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 The
mother church of
Dartmouth is the
church of Saint
Clement Townstal;
and stands some
350ft above the main
town, on the narrow
tract which, since
ancient times, has
been a right-of-way
from the coast
through Longcross to
the River Dart
crossing at
Hardnesse.
Its south side, sunk
below the level of
the graveyard, seems
to cower from the
winds that must have
buffeted the
hill-top settlement.
Tunstal or Dunestal
meaning "the walled
clearing, or
homestead on the
hill" is mentioned
as a manor held by
Walter de Douai in
the Domesday Book.
Townstal is a Saxon
word.
The church building
is of a beautiful
and stately
character and has
many interesting and
unusual features.
The present fabric
dates partly from
the 13th Century
with some Norman
traces. The
transepts are of
great length, that
on the North being
33ft and that on the
South 31ft. The
Altar is unique. It
dates from James I
and may have
replaced an older
stone Altar.
The font is of
Purbeck stone and
dates from the 13th
or possibly early
14th Century. The
modern lid is of
wood. It would
appear that at one
time there was
undoubtedly a rood
beam in the fine
Chancel arch. A
modern carved wooden
Crucifix painted and
gilded hangs in the
Chancel arch and
provides some
colour.
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