NOTES from LEWIS'S NEW TRAVELLER'S GUIDE, HAMPSHIRE, 1819-36

transcript

Hampshire

Is a marine county, bounded on the E. by Surry and Sussex, on the S. by the British Channel, on the W. by Wiltshire and Dorsetshire, and in the N. by Berkshire. It is divided into 39 hundreds, and 250 parishes; has one city and 20 market-towns; send 24 members to parliament; and is comprehended within the diocese of Winchester. Its chief manufactures are cloth, shalloons, and coarse woollens. According to the Saxon annals, this county was originally called Hamptonscyre. Population, 245,080.

PRINCIPAL TOWNS, WITH THE DISTANCES FROM EACH.

PRINCIPAL INNS, RECOMMENDED TO TRAVELLERS AND FAMILIES.

Alton: Swan, for Families; Crown, for Travellers.

Andover: Star and Garter, which is both the post and excise-office.

Basingstoke: Crown, Wheatsheaf.

Gosport: India Arms, Crown.

Lymington: Angel, Bugle.

Newport: Green Dragon, Sun; at both good accomodation.

Portsmouth: George, Blue Posts, Fountain.

Southampton: Coach and Horses, Dolphin, Star.

Yarmouth: Bugle, George.

PRINCIPAL RIVERS

The Itchin, Avon, and Tese are the principal rivers of this county; beside which are several smaller streams. The Itchin, which rises near Alresford, and passing by King's Worthy, Winchester, Twyford, and Bishopstoke, falls into the Southampton-water, about half a mile eastward from that town. It was made navigable from Winchester to Southampton by William the Conqueror. The Avon rises in Wiltshire, and passing through Salisbury, it enters Hampshire at Charford, from hence it runs southward by Ringwood to Christchurch, near which it receives the Stour, a considerable river, from Dorsetshire, and soon after falls into the English Channel, at Christchurch bay. The Tese has its origins in the neighbourhood of Whitchurch, and takes a southerly direction, passing by Stockbridge and Romsey, and receives several small rills from the New Forest, near Redbridge, below which it begins to expand, and so forms the head of the Southampton-water.

The Principal and most Extensive Views are from:-

Portsdown, five miles N. of Portsmouth.

West Lodge, in Bere Forest.

Freshwater, six miles from Yarmouth.

Shanklin Shine.

Ashey Down.

Nunwell Down.

Carisbrook Castle. Dun Nose, on the S.E. coast

Ride and Trimblefield, as well as from Appley-under-Cliff.

PRINCIPAL FAIRS.

Alresford: Holy-Thursday. July 25, Oct.17, sheep, &c.

Alton: Saturday before May 1, sheep and lambs. Sept. 29, cattle and toys.

Andover: Friday and Saturday after Midlent, cheese, horses, and leather. May 13, leather and millinery goods. Nov. 17 and 18, sheep, horses, leather, and cheese.

Basingstoke: Easter-Tuesday, cattle and cheese. Wednesday in Whitsun-week, pedlary. September 23, cattle, &c.

Christchurch: June 13, October 17, horses and bullocks.

Lymington: May 12, Oct. 2, horses, cheese, and bacon.

Newport: Whit-Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, old horses and toys.

Petersfield: July 10, December 11, sheep and horses.

Portsmouth: July 10, shoemakers, hatters, milliners, &c. cutlers, cabinet-makers, linen and woollen-drapers, silversmith's goods, 14 days.

Southampton: Feb. 17, Decem. 15, May 6, cattle and cheese. Trinity Monday, horses, cattle, and leather.

Winchester: First Monday in Lent, bacon, cheese, leather and horses. October 24, leather, horses, sheep, &c.