AND ITS SURROUNDINGS. 229 



quoting. It is dated 31 Jan., 174?, and is addressed to 

 ' George Cary, Esq., att his Tor Abby. To be left at the Post 

 House in Totnesse with care.' It commences, 'Sir, I suppose 

 you hear of the death of the landlady att the Church Hous 

 in Stockingham town, Mary King;' then after enumerating 

 the deaths of sundry persons, on whose lives tenements were 

 held, he continues, ' its fifty to one whether the Lifes on Mr. 

 Shath Estate in Dun son are not lost. There is no certain 

 account of Ship nor men, since the whent out of Dartmouth 

 — then, 'tis said, the are in Spanish prison, then in French 

 prison : it seems there's nothing in nether of it.' Then, 

 after a few more business particulars, he concludes, 'This 

 from your very humble servent, Samuel Weekes. I know 

 nothing els att present. The Leay being very high, the catch 

 many fresch water Eles at the sands side.' " 



The Vicarage of Stokenham (with that of Chivelstone 

 annexed) is in the incumbency of the Rev. J. C. Carwithen, 

 M.A. The Church is large and antique, with a low tower 

 and six bells. There is a National School in the village. 



Sir Lydstone Newman, Bart., of Mamhead, is Lord of the 

 Manor of Stokenham, and has a marine residence here, 

 called Stokeley, or Stokeleigh House. 



A. B. E. Holdsworth, Esq., owns Stokenham Priory estate: 

 his residence, Widdecombe House, is picturesquely situated 

 near the Bay. 



Coleridge House, a mansion built in the Elizabethan style, 

 the seat of John Allen, Esq., who owns the estate which 

 gives its name to the Hundred, is also in this parish. 



Stokenham includes six villages, and a few hamlets, 

 mostly scattered along the shore of Start Bay. The villages 

 are Chillington, Beeson, Beesands, Halsands, Kellaton, and 

 Torcross. 



