The Rivers of Great Britain, Descriptive, Historical, Pictorial: Rivers of the South and West CoastsVarious
History
The Rivers of Great Britain, Descriptive, Historical, Pictorial: Rivers of the South and West Coasts
Various
Great Britain -- Description and travel; Rivers -- Great Britain
The winding river gains a new glory from its beautiful and impressive
surroundings as it flows at the base of Morwell Rocks, those wonderful
examples of Nature's carvings, set in the midst of luxuriant foliage
that here hides their shaggy sides and there throws into bold relief
an awe-inspiring pile. The Rocks are unique in their romantic beauty,
even though they figure among the many objects of interest in a highly
picturesque neighbourhood. The Chimney Rock and the Turret Rock are
happier instances of descriptive nomenclature than usual. Bolder
still is that most striking specimen of natural architecture, Morwell
Rock, the massiveness of which doubtless gained for it the capital
distinction. To the giddy height of the topmost rock, above the
far-stretching woodland of Morwellham, scarce a sound of the rippling
river comes; but the silver thread of its serpentine course may be
traced afar through the romantic valley, winding about Okel Tor and the
great bend that forms the peninsula between Morwellham and Calstock,
and then taking its favoured way through cherry orchard-groves on to
the haven under the hill.
[Illustration: THE RIVERS OF CORNWALL.]
The river is navigable to Weir Head, but Morwellham is the highest
point reached by the steamers. Pursuing the line of least resistance,
the Tamar now makes a tremendous sweep about the hill on which Calstock
Church stands. But ere the first view of the "two-faced church" is
caught, an interesting riparian residence is skirted--Harewood, the
scene of Mason's play of _Elfrida_, now the office of the Duchy of
Cornwall, but formerly one of the Trelawny properties. Calstock, if
it please you, is the centre of the old "cherry picking" district,
though to-day its strawberry gardens must rival the orchards in their
remunerative return to the industrious population of the quaint little
town that seems to have grown away from the water's edge to the
pleasant Cornish country beyond Tamar bank. Still, if you would see
Calstock in its daintiest garb and most delightful beauty, come you
when the pretty cherry blossom decks the groves by the river, and the
tender pink and white clothes the orchard lawns to the uplands.
[Illustration: TAVISTOCK NEW BRIDGE (_p. 55_).]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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