Malborough (& Salcombe)

from

A Topographical Dictionary of England

by

 Samuel Lewis (1831)

Transcript copyright Mel Lockie (Sep 2016)

MALBOROUGH, a parish in the hundred of STANBOROUGH, county of DEVON, 4 miles (S. W. by S.) from Kingsbridge, containing, with the chapelry of Salcombe, 1552 inhabitants. The living is a perpetual curacy, with the vicarage of West Allington, in the archdeaconry of Totnes, and diocese of Exeter. The church, which has a spire ninety feet high, stands on a commanding eminence near Bolt-head, on the English channel. Here is an endowed school for eight children. There are slight remains of Ilton castle, erected about 1336; also of another, called Fort Charles, repaired by Charles I., at an expense of £3000; during the civil war, it was captured by the forces of the parliament in 1645. Lord Viscount Courtenay holds a court of Admiralty here for an extensive line of coast. In some parts of the parish lemons, oranges, citrons, and olives, flourish in the open air, having only temporary protection in very severe weather. A plant of the Mediterranean aloe having here attained the height of twenty-seven feet, blossomed before it was quite twenty years old, and then withered away, leaving numerous suckers at its root.

SALCOMBE, a chapelry in the parish of MALBOROUGH, hundred of STANBOROUGH, county of DEVON, 5½ miles (S.) from Kingsbridge. The population is returned with the parish. A chapel existed here so early as 1401; it was rebuilt in 1801, chiefly through the exertions of Mr. Yates, and is served by a curate appointed by the vicar of West Allington. There is a place of worship for Wesleyan Methodists. Salcombe, which is situated on the western side of the entrance to Kingsbridge harbour, is the principal station for that port, and contains several shipwrights' yards. A pleasure fair is held here at Whitsuntide.