THE MOORLAND PLYM. 
293 
Shangh Bridge is a comparatively modern structure, and some 
fifty or sixty years ago was considered to lack in picturesqueness, 
while the loss of the old bridge was much lamented. As a lesson 
to those who now grieve over the substitution of modern erections 
for ancient and picturesque structures, I would point to the present 
appearance of this bridge, and add that much comes to those who 
have the patience to wait fifty or sixty years for it. 
A loss which cannot be remedied by time has of late years been 
caused by the destruction of many of the stepping-stones just 
above the bridge. This was done by the men working at the 
Ferroceramic mine, with a view to enabling them to exact toll 
from all persons wishing to cross the river, by forcing them to use 
the mine bridge. At least, that is the only reason that can be 
given for this wanton act of mischief. 
From Shaugh Bridge to near Cadover the river bed is thickly 
strewn with boulders of large size, as are the precipitous hillsides 
enclosing it. 
The Dewerstone hill in especial is mainly surfaced with granite 
blocks, piled in places one above the other in bare grey masses 
of confusion, in others deeper set in soil, and permitting the 
coppice of sturdy oak to obtain scant but sufficient holding ground. 
From the midst of this thicket rises the perpendicular face of 
the Dewerstone, towering high above the river. Majestic rather 
from its form than from its actual height, which has been much 
exaggerated, one is still inclined to doubt the truth of tradition 
in asserting that on the night of the 27th January, 1823, the 
flooded Plym, indignant at this check to its triumphant course, 
flung the snow water in spray above the topmost crag. The idea 
is poetical truly, and inasmuch as the event occurred at night, it 
is hardly fair perhaps to be too severe in criticising the chroniclers. 
At least this much is certain, that the united forces of the Plym 
and Meavy filled old Shaugh Bridge to the keystone, and over- 
flowed the road. 
Beside the largest rock, this portion of the valley also includes 
the deepest and most important pool upon the upper Plym. It 
is situate in the north wood, and is of more interest to the fisher- 
men than the general public. At its upper end the river runs 
into it over a wall of rock some twelve feet high, the main 
stream coming down in a body with only one slight ledge to break 
its fall halfway. Considering the difficulty of surmounting such 
