40 KINGSBRIDGE 



the return current being obtained by 'going to earth/ as 

 it is termed. Sir William Mitchell's station at Prawle, 

 and that of the Messrs. Fox, of Falmouth, at the Lizard, 

 Cornwall, are, perhaps, two of the most important on our 

 coasts.* 



"The United Kingdom Co.'s line fell into the hands 

 of Government, February 5th, 1870, but the Prawle line 

 still continues private property; it is, however, kept in 

 working order by Government. 



"A wire was also carried to Torcross, the Prawle insulation 

 being available as far as Frogmore, Avhere the line branches 

 off. An important line has also been extended to Salcombe, 

 along the main road; the Brest line being suspended to 

 the same poles. These also carry a wire which was to 

 have joined the Channel Islands cable; but as that cable 

 was landed at Dartmouth, instead of on the Salcombe 

 coast, as at first intended, this wire is not used. The 

 Post Offices at Kingsbridge, Salcombe, and Torcross, are, 

 as is now usual, the receiving offices for messages." 



The mention of Telegraphs and Post Offices seems to 

 take us back to the time when Kingsbridge letters were 

 delivered by a woman, and that woman extremely deaf, 

 and unable to read writing. How she managed to take 

 the letters to their right destination is a kind of mystery; 

 but she did so much better than could have been expected. 

 When "Jenny" became superannuated, a postwiara was 

 appointed to succeed her, and he (as well as the letter 

 carrier for Dodbrooke) is now attired in the orthodox 

 livery of blue and red, which certainly does look more 

 business-like than the black bonnet and little woollen 

 "turnover" of his predecessor. 



* "The Lizard telegraph station, worked by Messrs. Fox & Co., of 

 Falmouth, passed into the hands of Government, October 1st, 1873." 



