118 KINGSBRIDGE 



of the "best parsonage houses in the county." The Rev. 

 Thomas Twysden, M.A., is the present Rector. 



Charleton is divided into two portions, so that it appears 

 like two separate villages ; these are known as East Charle- 

 ton and West Charleton. The hamlets of Goveton and 

 Lidstone, as well as part of Frogmore, are in this parish; 

 as also is Slade, the residence of the late Fortescue Wells, 

 Esq., and now of his son-in-law, Edward Arthur, Esq. 



Across the estuary, and nearly opposite High-house Point, 

 is Park, a very pleasant house, overlooking the water, and 

 further on are the remains of a decoy, commonly called 

 Coypool, which, in the beginning of the last century, was 

 much used for taking wild fowl. 



Gerston, or Garston, the ancient seat of the Bastard 

 family, lies just above, but is not visible from the water. 

 During the eighteenth century, the gardens at this place 

 were famed for producing oranges and lemons, trained 

 against the walls in the manner of peach trees, and sheltered 

 only with mats of straw in winter. Some of the fruit? 

 said to be "as large and fair as any from Portugal," was 

 presented to the king by Lady Bridget Bastard's brother, 

 Vere, the third Earl Poulett, about the year 1770. Here the 

 noble family of Bastard resided from the days of William 

 the Conqueror till the year 1773. William Bastard, Esq., 

 having, however, fixed his abode at Kitley, the ancient 

 mansion was deserted. When the French fleet menaced 

 Plymouth in the summer of 1779, this gentleman raised a 

 large force of yeomanry and peasants, and repaired to the 

 scene of alarm. For his exertions on this occasion he 

 was created a baronet on the 19th of October in that year. 

 However, although the dignity conferred was gazetted, yet 

 neither he nor his descendants have thought proper to use 

 the title. 



