DARTMOUTH, a borough and sea-port and market-town,
having separate jurisdiction,
locally in the hundred
of Coleridge, county
of DEVON, 30 miles (S. by
W.) from Exeter, and 204
W. S. W.) from London,
containing 4485 inhabitants.
This place, which derives its
name from being situated at
the mouth of the river Dart,
appears to have been distinguished at a very early
period for the convenience of its harbour, which, in
1190, was the rendezvous of the fleet destined for the
Holy Land. In the reign of Richard I. the French
effected a landing on this coast, and, after setting fire
to the town, retreated with inconsiderable loss. It is
stated by Leland to have received a charter of incorporation
from King John, but no authentic document exists
of a date prior to Edward III.: if not incorporated, it
enjoyed many privileges, and, in 1226, the inhabitants
obtained the grant of a weekly market and an annual
fair. In the reign of Edward I. the town sent members
to parliament, and had become a considerable staple for
Wool, wine, and iron; and in that of Edward III. the
port contributed thirty-one ships, and nearly eight hundred
men, to the naval armament for the invasion of
France. In this reign the town, together with the adjacent
villages of Clifton and Hardness, received a regular
charter of incorporation, and was exempted from
tolls. By act of parliament in the reign of Richard II.,
the exportation of tin was exclusively restricted to the
port of Dartmouth, but the restriction was soon after
abolished. In 1404, the French pirates having burnt
Plymouth, sailed to this town, but were gallantly repulsed
by the male and female inhabitants; De Chastell,
their commander, and several of his men were killed,
and twenty of the crew taken prisoners. The castle is
supposed to have been erected in the reign of Henry VII.
During the parliamentary war, Dartmouth was regarded
as a very important post, and eagerly contended for by
both parties: in 1643, it was taken, after a siege of
four weeks, by Prince Maurice, who garrisoned it for
the king; and, in 1646, it was taken by storm by
General Fairfax, who commanded the assault in person.
The town is beautifully situated on the western
shore of the bay formed by the river Dart, near its
influx with the sea. The houses are built on the
acclivity of an eminence sloping gently from the margin
of the water, and ranged in streets rising above each
other at different elevations: they are in general ancient,
and some of them are ornamented with grotesque
carvings; the governor's house, which occupies a higher
site, is a modern adaptation of the ancient style of
building which prevails in the town, and forms the
front to a naval museum. The streets, though inconveniently
narrow, are partially paved by the commissioners,
and the inhabitants are supplied with water
brought by pipes from springs in the neighbourhood, at
the expense of the corporation. A subscription readingroom
has been established, and an annual regatta is
celebrated, generally in July. The surrounding scenery
is strikingly beautiful -. the view of the town from the
bay is truly picturesque; and the rocks, which are of a
purple-coloured slate, are finely contrasted with the verdant
foliage of the trees in which the houses are embosomed,
extending for nearly a mile along the coast, and
interspersed with a rich variety of plants and shrubs.
The bay, in several points of view, from which the town
and the sea are excluded by projecting rocks, has the
appearance of an inland lake, noted for its romantic
beauty. The harbour is sufficiently capacious for the
reception of five hundred sail of vessels, and is remarkable
for its security, and for the depth and tranquillity
of its water, the surface of which is undisturbed,
while the sea, at the distance only of a quarter of a
mile, is in a state of strong agitation. The entrance is
on the south, between the ruins of Kingswear castle
and the fort and church of St. Petrock, where a battery
has been erected for its defence. The port extends from
the river Teign to the river Erme, including a range of
coast forty miles in length, and is under the superintendence
of a governor appointed by the corporation,
and paid by the crown. The number of vessels belonging
to the port in 1823 was three hundred and fortyeight,
averaging seventy-two tons burden. The trade
is principally with Newfoundland, the English coast, and
the collieries; in the year ending January 5th, 1827,
one hundred and two British and fourteen foreign vessels
entered inward from foreign parts; and one hundred and
forty-three British and one foreign vessel cleared outward.
An artificial quay has been constructed, projecting
into the harbour; and there is a custom-house, with
requisite offices for the despatch of business. The
river Dart is navigable to Totness, ten miles distant;
and the passage is highly interesting from the beautiful
scenery with which its banks abound throughout. A
considerable trade is carried on in ship-building:
there are commodious dock-yards, in which nineteen
vessels were built in the year 1826; but the inhabitants
are chiefly engaged in the Newfoundland and
other fisheries, in which three thousand persons are
employed, of whom a certain number is by law required
to be landsmen. The market is on Fridays there
are no fairs of any importance. The government, by
charter of Edward III., confirmed by succeeding monarchs,
and extended by James II., is vested in a
mayor, recorder, and twelve aldermen, assisted by a
town clerk, coroner, two bailiffs, a receiver, and other
officers. The mayor, the late mayor, and recorder, are
justices of the peace for the borough, and hold a court
of session quarterly, for the trial of all offenders not ac-
cused of capital crimes; and a court of record, under a
charter of Edward III., for the recovery of debts to any
amount, on the Monday in every week, but no writ has
issued from it since 1823. The manorial courts for the
borough, and also for the parish of Townstall, of which
the corporation are lords of the manor, are also held here.
The borough prison is a small building, containing two
wards, with accommodation for four prisoners. The
borough has continued to return two members to parliament
since its incorporation in the 24th of Edward III.:
the right of election is vested in the freemen generally;
the mayor is the returning officer.
Dartmouth comprises the parishes of St. Petrock,
St. Saviour, and Townstall, all in the archdeaconry
of Totness, and diocese of Exeter. The living of St.
Petrock's is a perpetual curacy, endowed with £1000
royal bounty, and £ 1200 parliamentary grant, and in
the patronage of the Rector of Stoke-Fleming: the
church is beautifully situated near the entrance to the
harbour. The living of St. Saviour's is a perpetual
curapy annexed to the vicarage of Townstall, endowed
with £200 private benefaction, and £300 parliamentary
grant, and in the patronage of the Mayor and Corporation;
the church, commonly called the mayor's chapel,
is a spacious cruciform structure, possessing little external,
but considerable internal, beauty; it is principally
in the decorated style of English architecture:
the pulpit is of stone, richly sculptured and gilt; the
wooden screen is an elaborate and highly enriched specimen
of carving, in the decorated style; and the stalls
of the corporation are of good modern workmanship:
the original ceiling of oak is still preserved. The living
of the parish of Townstall is a discharged vicarage, with
the perpetual curacy of St. Saviour's, rated in the king's
books at £12. 15. 4., endowed with £15 per annum
and £200 private benefaction, £200 royal bounty, and
£300 parliamentary grant, and in the patronage of the
Mayor and Corporation. The church is dedicated to
St. Clement. There are places of worship for Baptists,
Independents, and Wesleyan Methodists. Sunday schools
in each parish are supported by subscription; and there
are some small charitable bequests for the benefit of the
poor and the instruction of poor children. Newcomen, the
iaventor of- the steam-engine, was a native of this place.
Dartmouth gives the title of earl to the family of Legge.