map features, town

Map Features - town

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In order by date from the Map group (maker year)
NB: typical illustrated examples are described, NOT ALL examples.
absence of evidence is not evidence of absence

Gough 1350s-60s

(city; town walls; town gates)

city & town walls & town gates :-
Winchester is drawn with a church and spire. two houses, and a town wall with gate; labelled:-

wynchestre

Gough 1350s-60s

(town)

town :-
Southampton has a smaller church with spire and two houses (maybe the size reflects a cramped space on the map); labelled:-

hamton

Basingstoke has a single house; labelled:-

Basyngstok

Lily 1546

(city; town)

city & town (county) :-
circle, two towers, flag; labelled in upright block caps, eg:-

HAMTONA

Lily 1546

(town)

town :-
circle, tower; labelled in italic upright text, eg:-

Basingstok

Saxton 1575

(town)

town :-

dot, double circle, buildings and towers labelled in block caps is a town, eg:-

Havant

A larger town has more buildings, eg:-

Portesmouth

It is possible to see town walls and bastions at Portsmouth, Southampton and Winchester.

Saxton 1579

(town)

town :-
labelled in italic lowercase text, eg:-

Aulton

which text style also labels any other feature.

Norden 1595 ms

(town)

town :-
circle, tower, weathercock

Market townes

Though tiny, the weathercock is clearly that, coloured red as is the circle
Bigger towns have more buildings and perhaps flags

Norden 1595

(city; town walls; town gates)

city & town walls & town gates :-
The county capital is drawn with a cluster of buildings and towers, town walls, town gates, and site astride braids of the River Itchen; labelled in lowercase italic text:-

Winchester

Norden 1595

(town)

town :-
Towns have several buildings and towers, with what could be a weathercock on a mast on a tower, Southampton is drawn bigger; labelled in lowercase italic text, eg:-

lymington

Southampton

Odyam

Keer 1604

(town)

town :-
dot, circle, tower; labelled in italic lowercase text, eg:-

Alton

Keer 1605

(city; town)

city & town :-

dot, double circle, tower; labelled lowercase upright text, eg:-

Winchester

Andoner

Norden 1607

(town)

town :-

Speed 1611

(town)

town :-
dot and circle, tower; labelled in italic lowercase text, eg:-

Andover

but this symbol is also used for The Vine, which is just a great house, Hurst Castle, etc. Calshot Castle has only a dot and circle.

Bill 1626

(town)

town :-
dot and circle, tower; eg:-

Alton

Basingstock

Simmons 1635

(town; village; house)

town & village & house :-

dot, circle, tower; labelled in lowercase italic text.
Villages and at least one house:-

The Vine

are marked by the same symbol.

Hollar 1644

(city; town)

city & town (large) :-
circle and tower and buildings; labelled in ?italic block caps, in Hampshire:-

WINCHESTER

SOUTHAMPTON

Hollar 1644

(town)

town :-
circle and tower and buildings; labelled in upright lowercase text, eg:-

Aulto~

Andover

Blaeu 1645

(city; town walls)

city & town walls :-
Walls and buildings and towers; labelled in upright block caps:-

WINCHESTER

Blaeu 1645

(town)

town :-
circle, buildings and towers, usually 3 or 2; lowercase upright text.

Alresford

Jansson 1646

(town)

town :-
circle, buildings and tower; labelled in upright lowercase text, eg:-

Andover

Ringwood

Blome 1673

(town)

town :-
dot and circle plus 3 towers; labelled in slightly larger italic lowercase text, eg:-

Andover

Blome 1673

(town)

town (large) :-
dot and circle plus towers and buildings; labelled in the same slightly larger italic lowercase text, eg:-

Fareham

Ogilby 1675

(town)

town :-
circle; labelled in lowercase text, mostly italic but upright for larger towns, eg:-

Morden 1676

(town; village)

town & village :-

On the playing cards these are positioned by a circle, labelled in italic lowercase. On the sheet map a building with tower is added to the ?more important places, the towns; this is often severly cramped by the existing place name engraving. Two extra places are added (t if tower and building added, x if extra):-

Abotsham [Abbots Ann?]

Alersford [New Alresford]

Alton [t]

Andover [t]

Basingstoke [t]

Bushwaltham [t]

Calshot

Caston [Easton]

Christ Church [t]

Debden

Elinge

Ellingham

Fairleigh [Farley]

Farham [t]

Fordingbridg [t]

Fowley

Havant [tx]

Hawkley

Hound

Husborne [Hurstbourne Priors]

Kingsclere [t]

Kingston [where ??]

Lemington [t]

Odiam [t]

Overton

Petersfeild [t]

Porchester

Portsmouth [t]

Ringwood [t]

Rumsey [t?]

S Hampton [t]

Silchester

Stokbridg [t?]

Swarwotton

Whitchurch [tx]

The two towns marked [x] are not on the playing card version.

Walton 1679

(town)

town :-
circle, tower; labelled in italic lowercase text, eg:-

Andover

Farham

Southampton has buildings as well as the tower.

Blome 1681

(town)

town :-
circle, buildings, towers; labelled in upright or italic? lowercase text, eg:-

Odyam

Stokbridg

Lea 1687

(town)

town :-
circle, building, tower; labelled in upright lowercase text, eg:-

Andover

Alton

Visscher 1690s

(town)

town :-
Towns, and any other place, are marked only by the circle; labelled in italic lowercase. Towns:-

Alresford [New Alresford]

Alton

Andover

Basingstoke

Christchurch

Fareham

Fordingbridg

Havent

Kingsclere

Lemington

Odiham

Petersfield

Portsmouth

Ringwood

Rumsey

Southampton

Stockbridg

Waltham [Bishops Waltham]

Whitchurch

Collins 1693

(town)

town :-
Portsmouth and Gosport are a tight huddle of buildings within walls, though streets can be seen. Streets and burgage plots are more obvious in the plan of Southampton. Other places have a church and a scatter of buildings and trees. Towns are labelled in block caps or upright lowercase or italic lowercase depending on size.

SOUTHAMPTON [block caps]

PORTSMOUTH [block caps]

Gosport [upright lowercase]

Fareham [italic lowercase]

Limington [italic lowercase]

Seller 1694

(town)

town :-

circle, tower, etc; italic lowercase text, eg:-

Ringwood

Morden 1695

(town)

town :-

circle, tower and other buildings; labelled in upright lowercase text, eg:-

Rumsey

Bishopswaltham

An old place name might be given as well, eg:-

Ringwoode ol Regnum

Winehester Venta Belgarum

Symbols for Christchurch and Romsey are surmounted by a cross.

Morden 1708

(town)

town :-
circle and tower; upright lowercase lettering

Alresford

An old name might be given, eg:-

Ringwood ol Regnum

Silcester Old Vindonum

Southampton Clausentum

Some towns have 1 or 2 stars attached to their symbol which probable indicate which are boroughs sending Members to Parliament. (The number of stars does not, as it does elsewhere, indicate the number of Members.)

Overton 1708

(town)

town :-
circle, buidings, and tower; boroughs labelled in upright lowercase text, eg:-

Andover

Stockbridg

market towns labelled in italic lowercase text, eg:-

Basingstoke

Fareham

Moll 1717

(town)

town :-
circle, perhaps 2 stars for Members of Parliament; labelled in upright lowercase text, eg:-

Southampton

Andover

Avery 1721

(town)

town :-
houses and church; labelled in upright block caps or lowercase text, eg:-

PORTSMOUTH

Southampto~

Limington

Farham [italic]

Moll 1724

(town)

town :-
circle, tower; labelled in upright lower case text, eg:-

Rumsey

Alton

Bowles c1732

(town)

town :-
Towns are labelled in upringht lowercase text, eg:-

Basingstoke

Portsmouth

Millward and Dickinson 1737

(town)

town :-
labelled in upright lowercase text, eg:-

50 / Alton s.

Alesford th.

78 / Southampton t. th. s.

Beware that the figures and letters are above or below, somewhat detached from the town name - read the diagram carefully.

Cox 1738

(Newtown)

Newtown (IoW) :-
badge or seal; a single masted ship, sail furled, a lion standing on board, a star and a crescent above, a shield bearing a ?St George's Cross and a ?dagger by the side.

Newton

Badeslade 1742

(town)

town :-
circle, tower, buildings, variable size, label upright, town, eg:-

Odiam

Alton

Cowley 1743

(town)

town :-
boroughs by circle, fewer buildings, asterisks; market towns by circle, tower; labelled in two ways, italic block caps, just for:-

SOUTHAMPTON

upright lowercase text, eg:-

Alton

Stokebridge

Allesford

Rocque 1746

(town)

town :-
circle, tower; labelled in upright lowercase text, eg:-

Alesford

Ringwood

The size of the text is sometimes reduced to fit the name in a space on the map. Thus 'Farnham', a mispelling of Fareham, is quite small text tho' the symbol is clearly for a town.
larger towns have two towers (Winchester has three), eg:-

Southampton

And towns returning members to Parliament have stars showing the number of representatives; for instance Southampton has 2 stars, as has Winchester, etc.

Hutchinson 1748

(town)

town :-
circle, buildings and tower with a cross; labelled in upright lowercase text, eg:-

Stockbridge

There is some variation in text size:-

South Hampton

is emphasized, for example. This text size is bigger than the city label text.

Kitchin and Jefferys 1749

(town)

town :-
circle, building and tower; labelled in upright lowercase text, eg:-

Odiham

Southampton / 78 [2 stars]

Stockbridge [2 stars]

Bickham 1750

(city; town)

city & town :-

The towns are shown by smaller or larger drawings, each a small but unreliable prospect of the place. Some are labelled:-

Petersfield, Portsmouth, Havant, Farham, Waltham, Alton, Alresford, Winchester, Whitchurch, Southampton, Stockbridge, Rumsey, Andover, Lymington, Ringwood, Fording Bridge, Christ Church, Pool

Kitchin 1750

(town)

town :-
town - circle, buildings and towers with ?flag poles; labelled in upright lowercase text, eg:-

ChristChurch

which has 2 stars for its Members of Parliament, and is a borough town.

Stockbridge

without stars, a market town.

SOUTHAMPTON

borough town, is an exception, being labelled in italic block caps.

Kitchin 1751 small

(town, borough)

town, borough :-

circle, tower, buildings, star, named in lower case, upright.

Burough Towns with the No. of Members they send to Parliamt. by Stars.

eg:- Andover with 2 members.

Kitchin 1751 small

(town, market)

town, market :-

circle, tower, buildings, but no stars, named in lower case, upright.

Market Towns

eg:- Bishops Waltham.

Kitchin 1751 large

(town)

town :-
Group of blocks on a street plan; labelled in upright lowercase, eg:-

Andover

Market Sat.

There is a V for vicarage, a crescent for post stage, a tilde or perhaps shepherd's crook for a religious house, a cross for charity school. Or:-

Stockbridge

Markt. Thursd.

with two stars and a crescent: sends two members to Parliament, is a Post Stage, market on Thursday.
But the style is not consistent, Fareham, for example, is shown by the older style of a circle for position, buildings and towers.

Farham

The roads in a town are drawn to show the street plan of the settlement, eg:-

at Lymington.

Bowen 1755

(town)

town :-
circle, buildings and tower; labelled in upright lowercase text, eg:-

Stockbridge

Havant

Southampton has italic block caps.

Rocque 1760s

(town)

town :-
circle; labelled in upright lowercase text, eg:-

Alton

Fareham

Bellin 1762

(city; town; village)

city & town & village :-
group of shaded blocks, perhaps circle, buildings and tower; labelled in upright lowercase text, eg:-

Portsmouth

Lymington

Busselton

Note that Southampton is not labelled.

Bowen 1763

(town)

town :-
group of blocks making a street map of sorts; labelled in upright lowercase text, eg:-

Stockbridge / Thur. / a Chap. [2 stars, crescent on post]

Ringwood / V / Wed. [crescent on post]

Odiham / V / Sat.

Alton / V / Sat. [crescent on a post, maltese cross]

The attached days are the market days for the town. A town might be marked with stars or asterisks for the number of members it sends to Parliament; a crescent symbol on a post if it is a post stage; a letter, V for vicarage, R for rectory, C for curacy, or just 'a Chapel'; and/or a maltese cross for a charity school.

Kitchin 1763

(town)

town :-
circle, buildings, tower, plus stars if it is a borough returning members to Parliament; labelled in upright lowercase text, eg:-

Andover

Odiham

Underlined if it has a fair, eg:-

Alton

An exception is labelled in italic block caps:-

SOUTHAMPTON

Kitchin 1763

(town; village)

town & village :-
circle; labelled in italic lowercase text, eg:-

Andover

Harndon

Hinton 1765

(town)

town :-
groups of blocks on streets making a town plan, generally with a church; labelled in upright lowercase text, eg:-

(plate 21 scroll 6 mile 69)

Stockbridge

Bowen 1767

(town)

town :-
group of blocks on a street plan; labelled in upright lowercase ext, eg:-

Alton / Sat. / 48 /

This place has a vicarage, has a market on Saturday, and is 48 miles from London. There are added elements; a maltese cross for a charity school, presumably Eggars School, a post with a crescent for a post stage.

Kitchin 1769

(town)

town :-
circle, two minimalist towers; labelled in upright lowercase text, eg:-

Petersfield 56

Overton 53

The number is the distance of the town from London.
Boroughs have stars for members sent to Parliament.

Whitworth 1770

(town)

town :-
groups of blocks in a street plan; labelled in italic block caps, eg:-

ANDOVER

RUMSEY

The large town of Southampton, a mile or two from the end of the canal, has upright block caps.

Bowen 1772

(town)

town :-
county town: labelled in italic block caps, eg:-

SOUTHAMPTON

borough towns: circle, perhaps building and tower; labelled in upright lowercase text, eg:-

Stockbridge

Andover

market towns: circle; labelled in italic lowercase text, eg:-

Basingstoke

Alton

Unknown 1772

(town)

town :-
circle; labelled in italic lowercase text, eg:-

Kingsclere

Rumsey

Bowles 1773

(town)

town :-
circle, perhaps a building, cross (+); labelled in upright lowercase text, eg:-

Alton

Alresf.

Except:-

SOUTHAMPTON

in italic block caps.

Jefferys 1775

(town)

town :-
group of blocks by the orad; labelled in upright lowercase text, eg:-

Andover

Bowles 1780

(town)

town :-
circle, ?building, cross (+(; labelled in upright lowercase text, eg:-

Alton

Andover

Except

SOUTHAMPTON

in italic block caps.

Mackenzie 1780s

(town)

town :-
Towns have street plans with shaded blocks of building; the church may be drawn in perspective; labelled in upright block caps; eg:-

LIMINGTON

Bowles 1782

(town)

town :-
Larger cluster of square blocks, perhaps making a street plan; lowercase upright text, eg:-

(page 103/104 scroll 5 mile 8)

Rumsey

Hogg 1784

(town)

town :-
circle and square, and tower, plus a single asterisk if it is a borough, defined in the table of symbols; upright lowercase text, eg:-

Andover

Otherwise just a circle which the table says is a village; labelled upright lowercase text, eg:-

Odiam

Cary 1787

(town)

town :-
groups of blocks on a street plan; labelled in upright block caps, eg:-

SOUTHAMPTON

FAREHAM

A town might have one or two starts or asterisks attached to it by a line which presumably indicate the number of members it sends to Parliament.

Lodge 1788

(town)

town :-
circle and buildings; upright lowercase text, eg:-

Fareham

Portsmouth

but also:-

SOUTHAMPTON

Cary 1789

(city; town)

city & town :-
The city and towns are labelled in upright block caps text, eg:-

WINCHESTER

Notice arrangement of a street plan, and the suburbs, St Giles.

ANDOVER

von Reilly c1789

(town)

town :-
group of blocks on roads making a sort of street map; labelled in upright block caps, eg:-

PORTSMOUTH

FAREHAM

TITCHFIELD

Aikin 1790

(town)

town :-
circle; labelled in italic lowercase text. The towns shown are:-

Alresford

Alton

Andover

Basingstoke

Bishops Waltham

Christchurch

Fareham

Fordingbridge

Gosport

Havant

Kingsclere

Lymington

Odiham

Portsmouth

Petersfield

Ringwood

Rumsey

Southampton

Stockbridge

Whitchurch

Winchester

Tunnicliff 1791

(town)

town :-
building and tower, ie a church symbol; labelled in lowercase upright text, eg:-

Fordingbridge

Baker 1792

(town)

town :-
a few blocks by the road; labelled in upright lowercase text, eg:-

Stockbridge / 67

Alton / 48

Southampton is made an exception, it is a large town and is labelled in italic block caps:-

SOUTHAMPTON / 76

The figures are the distance from London. Borough towns have stars attached to show the number of members sent to Parliament; Stockbridge has two for instance.

Faden 1796

(city; town)

city & town :-
group of blocks making a street map; lettered in upright block caps, eg:-

CITY OF WINCHESTER

PETERSFIELD

ALTON

but also, unexpectedly:-

TITCHFIELD

BROUGHTON

Unknown 1800s

(town; village)

town & village :-
circle; labelled in italic lowercase text, eg:-

Alton

Sutton [Scotney]

A large town might have a tower with the circle.

Cary 1802

(town; village)

town & village :-
circle; labelled in italic lowercase text, eg:-

Alton

Sutton [Scotney]

Cooke 1802

(town)

town :-
groups of blocks on roads; labelled in upright lowercase text, eg:-

Stockbridge / 67

Fareham / 73

Borough towns have one or two stars attached to show the number of members sent to Parliament, Andover, for example, has two.
Distances of towns from London are given in figures by its name.

Butters 1803

(town)

town :-
Labelled in italic lowercase text, eg:-

Andover

Portsmouth

Alton

but see:-

SOUTHAMPTON

in italic bold block caps.

Laurie and Whittle 1806

(town)

town :-
Lowercase upright text, eg:-

Petersfield

Wilkes 1806

(city; town)

city & town :-
Towns, and the one city, are shown by a group of blocks around a road junction, crudely tinted red. The junction layout may not reflect the actual road layout, it's just a join of roads. Labelled in upright block caps text; the city is not distinguished from the towns. Eg:-

WINCHESTER / 54

STOCKBRIDGE / 68

FORD OF ALRESFORD / 67

The expected towns are marked in this way, but also Broughton! The figures by a town are the distance from London.

Potts 1809

(town)

town :-
circle; labelled in italic lowercase text, eg:-

Southampton

Alton

OS 1810s Old Series

(town)

town :-
Shaded and shadowed areas on streets and/or groups of blocks, a cross for a church; labelled in italic block caps, eg:-

PETERSFIELD

STOCKBRIDGE

The leading capital being a little larger. Notice that Fordingbridge is downgraded to a village.

Vancouver 1810

(town)

town :-
small group of blocks on roads; labelled in upright lowercase text, eg:-

Alton

Havant

Southampton has italic block caps.

Wallis 1810

(town)

town :-
group of blocks by a road; labelled in upright lowercase text, eg:-

Alton / 48

Lymington / 90

There may be one or two stars by a place showing how many members are sent to Parliament. Lymington has two.
The number is the distance from London.
The county town, Southampton, is labelled in italic block caps.

Cary 1815

(town; village)

town & village :-
circle; labelled in italic lowercase text, eg:-

Alton

Ringwood

Beaulieu

Villages are probably only marked if they are nodes on the road network.

Cundee 1815

(town)

town :-
group of blocks by the roads; labelled in upright lowercase text, eg:-

Alton / 47

Ford or Alresford / 57 1/2

The figures are the distance from London in miles.

PORTSMOUTH / 73 3/4

SOUTHAMPTON / 75

are labelled in upright block caps.

Wallis 1815

(town)

town :-
group of blocks; labelled in upright lowercase text, eg:-

Southampton

Alton

The '21' Hampshire towns are listed below.

Rowe 1816

(city; town)

city & town :-
group of blocks arranged in a sort of street plan, with a cross for a church; labelled in upright block caps, eg:-

WINCHESTER / By Basingstoke 62 1/2 / Farnham 65 1/4 [2 stars]

ALTON / 47

PETERSFIELD / 54 3/4 [2 stars]

The figures are the distance from London in measured miles. The stars show the number of members returned to Parliament - remember that this map is drawn before the Reform Act 1832.

Hall 1820

(town)

town :-
circle; labelled in upright lowercase text, eg:-

Andover 63 [2 stars]

Alton 47

Except:-

SOUTHAMPTON 77 [2 stars]

marked by a group of blocks; labelled in upright block caps.

Smith 1820

(town)

town :-
group of blocks; labelled in upright lowercase text, eg:-

Stockbridge

Southampton

Pinnock 1821

(town)

town :-
circle, upright lowercase, eg:-

Andover

Perrot 1823

(town)

town :-
circle; lowercase italic text. The towns are:-

Alton

Andover

Basingstoke

Christchurch

Farnham [ie Fareham]

Gosport

Havant

Lymington

Odiham

Petersfield

Portsmouth

Ringwood

Romsey

Southampton

Stockbridge

Post Office 1823

(town)

town :-
labelled in italic lowercase text, eg:-

Andover

Greenwood 1826

(city; town)

city & town :-
groups of blocks on streets; labelled in upright block caps, eg:-

WINCHESTER

FAREHAM

Notice that Southampton, for example, has two stars indicating it sends two members to Parliament. The stars are missing off some towns, eg Winchester.

Pigot 1828

(town)

town :-
group of blocks; labelled in upright block caps, eg:-

ALTON / 47

Darton 1830s

(town)

town :-
group of blocks by a road or on a street plan, with a cross; labelled in upright block caps, eg:-

ANDOVER / 63 1/2 [red cross, red rhombus]

Walker 1830

(town)

town :-
dot and circle; labelled in upright lowercase text, eg:-

Alton

Southampton

except:-

PORTSMOUTH

in upright block caps - it's an important place.

Murray 1830

(city; town)

city & town :-
group of blocks; labelled in upright block caps, eg:-

WHITCHURCH / 57 [2 stars]

WINCHESTER / 63

STOCKBRIDGE / 66 [2 stars]

The distance from London is given with the town name.

Teesdale 1830

(town)

town :-
a few blocks; labelled in upright lowercase text, eg:-

Odiham / 41

Andover / 63

The figure by the town is the distance from London.

Lewis 1831

(town)

town :-
blocks on ?streets; labelled in upright block caps text, eg:-

ALTON

Cobbett 1832

(town)

town :-
town; dot and circle; labeled in italic lowercase text:-

Kingsclere

Andover

Whitchurch

Stockbridge

Basingstoke

Odiham

Alton

New Alresford

Romsey

Bishops Waltham

Petersfield

Havant

Fareham

Gosport

Portsmouth

Lymington

Christ Church

Ringwood

Southampton

Fordingbridge

Dawson 1832

(city; town)

city & town :-
Borough towns have the red circle, maybe with an outer circle, showing they return 1, or 2, members to Parliament; labelled in upright block caps, eg:-

WINCHESTER [returns 2 members, principal place of county election]

ANDOVER [returns 2 members]

PETERSFIELD [returns 1 member]

Other towns are marked by a few blocks by their roads; labelled in upright lowercase text, eg:-

Alton

Basingstoke

Tymms 1832

(town)

town :-
group of blocks on road; labelled in upright lowercase text, eg:-

Alton

Andover

The towns are the expected 21 places (Alton, Andover, Basingstoke, Bishops Waltham, Christchurh, Fareham, Fordingbridge, Gosport, Havant, Kingsclere, Lymington, New Alresford, Odiham, Petersfield, Portsmouth, Ringwood, Romsey, Southampton, Stockbridge, Whitchurch, Winchester). Only:-

Christ Church

is spelled in an older manner.

Duncan 1833

(town)

town :-
group of blocks; labelled in italic block caps, eg:-

PETERSFIELD / 54 [cross; 1 star]

STOCKBRIDGE / 66

The number with the name is the distance from London. A cross signifies a polling place; the stars indiacate the number of members returned to Parliament.

Hall 1833

(town)

town :-
group of blocks; boroughs labelled in italic block caps, other towns in upright lowercase text, eg:-

PETERSFIELD / 54

ANDOVER / 63

Alton / 47

Stockbridge / 66

The figures are the distances from London. The boroughs are delimited by a dash and circle boundary line.

Pinnock 1833

(town)

town :-
a few blocks and perhaps a cross for a church; labelled in upright lowercase text, eg:-

Alton / 47

Southampton / 74

54 / Petersfield

The distance from London accompanies the place name.

Lewis 1835

(city; town)

city & town (borough) :-
electoral data symbol; labelled in upright block caps, eg:-

WINCHESTER

LYMINGTON

Lewis 1835

(town)

town (not borough) :-
cluster of blocks; labelled in upright lowercase text, eg:-

Alton

Basingstoke

Pigot 1835

(city; town)

city & town :-
group of blocks; labelled in upright block caps, eg:-

WINCHESTER

LYMINGTON

STOCK-BRIDGE

Moule 1836

(town)

town :-
Larger towns have groups of rectangular blocks, perhaps with streets as at Southampton; a larger town may be marked with a cross (+) as well; labelled in italic block caps, eg:-

PETERSFIELD

ANDOVER

Smaller towns have groups of rectangualr blocks, along road(s), and perhaps with a cross (+); labelled in upright lowercase text, eg:-

Havant

Alton

Dower 1838

(city; town)

city & town :-
group of blocks usually at a road junction; labelled in upright block caps, eg:-

WINCHESTER / 62

ALTON / 49

FAREHAM / 74

The figures are the distance from London.

Robson 1839

(city; town)

city & town :-
group of blocks, perhaps with a cross for a church; labelled in upright block caps, eg:-

WINCHESTER / 63 [double circle]

PETERSFIELD / 54 [circle; cross]

ALTON / 47 [cross]

The figure is the distance from London.
Winchester with a double circle, returns two members to Parliament under the new rules; Petersfield with a single circle, returns one member, but two stars can be seen as well, it used to return two members; Alton has no circles, any stars are obscured. Petersfield and Alton have a maltese cross indicating they are polling places.
The marking of Portsmouth is a mess, the older blocks show under the new double circles, there are two stars, and a maltese cross.

Hughes 1840

(town)

town :-
streets of blocks; mostly labelled in upright lowercase text, eg:-

Odiham / 40

Lymington / 88

but also note, in upright block caps:-

PORTSMOUTH / 72

SOUTHAMPTON / 77

The figures by town names are the distances from London. Explanatory text under the title on the south sheet:-

The Figures appended to the Market Towns shew their distance in Miles from London ...

Sporting Review 1842

(town)

town :-
Group of blocks on roads; labelled in upright lowercase text, eg:-

Petesfield

Ramble 1845

(city; town)

city & town :-
small group of blocks on the roads; labelled in upright lowercase text, eg:-

Winchester

Alton

Odiham

Collins 1850

(town)

town :-
group of blocks; labelled in upright block caps, eg:-

PETERSFIELD

ALTON

Unknown 1850s

(town)

town :-
small group of blocks; labelled in upright lowercase text, eg:-

Whitchurch

Southampton

Day 1852

(town)

town :-
group of blocks; labelled in smaller upright block caps, eg:-

ODIHAM

PETERSFIELD

The letter size varies, see Fareham for instance. I can see no good reason for the variation.

Cruchley 1856

(town)

town :-
A town is drawn the same way as a as a city. For example, Southampton has all the features that Winchester has.
A smaller town is shown by blocks grouped on streets making a street plan, plus a church shown by a building with a tower; labelled in upright block caps, eg:-

ALTON

This town has a maltese cross to show that it is a Polling Place.

Philip 1857-1900

(city; town)

city & town :-
group of blocks, or shading for built up areas; labelled in upright block caps, eg:-

WINCHESTER

SOUTHAMPTON

ALTON

STOCKBRIDGE

There is no attempt to depict a street plan in towns.

Brannon 1859

(town)

town :-
group of blocks, perhaps on a street plan; labelled in upright block caps, eg:-

ANDOVER

LYMINGTON

or in one case, larger block caps:-

SOUTHAMPTON

Cassell, Petter and Galpin 1860s

(city; town)

city & town (large) :-
group of blocks, no attempt to make a street plan; labelled in upright block caps, eg:-

WINCHESTER

PORTSMOUTH

SOUTHAMPTON

Cassell, Petter and Galpin 1860s

(town)

town :-
group of blocks; labelled in italic block caps, eg:-

WHITCHURCH

LYMINGTON

Raynbird c1860

(town)

town :-
group of blocks; labelled in bold upright lowercase text, eg:-

Alton

Stockbridge

Southampton

Except:-

PORTSMOUTH

in sans serif upright block caps.

Reynolds 1860

(town)

town :-
groups of blocks on streets; labelled in italic block caps, eg:-

ANDOVER / 63

SOUTHAMPTON / 74

- or -
groups of blocks on streets; labelled in upright lowercase text, eg:-

Romsey / 73

Alton / 47

It is possible that the different treatment signifies a different electoral status?
The figures are the distance from London.

Unknown 1860s

(town)

town :-
a few blocks; labelled in upright lowercase text, eg:-

Odiham / 41

Stockbridge / 66

Portsmouth / 75

The figure gives the distance from London.

Dispatch 1863

(city; town)

city & town (borough) :-
group of blocks or shaded and shadowed areas; labelled in upright block caps, eg:-

WINCHESTER

LYMINGTON

SOUTHAMPTON

Dispatch 1863

(town)

town (market) :-
group of blocks; labelled in italic block caps, eg:-

ALTON

STOCKBRIDGE

Hughes 1868

(town)

town :-
Groups of block making a street plan; labelled in italic block caps, eg:-

ALTON

ROMSEY

SOUTHAMPTON

Black 1870s

(town)

town :-
circle, perhaps with four arms as if the circle overlays a plus sign; labelled in upright lowercase text, eg:-

Lymington [with cross]

Alton [without cross]

The spellings of the placenames of the '21' market towns are listed below.

Weller 1870s

(city; town)

city & town (borough) :-
group of blocks; labelled in upright block caps, eg:-

WINCHESTER

ANDOVER

SOUTHAMPTON

PORTSMOUTH

(The last has sans serif lettering, unlike the other labels.)

Weller 1870s

(town)

town (market) :-
group of blocks; labelled in upright lowercase text, eg:-

Alton

Fareham

Stockbridge

Kelly 1875

(town)

town :-
group of blocks; labelled in slightly smaller upright block caps, eg:-

Basingstoke

Portsmouth

Notice that Fordingbridge is in lowercase.

Letts 1884

(town)

town :-
group of blocks; labelled in upright block caps, eg:-

Alton / 47

with four blue dots for a post town; red sword for county courts; and letter:-

Tu

for Tuesday market day.

SOUTHAMPTON / 74

has four blue dots, two red dots, a red sword, letter F? for Friday market day; and is underlined in blue to show it has a population over 50,000.

PORTSMOUTH / 70

has four blue dots, red sword, two red dots, market days:-

Tu Th & S

and is underlined in red for a population above 100,000.

Philip 1886

(town)

town :-
large or medium circle, shaded; labelled in bold italic block caps or bold upright lowercase, eg:-

PORTSMOUTH

Fareham

PORTSEA

Andover

Bazaar 1890

(town)

town :-
labelled in upright lowercase text, eg:-

Southampton / 75 [2 stars]

Petersfield / 54 [1 star]

Alton / 47

Stockbridge / 66

MacKenzie 1893

(town)

town :-
group of blocks; labelled either in upright block caps, eg:-

SOUTHAMPTON

PORTSMOUTH

or in upright lowercase text, eg:-

Odiham

Andover

Stockbridge

The lettering style does NOT correlate with the electoral areas.

Gall and Inglis 1900s

(city; town)

city & town :-
larger towns labelled in upright lowercase, eg:-

Winchester

Southampton

smaller towns labelled in italic lowercase, eg:-

Andover

Alton

Gall and Inglis 1900s

(town)

town :-
very large towns labelled in italic sans serif block caps, eg:-

SOUTHAMPTON

large towns labelled in italic serifed block caps, eg:-

WINCHESTER

ANDOVER

ALTON

smaller towns labelled in italic serifed lowercase, eg:-

Whitchurch

Johnston 1900s

(town)

town :-
circle; labelled in upright or italic lowercase text, eg:-

Southampton [upright]

Portsmouth [upright]

Alton [italic]

Andover [italic]

Pratt 1905

(city; town)

city & town :-
double circle; labelled in upright sans serif block caps. eg:-

WINCHESTER

WHITCHURCH

Larger towns might be labelled in a slightly larger, serifed, block caps; in Hampshire:-

SOUTHAMPTON

PORTSMOUTH

Pratt 1905

(town; village; hamlet)

town & village & hamlet :-
circle; labelled in upright lowercase text, eg:-

Lymington

Alton

Stockbridge

Beaulieu

Middle Wallop

Bacon 1906

(city; town; village; hamlet)

city & town & village & hamlet (?) :-
groups of houses and perhaps a church; labelled in upright lowercase text, eg:-

Guildford

Petersfield

Corsham

The size if text may be an indicator of size of settlement.
The other end of this road is:-

PORTSMOUTH

in upright block caps.

OS 1920s Popular Edition

(town)

town :-
... labelled in upright block caps, eg:-

FAREHAM

Larger towns might be in large italic block caps, eg:-

PORTSMOUTH

Amalgamated Press 1930s

(city; town)

city & town (large) :-
Labelled in bold upright block caps, eg:-

WINCHESTER

SOUTHAMPTON

PORTSMOUTH

Amalgamated Press 1930s

(town)

town (small) :-
Labelled in bold upright lowercase text, eg:-

Alton

Andover

Lang 1936

(city; town)

city & town :-
circle; labelled in upringht block caps, eg:-

WINCHESTER

ALTON

town

1570-1599

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1700-1799

1800-1899

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circle+tower style

buildings

blocks

circle or dot

market day

distance from London

upright caps

italic caps

upright lowercase

italic lowercase

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