. The North Devon coast. ea at the bottomof a deep valley, and the inhabitants call it Kuh-martn. Charles Kingsley in his time called itsomething else, something derogatory ; nothingless offensive, if you please, than mile-long man-stye. They do not think much of Charles Kings-ley at Combemartin. Perhaps it is not so squalid as in his day ; atany rate, although the long-drawn street is noteven now a pattern of neatness, it does not in thesetimes merit quite so savage a description, evenalthough the large population is made up chieflyof poor market-gardening folk. For Combemartin COMBEMARTIN 73
. The North Devon coast. ea at the bottomof a deep valley, and the inhabitants call it Kuh-martn. Charles Kingsley in his time called itsomething else, something derogatory ; nothingless offensive, if you please, than mile-long man-stye. They do not think much of Charles Kings-ley at Combemartin. Perhaps it is not so squalid as in his day ; atany rate, although the long-drawn street is noteven now a pattern of neatness, it does not in thesetimes merit quite so savage a description, evenalthough the large population is made up chieflyof poor market-gardening folk. For Combemartin COMBEMARTIN 73 is the place whence come most of the early fruitand vegetables for the supply of the neighbouringtowns. The hotels, not only of Ilfracombe, butalso of Lynton and Lynmouth, depend largelyupon Combemartin for their choicest supply, andthe gardens round about are quite celebrated fortheir strawberries and gooseberries. No one inthe strawberry season, passing through Combe-martin, has the least excuse for remaining ignorant. THE PACK OF CARDS, COMBEMARTIN. of the staple product of the neighbourhood, fornumerous pertinacious women, girls, and smallboys pervade that long street; offering bags ofwhat is, perhaps, the most delicious fruit theseisles produce. To purchase a basketful, youthink, at one end of the street, is sufficient to passyou through its length without further challenge ;but that is a vain thought. The Combemartinstrawberry-vendors have the most generous con-ception of your capacity for their wares, and 10 74 THE NORTH DEVON COAST appear to think that every bagful purchased isan excuse for another. They are apt not to becheap, but they are undeniably fresh, and un-doubtedly refreshing under the sweltering sun thatscorches the blazing street. There was a time when Combemartin was busyin a far different way. The silver mines of thisrugged valley were famous so far back as the timeof Edward L, and with varying fortunes theycontinued at intervals to the early years of the
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectdevonen, bookyear1908
