EVANS (R.), _Home Scenes; or, Tavistock and its Vicinity_. Tavistock, 1846; now not easily procured.
As a health resort--The Palk family--Myths concerning the family--Its real history--The Cary family--Landing at Brixham of William of Orange--Kent's Cavern--Order of deposits therein--Churches in the neighbourhood--Haccombe--The Teign-head combes--Wolborough--The Three Wells--Aller pottery--Its story--Red mud.
This pleasant winter residence is now stretched from Paignton on one side to Marychurch on the other, with different climates in its several parts. Torquay is backed by a high ridge against the east, and consequently is sheltered from cutting winds from that quarter. S. Marychurch is on the top of the cliffs, and catches every wind. Paignton looks across the bay due east, and is therefore exposed to the most bracing of all winds. In Frying Pan Row, Torquay, one may be grilled the same day that at Paignton one may have one's nose and fingers turned blue.
A century ago Torquay was a little fishing village, numbering but a few poor cottages.
Torquay has benefited largely from the Palk family, but then the Palks also have benefited largely by Torquay.
A cloud of dust has been stirred up to disguise the humble, but respectable, origin of the family; and even Foster in his _Peerage_ (1882), who is always accurate when he had facts placed before him, commences with "Sir Robert Palk, descended from Henry Palk, of Ambrook, Devon (Henry VII., 1493-4)." But Ambrook, which is in Staverton, never did belong to the Palks; it was the property first of the Shapcotes, and then of the Nayles. Sir Bernard Burke, in addition to the Ambrook myth, states that Walter, seventh in descent, married Miss Abraham, and had Robert, Walter (who was member for Ashburton), and Grace. The late Sir Bernard Burke was not remarkable for accuracy, and here he has floundered into a succession of blunders. The descent from Henry Palk, of Ambrook, is apocryphal; and Walter Palk never was member for Ashburton, or for anywhere else. Another false assertion made has been that the family are descended from a Rev. Thomas Palk, of Staverton, a "celebrated" Nonconformist divine, who died in 1693. Wills proved in the Court of the Dean and Chapter of Exeter disprove this.