202 KINGSBRIDGE 



Bantbam, and Avon-mouth. Buckland is in a warm shel- 

 tered valley, studded with orchards, and presents such an 

 old-world appearance that it called forth the remark from 

 a working man, when he saw it for the first time, that he 

 thought "it must have been built when Adam and Eve 

 were little." 



A short distance from the village of Buckland is Clan- 

 nacombe — a fine Elizabethan mansion, but much modernised. 

 It is approached, from the gateway, through a short avenue 

 of elms. In one of the gardens is a fine specimen of the 

 old dovecote — a circular, domed building, in a good state 

 of preservation. Access to the interior is obtained by a 

 small square doorway at the base, when upon looking up 

 you will see a great number of square " pigeon holes," 

 arranged in circular tiers, one above another. There is no 

 projecting alighting place for the birds, and the only place 

 of ingress and egress is a circular aperture at the top of the 

 dome. No safer home could have been designed for the 

 feathered inmates, as it would be impossible for either 

 quadruped or biped to obtain access to the nests, except 

 by the proper doorway, and then by a long ladder. 



Bantham is built almost close to the mouth of the Avon, 

 where there is a harbour for sloops and barges. There is 

 here a salmon-pool; and at low water the fine flat sands, 

 which extend some way up the creek, are much frequented 

 by cockle-boys. The Ham, which is a piece of turfy land, 

 of considerable extent, is used for sheep grazing : it is a fine 

 breezy down, frequented by rabbits, who burrow in the 

 banks ; while the joyous songs of hosts of skylarks may be 

 heard high over head. Oh, who that has ever heard the 

 song of the free skylark, could think of making him a 

 captive within the bars of a cage ! Truly we believe these 



