AND ITS SURROUNDINGS. 27 



the shed appropriated to the fire engines of the West of 

 England Company. Happily, the services of the fire brigade 

 are, however, seldom required, except for the purpose of 

 exercising the engines by washing windows, when troops of 

 noisy boys are splashed to their hearts' content. 



The water supply for this town being a subject of great 

 importance, and one which has been occupying the attention 

 of the inhabitants for a considerable time, we enter upon it 

 at greater length than would otherwise have been the case. 



Hawkins says, "The first lease of the water now extant 

 bears date 14th October, 1677, and was made by John 

 Gilbert, of Combe Royal, Esq., to Joseph Bastard and 

 others, feoffees and inhabitants of Kingsbridge, for ninety- 

 nine years absolute ; but the writer (Hawkins) feels confident 

 that in the year 1791 he saw a more early lease of the 

 water, granted by one of this family, and bearing date in 

 1607. * * * The existing lease of this water is dated 

 2nd May, 1775, and was granted for a like term of years 

 (to commence on the expiration of the former) by the late 

 John Luscombe, Esq., to Mr. John Adams and others, feoffees 

 and inhabitants of Kingsbridge, under the yearly rent of 

 five shillings." 



There seems to have been a trying deficiency of water 

 in 1861, for in August of that year "it was resolved that 

 application be made to John Luscombe, Esq., of Combe 

 Royal, to enquire if he will allow the water which now 

 runs to waste to be conveyed into the town reservoir," &c. 



And again, in 1867, it was resolved that Mr. Appleton, 

 of Torquay, should be written to, and requested to survey 

 the Combe Royal valley, for the purpose of getting a 

 larger supply of water for the town. He did so, and 

 pronounced as his opinion that the valley was not large 



