THE SOUTH DEVON 



MONTHLY MUSEUM. 



PLYMOUTH, JULY 1st, 1834. 

 No. 19.] Price Sixpence. [Vol. IV. 



THE SPECTATOR, No. VI. 

 MEAVY CHURCH AND OAK. 



The pencil of Mr. N. M. Condy has again furnished 

 us with the subject of a frontispiece, which, it is pro- 

 bable, may prove interesting to many of our readers 

 — not only as a gmphic delineation, but as a memento 

 of Auld Lang Syne. 



The secluded hamlet of Meavy is situated in a 

 broad valley, on the very edge of the great Devon- 

 shire moor. It consists of a few neat cottages and 

 an antique church, surrounded by the " last home" 

 of many a moorland peasant. Immediately in front 

 of the church-yard wall is the gigantic Meavy Oak. 

 This venerable tree, though it has suffered from the 

 touch of age, still continues proudly magnificent. 

 It is of an extraordinary circumference, and is com- 

 pletely hollowed out by the slow^ but never-failing 

 operations of time. The cavity, as is affirmed by 

 mine hostess of the " Royal Oak," a little inn stand- 

 ing hard by, once accommodated nine persons at a 

 dinner party : it is now used as a turf house. The 

 lower branches still obey the voice of spring, and 

 spread their living canopy over a large area of 

 ground. The topmost boughs, however, are bare, 

 having long ceased to be hung with the massive 

 foliage which they bore in the days of their young 

 lustihood. Over them the all-conquering hand of 

 time has indeed achieved a perfect victory. They 

 impress their rifted outline black and cheerlessly 



VOL. IV. — 1834. A 



