Vol. 60.] THE VALLEY OF THE TEIGX. 319 



21 . The Valley of the Teigx. By Alfred John Jukes-Browne, Esq., 

 B.A., F.G.S. (Kead March 9th, 1904.) 



The problem of the Teign Valley attracted my attention soon 

 after I came to live in Devonshire ; and I have lost no opportunity 

 of considering it from different points of view, both in the study 

 and in the held. The following pages are the outcome of this 

 consideration, and constitute an attempt to explain the peculiar 

 course which the river takes in passing from its sources on Dart- 

 moor to the sea at Teignmouth. 



The Teign Valley is, in fact, one of the most remarkable in the 

 British Islands, because it is not a simple transverse valley, nor a 

 longitudinal one between more or less parallel ridges, nor does it 

 take such a course as the general slope or gradient of the country 

 below its sources would suggest. On the contrary, although the 

 earlier part of its course is in accordance with this general gradient, 

 it afterwards takes a curve which leads it to run at right angles to 

 its primary direction, and to traverse a depression which has the 

 aspect of a longitudinal valley. From this it debouches into a 

 plain; and in this plain it again turns at right angles, to pass 

 through a gap which is clearly a transverse valley excavated out of 

 the ridge that borders the seaward side of the longitudinal valley. 

 This gap is now occupied by the estuary of the Teign. 



As might be imagined, a valley which exhibits so curious a 

 succession of changes presents also a variety of physical features, 

 different parts of its course contrasting strongly with one another 

 in this respect. The head-waters of the river are called the North 

 Teign, and have their sources in the north-eastern part of Dartmoor, 

 among the characteristic scenery of that district. From the high 

 level of this area (above 1200 feet), it descends through a gorge into 

 what has been called the Chagford Basin. Though not exactly 

 a basin, the valley here widens out in a peculiar manner. In its 

 eastern part, the contour-line of 600 feet recedes for some distance 

 on both sides of the river, along a depression which crosses the 

 valley from north-west to south-east ; while the rim of the area is 

 from 800 to 1000 feet above the sea, except at one place. The 

 river, however, does not escape from this depression at the point 

 where the rim is lowest, but through one of the highest parts 

 of the rim and opposite the point where it enters. Here, also, 

 the river leaves the granite, and has cut a deep gorge through the 

 band of indurated Culm-Measures which borders the northern side 

 of Dartmoor. 



The gorge of the Teign runs in an easterly direction for about 

 3J miles, and the river descends about 160 feet in this distance, 

 that is, from about 430 to 270 feet. The gorge then bends to 

 the south-east and continues for another 2 miles, the stream falling 

 another 64 feet in that distance. Emerging from this deep and 

 picturesque ravine, the river takes another short turn to the east. 



