186 KINGSBRIDGE 



their anchor close upon the rocks, and cut away all their 

 masts, they rode safely till evening, when the gale increased 

 to such a degree that the hull parted ; and only one 

 midshipman and twenty-five men, out of the whole number, 

 jumping off the stern upon the rocks, were saved. This 

 fatal spot is near the cove and village of Inner Hope, and it 

 has ever since been known as " Ramilies Hole." It is so 

 peculiarly situated that it can only be entered by boats at 

 certain tides and winds, in very calm, still weather, and 

 when there is no swell of the sea. It cannot even be seen 

 from any part of the cliffs. It is said that some of the 

 guns of the ship may yet be perceived in six or seven 

 fathoms of water, near the mouth of the cavern.* 



Close to the flagstaff, on the cliff which rises just above 

 the coast-guard station at Hope, there is an old cannon, 

 which was recovered from this wreck. The present writer 

 also possesses a memento of the Ramilies : it is a small 

 instrument, which appears to have been a guinea-weigher. 

 There is a thin rod of ivory, with graduated marks on it ; 

 a brass saucer hangs at one end, and the weight is to be 

 suspended to the rod, on the steelyard principle. The 

 whole is enclosed in a small, dark wooden case, in shape 

 not very unlike a fiddle. 



The following paper was contributed by Robert Dymond, 

 Esq., F.S.A., to a local newspaper, some years since. He 

 kindly permits its insertion here. 



"a fragment of local history. 

 The appearance of Miss S. P. Fox's book on Kingsbridge, 

 its Estuary, and Neighbourhood, has doubtless rekindled the 

 interest excited nearly half a century ago by Mr. Abraham 



* Mostly from Hawkins. 



