98 G. WAEEINa ORMEEOD 01^ 



7. Old Sea-Beaches at Teignmotjth, Deyon^. By G. Wakeing 

 Oemeeod, Esq., M.A., E.G.S. (Bead December 16, 1885.) 



Teignmouth, consisting of East and West Teignmouth, is built 

 partly on the outcrop of the Triassic beds, and partly on a sandy 

 level that lies between them and the sea. The Trias can be traced 

 from near East Teignmouth Church, along the railway-cuttings, by 

 Orchard Gardens, to the bank of the Teign at the Old Quay. A 

 level gravelly district forms a triangle from near East Teignmouth 

 Church to the " Point" at the estuary of the Teign, thence to the 

 Old Quay, and thence to East Teignmouth Church. In carrying 

 out a scheme of drainage in 1885, the cuttings showed that at least 

 two series of beaches exist; and documentary and other evidence 

 prove that, except as to the surface, no change has taken place in 

 recent times. In 1044 Edward the Confessor granted Dawlish, 

 which included East Teignmouth, to his chaplaiu Leofrick. The 

 part referred to in this paper reached from the Point to the estuary, 

 by the coast of the harbour to the mouth of a rivulet called the 

 Tame, then known as " Crampan steoart," but now as "- Gale's Hill " ; 

 the boundary then followed the stream by the " Salterns," showing 

 that the sea then ebbed and flowed in that stream as it does now, 

 occasionally, at spring-tides, rising up into the streets, and also that 

 the stream of the Teign then passed on the south side of the valley. 

 After passing the "Salterns," the boundary left the rivulet and 

 crossed to the west of the church east of Teignmouth. (See 

 Davidson, Trans. Devon. Assoc. 1881, p. 113.) The Salterns, 

 which were situated in the Strand, were demolished in 1692, but 

 their remains were visible many years after (MS. of the late Mr. 

 E. Jordan, quoted by Dr. Lake, Trans. Devon. Assoc. 1874, p. 376). 

 Erom a view of Teignmouth on a map of Bingmore dated 1741, it 

 would appear that many houses then existed along the south side 

 of Teignmouth ; it may therefore be inferred that no perceptible 

 change of level has here taken place except that caused by the 

 formation of streets. As regards the north-eastern part, the case is 

 different : about fifty years ago a great part of the surface consisted 

 of a sandy swamp intersected by pools of water ; there were not 

 many dwellings ; one place was called Bat Island, another was known 

 as Erog-marsh Hill. About the year 1872 it was needful to pull 

 down two houses at the north-eastern end of the Triangle ; it was 

 then found that the party-wall was built over a very old granite 

 cross ; the shaft formed part of a chimney jamb, the base rested on 

 fine sand, about three feet below the surface, or on the level of high 

 water at spring-tides. This cross was unknown, and was probably 

 the old '' Market Cross " of East Teignmouth. 



The cutting for the sewer commences, at low water, at Gale's HiU 

 and is carried in nearly a north-easterly direction to the sea-wall, 

 crossing Somerset Place, along Brunswick Street, at the back of the 

 Club, at the Queen's Hotel, along the east side of the Triangle, and 

 along Begent Street. A branch passes along Somerset Place and 

 Eore Street, with branches at Bank Street and Orchard Gardens ; 



