Curiosities of Great Britain: England and Wales Delineated Vol.1-11: Historical, Entertaining & Commercial; Alphabetically Arranged. 11 Volume set.Dugdale, Thomas
History
Curiosities of Great Britain: England and Wales Delineated Vol.1-11: Historical, Entertaining & Commercial; Alphabetically Arranged. 11 Volume set.
Dugdale, Thomas
Great Britain -- Gazetteers
11|Barnstaple[B] bo.& mt|Ilfracomb 10| 193| 6840|
+--+---------------------+-------------------------+-----+------+
[A] BARNSLEY. This large market town is built chiefly of stone, but
being surrounded by coal pits and iron works, the smoke from which
obscures the air, it is generally known by the name of Black Barnsley.
The black glass bottles made here are of excellent quality, and the
manufacture of linen is carried on to a great extent. Here also is made
the best wire in the kingdom for needles. The town is seated on the side
of a hill; the trade and population have considerably increased since
the completion of the navigable canal, by means of which communications
are opened with Wakefield, and all parts of the kingdom. The land in the
vicinity of this town is highly distinguished for its fertility; the
manor is possessed by the Duke of Leeds.
_Market_, Wednesday.--_Fairs_, Wednesday before Feb. 28, horned
cattle and swine; May 12, ditto; October 10, ditto, horses, and
cheese.--_Mail_ arrives 2.55 afternoon; departs 11.31
night.--_Bankers_, Becket and Co., draw on Glyn and Co.--_Inns_,
King's Head, and White Bear.
[Sidenote: The trade.]
[B] BARNSTAPLE is said to derive its name from Bar, which in the ancient
British signified the mouth of a river; and the Saxon word Staple, a
mart. It is situated in the hundred of Braunton, and returns two members
to parliament. The town appears to have been incorporated by Henry I.,
yet it retains some traces of feudal jurisdiction; a number of common
burgesses claiming a right to vote with the corporate officers for
members of parliament. The L10. householders are about 607; the
returning officer is the mayor, who with two bailiffs, two aldermen,
twenty-two common councilmen, and other officers form the corporation.
Barnstaple is one of the neatest and most respectable towns in the
county; it lies on the eastern bank of the river Taw, in a broad and
fertile vale, bounded by a semi-circular range of hills. The Taw here
spreads to a considerable breadth, but from the great accumulation of
sand, the port is shallow, and vessels of more than 200 tons are not
able to enter. Over the river is a bridge of sixteen arches, which is
said to have been built by one of the Tracys, at the time that family
were lords of the manor. The streets are spacious and regular, and the
buildings generally good. The town, indeed, boasts some of the marks of
a metropolis; there are balls every fortnight, and a regular theatre,
and nothing but a good pavement is wanted to make it highly agreeable. A
noble quay extends some way along the river, terminated by a handsome
piazza, over the centre of which stands the statue of Queen Anne, with
an inscription, testifying to the loyalty of Robert Rolle, of
Stevenstone, in this county, the erector. The woollen trade formerly
carried on here with considerable spirit, greatly increased the wealth
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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