102 KINGSBRIDGE 



this, his more immediate locale, by a curate. A resident 

 minister has been placed by him in each of the other 

 parishes. Formerly, when the vicar, or curates, had to 

 travel from one parish to another, the services were few ; 

 now there are either two or three services each Sunday, 

 besides those on week days, in all of them : nor are 

 other means of influence neglected; such as harvest 

 thanksgivings, penny readings, and other social gatherings. 



Combe Royal, which is about one mile from Kingsbridge, 

 is in the parish of West Alvington. The Rev. John Earle 

 says, " There is a very old document almost consumed by rot, 

 which, however, has a sound piece with the name Combe 

 Royal on it. Roger Efford remits, releases, and for ever 

 cries quits to Richard Chiceli of all his right and claim 

 in Kingsbridge, Dodbrooke, and Come-royel. The date of 

 this is 1373." 



It may be mentioned that at this date the Archbishop 

 of Canterbury was a member of this family of Chiceli. 



This beautiful place, Combe Royal, is the property of 

 John Luscombe, Esq. The mansion was enlarged and 

 restored some years ago, and it is now the most attractive 

 residence in the neighbourhood. 



After passing the lodge, which is a pretty ivy-covered 

 building, you enter on a winding carriage road, bordered 

 by magnificent rhododendrons, hydrangeas, and other fine 

 evergreen shrubs. The sloping grounds are beautifully 

 diversified with wood and water : the orange walk presents 

 great attractions to strangers, unaccustomed as they probably 

 are to the sight of oranges, lemons, and citrons, flourishing in 

 the open air, and bringing their fruit to perfection, with 

 only the occasional protection of straw mats placed against 

 the recesses in the walls at night. 



