Besley 7

Four very similar maps appeared about the same time covering the area of north Devon between Ilfracombe and Lynton. All three cover exactly the same area from Hartland to Minehead and include smaller maps of Ilfracombe and of Lynton with Lynmouth and all three are of similar size. The coast section is taken from Besley's map of North Devon (see B&B 134 North) of 1857. This later map was included in editions of the Route Book and in the Hand Book of North Devon which both have advert pages with the notation (71) on the first page: a typical dating technique of Besley’s, indicating publication in 1871. 

Three of these maps were lithographed by Charles King of Exeter. The first version appeared in 1868, published by John Banfield for his Shilling Guide-Book to North Devon, now in its fourth edition (see Banfield 7). The map is dated 1868, so predates Besley by two years. William Stewart began publishing guides to north Devon and Ilfracombe about the same time and his first map, which must be assumed to be a direct copy, appeared in 1872, is signed and dated by Chas. King of 8 Alma Terrace, St Sidwells, Exeter but was redrawn some six years later, this time lithographed by F J Halfyard of Exeter (see Stewart 1 and 2). 

Size: 310 x 400 mm.          Scale of English Miles (10 = 80 mm).               

COAST OF NORTH DEVON (Aa) together with maps of  ILFRACOMBE (below left; scale 20 chains = 50 mm) and LYNTON AND LYNMOUTH (below right; same scale). Imprint: Printed & Published by Henry Besley, Directory Office, South St, Exeter.  (CeOS). Lithographer's signature below the scale bar to Ilfracombe plan: C. King, Lith, 8 Alma Terrace, Exeter, 1870.

Map of North Devon shows coast from Hartland to Minehead. Projected railway to Ilfracombe is through Heanton Punchardon and Braunton with "S" curve to Ilfracombe. Projected railway Taunton-Barnstaple. Sketch plans of Ilfracombe and Lynton with Lynmouth. 

1. 1871 The Route Book Of Devon
Exeter. H Besley. (1871). BL[1], KB.

The Hand Book Of North Devon, Bude, Launceston, Tavistock, &c. with a trip on the Crediton and North Devon Railways
Exeter. H Besley. (1871). KB.

2. 1874  Railway to Ilfracombe is through Heanton Punchardon and Braunton with gentle curve ("C") to Ilfracombe. Projected second route Barnstaple to Ilfracombe passing Bittadon. Printer's signature deleted. 

The Hand Book Of North Devon, Bude, Launceston, Tavistock, &c. with a trip on the Crediton and North Devon Railways
Exeter. H Besley. (1874). KB. 

3. 1877  Imprint: Printed & Published by H Besley & Son, Directory Office, South St, Exeter.  (CeOS). Taunton to Barnstaple line completed. The easterly railway to Ifracombe has been deleted. Both lower maps show substantial signs of reworking, especially Ilfracombe; note especially the different script (except for streets most names are no longer in capitals) and different shading technique. Station replaces previous PROPOSED RAILY STN and Belgrave Cottage becomes Belgrave House (Ae). Illustrated. 

The Route Book Of Devon
Exeter. H Besley. (1877). BL, KB.

The Hand Book Of North Devon, Bude, Launceston, Tavistock, &c. with a trip on the Crediton and North Devon Railways

Exeter. H Besley and Son[2]. (1880)[3]. KB. 


[1] BL (10368.aaa.49),

[2] Besley was using the company of Adams and Francis (W J Adams & Sons) to distribute his books and views in London (p.17 of adverts).

[3]  This edition has text dated to Sept. 1877 (p. 32) and a reference to Bideford Grammar School expected to be completed Michaelmas 1878 but the adverts section appears to be dated 1880, ie 80 printed on first advertising page.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Image
  John Bartholomew –  Imperial Map 2 W H Smith was   founded c.1820 by Henry Edward   and his brother William Henry (who actually ran   the company). But it was not until Henry’s son, also William Henry (1825-1891), became a partner in 1846 that the firm became the well-known booksellers and stationers. In 1848 he started a newsagent shop at Euston with a concession from the L&NW Railway. This was soon to be converted into a virtual railway book-stall monopoly. The firm soon became the largest newsagent in the country and expanded further into circulating libraries.   William Henry later entered Parliament and became the First Lord of the Admiralty in 1877 (Gilbert & Sullivan’s HMS Pinafore was supposedly based on him). [1] W H Smith used to have an estate in Rewe in east Devon where he had a stable built opposite St Mary the Virgin church for the use of the parishioners so that they could tie up their horses. [2] At the same time as the maps ...
Read more
Image
 John Bartholomew 8 -  for Charles Pearson   Charles Arthur   Pearson produced a number of Gossipy Guides   at the beginning of the 20th century. Styled along the lines of the Ward and Lock series of guides they were full of photographic material in a handy pocket size. The two guides relating to Devon were the Guide to Ilfracombe and District (cover title; number 4 in the series)   and Guide to South Devon (number 8 in the series).   Both British Library volumes have accession dates of 1901. It is interesting that Pearson took maps from different sources to include in his two Devon guides. The map of South Devon included in the South Devon Guide was a transfer of Bartholomew’s map: however, the map of North Devon is taken from the plates prepared by Ravenstein for George Philip & Son   in 1899. The scale reveals that this is a Philip’s map (see Pearson 1 ) .   Bartholomew Imperial Map 8 (Pearson)   Size: 257 x 385 mm. ...
Read more
Image
 John Bartholomew 3 -  for Houlston & Wright / Houlston & Sons   Houlston and Wright , and later Houlston & Sons , were supplied by John Bartholomew with maps for their series of Tourists’ Maps . The output was impressive with maps covering most of England and Wales’ tourist areas but the maps seem to have been all produced between 1865-1875. Houlston and Wright advertised 27 maps on their map of Plymouth and Dartmoor (3c) but Houlston and Sons were advertising 50 maps only a few years later (on cover to 3d) but not Torquay. Although the British Library holds a copy of Sophie Veitch ‘s A Lonely Life   dated 1870 most of the early Houlston & Sons imprints are dated 1872. In the following year Houlston & Sons published a volume of N T Carrington’s poems (Noel Thomas Carrington   1777-1830) in conjunction with William Wood of Devonport. Dartmoor and The Banks of the Tamar were published as one volume, probably to exploit the fact that th...
Read more