FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   15   16   17   18   19   20   21   22   23   24   25   26   27   28   29   30   31   32   33   34   35   36   37   38   39  
>>  
rict for Ecclesiastical purposes, whereby the Chapel has become the Church of that District. * * * * * THE TOPOGRAPHER. * * * * * TUNBRIDGE WELLS. In our last volume we noticed the announcement of a volume of _Descriptive Sketches of Tunbridge Wells_, by Mr. Britton: and here it is, with prints and plans, and a deep roseate binding--one of the most elegant volumes of the season, and yet purchasable for a crown. We did not expect a dull, unsatisfactory guidebook--a mere finger-post folio--nor has the author produced such a commonplace volume. Hence these "Sketches" have much of the neatness and polish, the patient investigation and research of an author who has delighted in attachment to his subject. The work contains a few of the scenes and objects of the road from London to the Wells in outline; a panoramic sketch of the Wells; the olden characteristics; and the modern improvements, including the Calverley Park estate; the _natural history_ of the district, including the air, water, and diseases for which the water is recommended by Dr. Yeats; and the geological features of the country, from the able pen of Mr. Gideon Mantell, of Lewes; lastly, brief notice of seats, scenes, and antiquities in the environs of the Wells. Of Tunbridge Wells, as an olden and modern resort, we have very recently spoken,[6] and we are happy to perceive that the association of the place with the literary characters of the last century, as pleasantly recorded by Samuel Richardson, has been turned to interesting account in the pages before us. Cumberland, the dramatist, _we_ omitted to mention, not only resided for some years, but wrote many of his works, at Tunbridge Wells: and here he recognised the sterling talent of Dowton, the comedian, who, through Cumberland, was first introduced to the London stage. "One of the houses at Mount Ephraim, (at the Wells,) adjoining the Tunbridge Ware manufactory, formerly belonged to the infamous judge Jeffries;" and an adjoining house was built by Sir Edmund King, physician to Charles II., and his frequent residence here probably attracted the court. The antiquities of the environs are very attractive. On a lofty knoll are the remains of an ancient encampment, called Saxon-bury Castle, from its name, ascribed to the Saxons; a neighbouring spot bears the name of Dane's Gate, and is supposed to be part of an old trackway or
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   15   16   17   18   19   20   21   22   23   24   25   26   27   28   29   30   31   32   33   34   35   36   37   38   39  
>>  



Top keywords:
Tunbridge
 

volume

 

London

 
adjoining
 

scenes

 

author

 
Cumberland
 

modern

 

antiquities

 
environs

including

 

Sketches

 

talent

 
comedian
 
Dowton
 

sterling

 

recognised

 

account

 
pleasantly
 

century


recorded

 

Samuel

 

Richardson

 

characters

 

literary

 

perceive

 

association

 

turned

 

mention

 

resided


omitted

 

dramatist

 
interesting
 

manufactory

 

Castle

 
ascribed
 

called

 

encampment

 

remains

 

ancient


Saxons

 

neighbouring

 
trackway
 

supposed

 

attractive

 
belonged
 

infamous

 
Ephraim
 
introduced
 
houses