284 THE RED DEER OF EXMOOR. 



resort ; the Doone tradition is only a variation of the 

 better known tales about Robin Hood and the 

 Gubbinses on Dartmoor, and the even less known 

 but still existing traditions as to bands of robbers 

 infesting Stoke Courcy Castle and Stowey Castle 

 after the Wars of the Roses. The curious letter 

 which appeared some time ago in the newspapers 

 over the signature of " Audrey Doone ^' may be left 

 out altogether from any serious consideration of the 

 question. 



Let us look at a few undoubted facts. Ridd and 

 Red are common names all over that part of the 

 country, but that there never were any Ridds 

 landowners of any appreciable part of Oare is 

 abundantly clear, since the title to the Manor of 

 Oare, which, till modern times, comprised practically 

 the whole parish, is deducible from the time of John 

 de Kelly in 13 15 down to the present owner, Mr. 

 Nicholas Snow. 



The so-called Doone Valley was utterly unknown 

 by that name till after the publication of the book, 

 and it is unknown by that name now to the local 

 people living anywhere except on the routes followed 

 by the too credulous Lynton and Minehead 

 tourist. 



That Lynton guides point out the actual ruins of 

 the Doones' stronghold is admitted ; but the most 

 cursory glance will show that they, like the valley 

 itself, bear no resemblance whatever to the description. 

 There are no cliffs ; there is no tunnel or narrow 



