There are several curious caverns and perforated rocks on the southern coast of Devon. Just within the promontory called the Bolt-head, at the western end of Salcomb-bar, is a cavern called the Bull-hole, which is believed by many persons of the neighbourhood to extend for about three miles to a similar cavern in a creek near Sewer-mill. The tradition is that a bull entered at one cavern, and came out at the other; and hence the name of the Bull-hole. Nearly at the top of the cliff of Bolberry Down, about a mile to the eastward of the Bolt-tail, is a cavern called Ralph's-hole, which is about twenty feet long, seven feet wide, and eight feet high. It is nearly four hundred feet above the sea; and the rock by which it is approached is within three feet of the precipice, and only admits of one person passing at a time. It is said that a man named Ralph made this cave his abode for many years in order to avoid being arrested, and that with a hay-fork as a weapon to defend the entrance he set the bailiffs at defiance; his residence, however, was more remarkable for its security than its convenience; and if the blessing of freedom is not included in the balance of advantages and evils, Ralph would probably have found a more comfortable home in any of her Majesty's gaols than in his sea-beaten fortress. A few miles further westward, directly off Thurlston sands, in Bigberry bay, is a perforated rock, about thirty feet high, called Thurlston rock. At very low ebb-tides it is left dry, but as the flood increases, the sea washes over it, making a noise in stormy weather that is heard at a great distance.
The village of Otterton, in the immediate vicinity of these caves, is remarkable for the peculiarity of possessing a church with a tower at the eastern end. At this place there was formerly an alien priory subject to St. Michael's, in Normandy. The river Otter is a fine trout stream, and affords much amusement to the patrons of the rod and line; but it is navigable for boats only at high-water, when small craft can ascend as far as Otterton, about two and a half miles from its mouth. A view from Peak-hill, an eminence in this neighbourhood, frequently excites the admiration of visitors, commanding as it does the beautiful vale of Sidmouth, with the village and beach on the east, the vale of the Otter on the west, bordered by Haldon and other hills, and extending to the sea on the south.
Bicton House, on the banks of the Otter, is the seat of Lord Rolle; it is a spacious edifice, standing in a park plentifully stocked with beach, elm, and oak, and abounding in deer. At the time of Domesday survey, this manor was held by the somewhat burdensome tenure of maintaining the county gaol; but from this service it has been many years relieved by Act of Parliament. Sir Walter Raleigh was born at Hayes, in the parish of East Budleigh, a small village about four miles from Sidmouth; and much of his love for maritime enterprise was probably derived from his early associations with this romantic coast, so well calculated to impress the youthful mind with a passion for the sea and its wonders.
WEYMOUTH
Weymouth and Melcombe-Regis lie on opposite sides of the same river, the latter on the east, and the former on the west. They are connected by a bridge, the central part of which can be swung open, to allow of the passing and repassing of ships. The name of Weymouth is generally given to the united towns, which are both in the county of Dorset, and about 130 miles to the south-westward of London.
Weymouth derives its name from the Wey, or Way, a small river which there discharges itself into the sea. It is a place of great antiquity; it is mentioned in a charter granted by Ethelred, about the year 880, giving certain lands there to his faithful minister, Altsere. In the Domesday Survey there are no less than eight places in the county with the name of Wai or Waia; that, however, which is described as having twelve salterns, or salt ponds, was undoubtedly the Weymouth of the present time. In the reign of Edward II. Weymouth returned two members to Parliament; and in 1347, probably in conjunction with Melcombe, it supplied 15 ships and 263 mariners to the grand fleet of Edward III.