Originally published in 1940, this book contains a detailed description of the natural beauty of the area around Sidmouth in Devon, the author's appreciation for which he says 'no aspect of the world from Arctic to Equator has diminished'. Cornish discusses Sidmouth, Sidbury and Salcome Regis in his treatise, and includes a number of photographs and drawings to bear witness to the area's natural beauty. This book will be of value to anyone with an interest in Devon or the preservation of rural England.

The Garden History of Devon is a reference guide to historical sources for over 200 Devon gardens. It also provides an introduction for would-be garden historians on how to conduct garden research. The book is the result of an exploration of the archival resources of Devon's garden history; the objective being to provide signposts to research material for those interested in the development of Devon's gardens. The entries, arranged alphabetically, begin with a brief section describing each garden's history, amplified by quotations from contemporary travellers and diarists; following the descriptive sections are listings of documents, printed sources and illustrations relating to each garden. The greater part of this material is unknown to garden historians.