Plymbridge 1876 Murrays guide to Devon and Cornwall

This line was opened as far as Tavistock in 1859, and to Launceston in 1865. It is worked by the South Devon Railway Company, from whose main line it branches off at Laira. The distance from Plymouth to Tavistock is 16 miles from Plymouth to Launceston, 35 miles. If the tourist be not a good pedestrian he had better drive from Plymouth to Bickleigh, Shaugh, and the other points of interest mentioned below. the country to be traversed is one to delight all sturdy walkers. Following the line of the South Devon railway. and crossing the Laira, the Tavistock railway turns and reaches the station at Marsh Mills, on the turnpike road between Plymouth and Plympton. Hence it follows the bank of the Plim river as far as Plymbridge; here it crosses the river, passes through Cann slate-quarry, and proceeds through Bickleigh Vale to Bickleigh Station The church is 1 mile on the right. From Bickleigh Bridge may be visited — Bickleigh Vale; Shaugh Bridge; the village of Shaugh ; the valley of the Plim or Cad, at least as high as Cadaford bridge; the Dewerstone; and the interesting British (or primitive) antiquities at Trowlesworthy. Meavy and Sheepstor may also be reached from this station; but are perhaps more readily accessible from the next station—that at Horrabridge. The seclusion of Bickleigh Vale (it is only open to the public on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays) has been greatly injured by the formation of the railway., but the scenery is still wild and romantic. It may be reached either from the station, at Bickleigh (the second after leaving Plymouth), or by ascending the shore of the Laira to its termination at Longbridge, and thence proceeding by road or rail (by walking along the latter—the Plymouth and Dartmoor Tramway, not the Tavistock railway.—which is allowed) to Plim Bridge (about 3 miles. from Plymouth), where the Vale of Bickleigh commences. The Plymouth and Dartmoor tramway, set on foot by Sir Thomas Tyrwhitt as a horse railway. between the Dartmoor prisons, Cann Quarry, an excavation in and Crabtree, was begun in 1819; 23 miles were opened in 1823. It winds through some very picturesque scenery, and now conveys granite from the Hessary tor quarries, but is otherwise of little service. Sir Thomas Tyrwhitt had laid the first stone of the prisons in 1806. The route of Plim bridge lies the railway to the Lee moor clay works , and the Plymouth and Tavistock railway. This is a delightful spot, in spite of the new lines of railway.; and the bridge is a mossy old structure, partly hid by foliage, and based among the many coloured pebbles of a rapid stream. Adjoining it are the ruined arch of a wayside chapel, with a niche for the figure of a saint the chapel was connected with the priory of Plympton;—a rustic cottage, mantled with the rose and woodbine ; and a narrow lane which climbs a hill towards Plympton. You should ascend this hill for half a mile to enjoy a very fine birdseye view of Plymouth Sound, the estuary of the Laira, and Mount Edgcumbe. The best point of view is occupied by Boringdon House, now a farmhouse, but anciently the residence of the Parkers, at present seated at Saltram and enjoying the earldom of Morley. Boringdon was built about the middle of the 14th century.; but there are few remains of the old house. The hall, however (of much later date), is still to be seen, and is a noble room, with a chimney-piece, ornamented with figures emblematical of Peace and Plenty, supporting the royal arms (Charles I.), and the date 1640. The views on each side of the lane are of a character to delight the enthusiast for scenery. On one side is the fine view over the Laira and Plymouth Sound; on the other a rude group of hills and highland woods, wild and rough, and perhaps darkened by clouds. From Plim Bridge it may be best to follow the path by the river-side as high as dark-blue slate, finely contrasted by foliage, where the stone is drawn from the quarry and the drainage effected by water-machinery. Just beyond it is the Weir-head, in the shape of a crescent; and at that spot the wanderer will plunge into the shady recesses of the wood, and pursue his way around the elbow of many a mossy rock, where he may obtain glimpses of rare nooks and seclusions, to Bickleigh Bridge, about 3 miles North of Plim Bridge, from which the village of Bickleigh ,with an Inn, the Maristowe Arms is about 1 mile. A beautiful picture is framed by the ivy-clad arch of the bridge; and another fine prospect will greet the traveller over a gate to the right, where the road turns uphill to wards the village. In Bickleigh the Church Perpendicular, rebuilt by Sir Ralph Lopes, the patron) contains the tomb, helmet, and gauntlet of Sir Nicholas Slanning, with effigies of himself and his wife. His melancholy death forms the catastrophe of Mrs. Bray’s novel of ‘ Fitz of Fitz-ford.’ He was killed in a duel (1590) by Sir John Fitz,