110 KINGSBRIDGE 



date 1702. The present writer cannot attempt to recapitu- 

 late all the wonderful things it undertakes to perform. 

 A clock on the tower roof is dated, we believe, 1717; its 

 bell might be made to sound, in case of need, for some 

 miles around. 



Bowringsleigh has not been without its traditionary ghost, 

 and haunted room. The " singing boy," " the man of 

 great baseness" (according to Sir William Pole) was said 

 to have been murdered on the premises, which dreadful 

 event coming to the ears of his wife "Elisabeth," she 

 rushed, shrieking wildly, into the room where the tragedy 

 occurred ; never again to be seen or heard of, save as a 

 haunting ghost, occasionally wandering about the house in 

 her rustling silk attire ! How much, or how little of truth 

 there may be in this story " deponent sayeth not." 



However, the ghost seems to have been summarily ejected, 

 for the room, which was for many years closed up, and 

 specially devoted to its ghostly inhabitant, has been con- 

 verted into a dressing room, into which she certainly 

 never intrudes her presence. 



One of the curiosities at Bowringsleigh is an ancient 

 bed, with hangings of needlework, the laborious production 

 of a lady-ancestor of the family. Many other things 

 of interest might be mentioned, but we must retrace our 

 steps down the noble avenue of lime trees, and across 

 the wooded meadows, through which passes the " private 

 road" to Bowringsleigh, and also to Norden, the residence 

 of Mrs. Ilbert, mother of W. R. Ilbert, Esq. 



Although South Milton is situated not far from the shore 

 of Bigbury Bay, being within an easy distance of Thurle- 

 stone Sands, yet this seems the most fitting place to 

 introduce a few words respecting it, seeing that it is 



