AND ITS SURROUNDINGS. 17 



smashed. The damaged portion of the spire was taken down 

 the same year, and re-built * 



In reference to the clock in the church tower, Hawkins 

 says, "The present clock was set up in the year 1786, to 

 replace one of ancient date and mendacitous notoriety." We 

 might remark that this present clock has not established for 

 itself a much better character for correct time-keeping than 

 its predecessor ; consequently it will be a great boon to the 

 inhabitants when it is superseded by one which will render 

 inapplicable the old saying, " As great a liar as Kingsbridge 

 clock." Some time ago, Mr. Thomas Peek offered. £100 

 towards a new town clock for Kingsbridge. Soon after his 

 handsome offer was made, he died, but it appears that his 

 gift is still available. Plans have, accordingly, been drawn, 

 and estimates made, in preparation for its erection. 



There is within the church a monument, executed by 

 Flaxman, in Carrara marble, to the memory of the wife of a 

 Major Hawkins, of the East India Company's Service. A 

 marble tablet, with a Latin inscription, may also be seen, to 

 the memory of the Reverend George Hughes, B.D., vicar of 

 St. Andrew (commonly called the Old Church) in Plymouth. 

 He was one of the 2000 ministers who, two years after the 

 restoration of King Charles II. (which took place in 1660) 

 were deprived of their benefices for refusing to subscribe 

 to the Act of Uniformity passed in 1662. It seems that 

 he was not only silenced, but committed a prisoner to 

 St. Nicholas Island. After a considerable time, his health 

 having suffered by long confinement, he was permitted to 

 pass the remainder of his days in Kingsbridge. He died 

 the 9th July, 1667. Thomas Crispin, the founder of the 

 Free Grammar School, erected this monument to his 

 * Information from the lato \V. Millar. 

 C 



