There are places that might have been described more fully, others that have been passed over without notice. This has been due to no disregard for them on my part, but to a dread of making the volumes too bulky and cumbrous. Finally, I owe a debt of gratitude to many kind friends who have assisted me with their local knowledge, as Mrs. Troup, of Offwell House, Honiton; the Rev. J. B. Hughes, for some time Head Master of Blundell's School, Tiverton, and now Vicar of Staverton; Mr. R. Burnard, of Huckaby House, Dartmoor, and Hillsborough, Plymouth, my _alter ego_ in all that concerns Dartmoor; Mr. J. D. Enys, whose knowledge of things Cornish is encyclopædic; Messrs. Amery, of Druid, Ashburton; Mr. J. D. Prickman, of Okehampton; and many others. S. BARING-GOULD LEW TRENCHARD HOUSE, DEVON _June, 1899_ CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. THE WESTERN FOLK 1 II. VILLAGES AND CHURCHES 30 III. HONITON 43 IV. A LANDSLIP 60 V. EXETER 68 VI. CREDITON 79 VII. TIVERTON 101 VIII. BARNSTAPLE 122 IX. BIDEFORD 134 X. DARTMOOR AND ITS ANTIQUITIES 155 XI. DARTMOOR: ITS TENANTS 176 XII. OKEHAMPTON 208 XIII. MORETON HAMPSTEAD 225 XIV. ASHBURTON 248 XV. TAVISTOCK 266 XVI. TORQUAY 289 XVII. TOTNES 310 XVIII. DARTMOUTH 323 XIX. KINGSBRIDGE 337 XX. PLYMOUTH 352 ILLUSTRATIONS SWEET HAY-MAKERS _Frontispiece_ From a photograph by Mr. Chenhall, Tavistock. CLOVELLY FISHERMEN _To face page_ 16 From a photograph by the Rev. F. Partridge. SHEEPSTOR " 30 From a painting by A. B. Collier, Esq. HOLNE PULPIT AND SCREEN " 38 From a photograph by J. Amery, Esq. HONITON LACE " 51 From specimens kindly lent by Miss Herbert, Exeter, and Mrs. Fowler, Honiton. Photographed by the Rev. F. Partridge. HIGH STREET, EXETER " 68 From a photograph by the Rev. F. Partridge. A COB COTTAGE, SHEEPWASH " 80 From a photograph by the Rev. F. Partridge. EAST WINDOW, CREDITON CHURCH, BEFORE "RESTORATION" " 82 From a sketch by F. Bligh Bond, Esq. TIVERTON " 101 From a photograph by Mr. Mudford, Tiverton. QUEEN ANNE'S WALK, BARNSTAPLE " 122 From a photograph by the Rev. F. Partridge.