exile
here and the village square was featured in the
opening sequence of the film, 'A Queen is
Crowned' made in 1953 to celebrate the coronation
of Elizabeth II.
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A visit to Exeter Cathedral commences on the
following page.
Please click on the 'Next' button (below
right)
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