. The North Devon coast. is-covered, and three dividends were paid out ofprofits. But eventually the shares were rigged upto a high premium on the Stock Exchange, andthose who were well informed of the likelihoodthat the lode would not prove a lasting one gotout at a profit, while credulous purchasers wereleft to witness the prosperity of the undertakingspeedily melt away. By 1850, the last chapter ofsilver-mining at Combemartin was ended. Theminers rubbish-heaps still remain, and even atthe present day the urchins paddling in the bayat low-water occasionally discover fragments ofore. Hemp-gro
. The North Devon coast. is-covered, and three dividends were paid out ofprofits. But eventually the shares were rigged upto a high premium on the Stock Exchange, andthose who were well informed of the likelihoodthat the lode would not prove a lasting one gotout at a profit, while credulous purchasers wereleft to witness the prosperity of the undertakingspeedily melt away. By 1850, the last chapter ofsilver-mining at Combemartin was ended. Theminers rubbish-heaps still remain, and even atthe present day the urchins paddling in the bayat low-water occasionally discover fragments ofore. Hemp-growing and the manufacture of shoe-makers thread were also industries carried onvery extensively in the reign of Queen Elizabeth ;but Combemartin has long been looked down uponas an abjectly poor place, and only its great churchand the surrounding scenery save it from being THE CHURCH 11 passed by in contempt by the writers of guide-books. Combemartin church tower, indeed, findsmention in a North Devon folk-rhyme, in which. COMBEMARTIN CHURCH. it is placed, for due admiration, with those ofBerrynarbor and Hartland : Hartland for length,Berrynarbor for strength,And Combemartm for beauty. It is a tall grey tower, in four stages, risingwith some considerable impressiveness over an 78 THE NORTH DEVON COAST Early English and Perpendicular building that haslong been but ill cared for. The interior discloseschancel with nave and north aisle only, the roofsof that waggon-headed type usual in the West ofEngland ; the walls daubed with a light blue fine fifteenth-century carved wooden rood-screen, in a much worn condition, has been shame-fully used in the past, the frieze having been filledin with plaster in 1727, according to the dateinscribed on the work. The initials, J. P., T. H.,probably those of the churchwardens who perpe-trated the outrage, prove that, so far from beingashamed of themselves they even took pride intheir work. A number of interesting bench-endsremain, among th
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectdevonen, bookyear1908
