THE / IMPERIAL GUIDE / WITH / PICTURESQUE PLANS / OF THE / GREAT POST ROADS, / CONTAINING MINIATURE LIKENESSES, / ENGRAVED FROM REAL SKETCHES, / OF THE / CITIES, TOWNS, VILLAGES, SEAS, ISLANDS, MOUNTAINS, PUBLIC / EDIFICES, AND PRIVATE BUILDINGS, / SITUATED IN AND NEAR SUCH THOROUGHFARES. / ALSO, / A NEW LETTER PRESS DESCRIPTION / OF ALL THE CELEBRATED / SCENERY AND LOCAL EVENTS CONNECTED WITH THE ABOVE-MENTIONED SUBJECTS, / AND INTERSPERSED WITH / BIOGRAPHICAL, CHRONOLOGICAL, AND HISTORICAL ANECDOTES; / AND ALL THE / Important Illustrations that could be attained by the most assiduous Investigation and Survey. / BY J. BAKER, / AUTHOR OF THE PICTURESQUE GUIDE THROUGH SOUTH WALES AND THE MARCHES. / Our Posey is as a Gum, which oozes / From whence 'tis nourished. - SHAKESPEARE. / LONDON: / PRINTED BY C. WHITTINGHAM, / Dean Street, Fetter Lane, / AND SOLD BY H. D. SYMONDS, PATERNOSTER-ROW; / WHITE, FLEET STREET; OTRIDGE, STRAND; RICHARDSON, ROYAL EXCHANGE; TAY- / LOR, HOLBORN; RIVINGTON, ST. PAUL'S CHURCH YARD; ROBSON, AND CARPENTER, / BOND STREET. / 1802.

Introduction

ADDRESS TO THE PUBLIC

That this work, either from its novelty or humble utility, should have received Royal Patronage, and such distinguished support, through that unhappy period when the arts most suffered, and works of brighter genius failed, claims my most unfeigned and ardent acknowledgements; for in neither of the arts exercised upon it have I even professed superior abilities. I was induced to my description of South Wales, because, during a long residence in that part of the principality, 'I found many of its internal beauties were as little known, and as seldom visited, as the snow-top'd acclivities of the Alps; and my chief purpose was, that my observations might attract to the subject the attention of authors more eminent and more competent to the task.' Since that period, numerous indeed have been the Tourists who have traversed those pleasing mazes of nature and antiquity, and I flatter myself the signals I advanced were not wholly useless. I only wish some of these Tourists had been less tardy in their undertakings, as it would have saved me much unproductive labour. My work was begun upon a very expensive scale, in the days of profound peace, when the arts flourished most; their's in the midst of an exhausting war, and upon plans adapted to the temporary pressure of the times. From these circumstances, some unforseen disappointments, the unexpected advance on printing paper, and other causes, I was disabled from proceeding farther in my first work, than a completion of the two volumes of a Description of South Wales and the Marches, now before the public; and I had recourse to the less arduous and less expensive task that is here offered to the public. In this, my first intention was only to go through a description of those roads which led immediately from London to the Principality, till a happy change of circumstances might enable me to carry on the above undertaking to its full extent; or, failing in that hope, I flattered myself my present production might be acceptable to the Subscribers to the former, in as much as I give descriptions in it of those plates of Landscape Views in North Wales, which I had published and distributed with my Letter-Press descriptions of the South. Thus rendering all the satisfaction in my power to those numerous nobility, gentry, and others, who first favoured, and have still continued to countenance my endeavours, and I already find my purpose so far to have succeeded, that much anguish is removed from my mind. And in this work, I have been encouraged with so many liberal offers from great and respectable families of engraved plates of their seats, in other thoroughfares of the kingdom. It is indispensable with the wish of my friends at large, and my own personal interest, that I should prolong it to these bounds. Should this narrative appear too trifling for perusal, or frivolous for notice, let the weakness be imputed to the ardent wish of proving to my subscribers the nature of their kindness to me, and the high value I entertain of their support; and I can solemnly assure, that my assiduity and anxiety to please shall keep pace with their offices of friendship to the extent of my faculties, both of body and mind.

I cannot conclude without noticing some friendly communications which have been made me, which will amend some of my former descriptions, and which shall be carefully noticed in the additional Letter-Press to be printed for such gratuitous plates as may not immediately appear in the great roads, in that which will be formed for the Cross Roads, or in some other part of the Appendix which I have promised to the work. Also, those errors which I perceive to have escaped my pen in spelling the provincial and other names, shall as far as possible be rectified in an errata, and I humbly hope others will not fail their countenance of such assistance to those subjects, as may render this production more and more complete.

J. Baker delt. [I] Wright Sc.

1 to 550000

9 miles to 1 inch

Road map opp.51 (Hampshire parts, plus)

Road map opp.52 (Hampshire parts, plus)

CONTINUATION OF THE WESTERN ROAD FROM HOUNSLOW, STAINES, &c. TO THE LANDS END, CORNWALL, &c. &c.

... ... A handsome seat of the Harris's appear in the passage from Bagshot to Hartford Bridge. At Hartly Row is the next Inn. The seats this way are the Beauclerk's and Mildmay's. The town of Odiham is distant about 5 miles, in the same direction. At this place was once a royal palace and castle, famous for the imprisonment of David, King of Scotland. Such were the fortifications of this place, that thirteen English soldiers defended themselves a whole fortnight against the Dauphin of France, who had besieged it with his army.

Between Hartford Bridge and Basingstoke are the seats of the Sloper's, Hawley's, and the late Sir James Tilney Long's to the right; left is the noble mansion of Hackwood, late the Duke of Bolton's, now Lord Bolton's. Amwell, near this passage, was an ancient priory; near Hartly Row was another, and at Old Basing, a village near the road opposite to Hackwood, was the noted seat of the last named family. In the church here are their monuments, particularly of an Earl Paulet, who lived to see 103 persons descended from him; a Marquis of Winchester, who made his house here (which was then described the largest of any subject's) a garrison for Charles I. in which he endured a two years seige, but being taken by treachery, was burnt to the ground. The scite still shews its vast extent, and some remaining walls and buildings partly discover the fashion of the building.

Basingstoke is situated near the first streams of the River Lodon, in a rich corn country; it hath many factors in that article, maltsters, mealmen, with other considerable tradesmen, innkeepers, &c. The church hath several antiquities worthy of notice. At this place was anciently an hospital, founded so early as Henry III. Part of it lately remained, until it gave place to the more modern buildings, now in ruins, on the spot. There is a choice of two roads, about equal distance between Basingstoke and Sarum; that to the right passes through Worthing, Andover, &c. and is the most sheltered; that by the left passes through Stockbridge, and being most ways exposed to the vast Wiltshire Downs, is only preferred in summer. At Worthing, in the first named way, are seats of the Clark's, Tenbury's, and Cook's; near the 40 mile stone from London, the Walter's is on the right hand; near the 50 mile stone, half a mile on the right, Sir Alexander Grant's; left of the road, at 51 miles, the Branstone's; others are the Holder's and Lafrow's. In the last named way a strong clear stream of water is seen running for some miles in a rich line of country, and on a parallel with the road. The villages of Whitchurch, Laverstock, and Husbourn, are in the same track, also pleasant seats of the Portal's, and a modern mansion of the Earl of Portsmouth. Where the way begins descending to the low station of Andover, there is a spacious view over part of Salisbury Plain, and much of the adjacent country lying contiguous to it. Andover is a considerable market town, with several well managed inns, and it is otherwise much benefitted by a navigable canal being made to pass from it to the Southampton river. The church is a large, plain, ancient fabric; and there are many other venerable marks of the antiquity of this town in the old dwellings. Several antient camps are near it, and at Weyhill, the Port-way and Icknield-street Roman roads cross each other.

At leaving Andover, are the seats of the Thompson's and the Gaulter's. Farther on the same hand is Quarly House, the Cox's; the same way is seen an antiquated mansion of the Marquis of Winchester, and a neat seat of Sir J. Champney's. Rich prospects of verdant banks and spacious downs at some parts of this stage are stretching to the utmost reach of the eye. The villages of this country are always agreeably situated within the most fruitful bourns that intersect such eminences. It is found particularly calculated for the sport of hunting, and hath therefore many families of fortune established in it. Quarley Hill is seen to the right, a few miles before coming to the village of Wallop, and that of Danbury opposite, on the other hand, are marked with vast entrenchments. The first is British work; Danbury was a Roman, and answered to it.

The river Wallop passed over at the village so named, is celebrated for its trout. This stream also gives its name to two other villages, which belonged at the conquest to the ancient family of that name. One of them, Sir John Wallop, in 1513, fitted out several ships, and, with eight hundred men, burnt twenty-one villages in Normandy, in revenge for the French burning of Brightelmstone.

Those subjects are in the purlieus of the vast Salisbury Plain, a country which was formerly described to have been wider than the eye could see, thinly inhabited, and much infested with robbers. ... ... On the more southern track, which I have described to pass from basingstoke, is Lord Dorchester's. Passing this way an ornamented gateway directs us from the turnpike to a handsome house of the Terry's; at Popham Lane, so passed, there is a decent inn for refreshment or change of horses. A little way farther is one of the most extensive inland prospects. The objects seen from it are towering masses of highlands that run through Wiltshire, through much of the New Forest of Hampshire, and nearly to the sea coast, next Southampton, they are the largest body of the uplands in this country. The slopes from these are partly inclosed and partly woodlands. Through these the chalky road for many miles imitates the singular appearance of slips of white tape laid upon them. The villages of Cranbourn and Sutton are situated within a sheltered bourn here passed; the last hath decent inns. At the small borough town of Stockbridge, Steel practised so successfully upon the freemen's wives, by his known promise of the golden apple. The bourn here is graced by a most powerful stream of limpid water that passes for several miles southward to the river Kees.