AND ITS SURROUNDINGS. 97 



pieces of timber floated in every direction, and boats were 

 rowed through the streets. 



In reference to the death of one of the inhabitants of this 

 part of the town, the following appeared in the Kingsbridge 

 Gazette of June 17th, 1865: — 



"Longevity.— 'The oldest inhabitant' of Kingsbridge, 

 who died last week (we allude to Mrs. Gard), was one of 

 three old ladies, who, singularly enough, are mothers of 

 three tradesmen living close adjoining each other in Duke 

 Street, viz., Messrs. Gard, Lidstone, and Oxenham. The 

 united ages of the three were 274 years; and two of them 

 have lived most, if not all, their lives at the lower end 

 of the town, which is frequently said to be less desirable, 

 in a sanitary point of view, than the higher part." 



The only name on the Registrar's books as that of a 

 centenarian is Grace Tucker, who died at Kingsbridge, 

 in December, 1845; aged 102. 



Although Kingsbridge is so conveniently situated for 

 commerce, being exactly at the head of an arm of the sea 

 which is navigable for vessels of burden, yet neither of the 

 quays for landing goods belong to the parish; Dodbrooke 

 Quay being in the parish of that name, and Square's Quay 

 in that of West Alvington. There used to be a creek 

 at right angles with these two quays, but some years 

 ago it was covered in, and superseded by the "Prince of 

 Wales' Road," to the manifest improvement of the sanitary 

 condition of that portion of the toAvn, where the receding 

 tide left anything but a fragrant perfume. Besides many 

 schooners, sloops, barges, and boats, two steamers ply up 

 and down the Estuary; one, the "Kingsbridge Packet," 

 runs to and from Plymouth twice a week ; the other which 

 is smaller, called the "Queen," is only used as a river 



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