Henry Besley

Few local printers published extensively but Henry Besley of Exeter could probably claim to have been one of the most prolific of a family of local publishers. The family-run business had a long tradition. Thomas Besley (Senior) was born in 1760 and married Jane Andrew Strong of St. Sidwell on 26th September 1790. They had 6 children including Thomas who married in 1814 and who also became a printer in Exeter; Robert, born 14th October 1794 (died 1876), a typefounder in the firm of Thorowgood and Besley and who became Lord Mayor of London 1869-70; and Henry (baptised 15th June 1800 at Holy Trinity) who eventually became partner and successor to the family business. Thomas had various business addresses as printer, bookseller and stationer or bookbinder (1823). He is listed in various directories of the time as being registered at Southgate Street (1801 and 1811), Holy Trinity (1803), Bell Hill (1816 and 1832) and at 76, Bell Hill, South Street (1822 and 1834). Thomas died on 27th October 1834 aged 74.

However, it was Thomas senior's younger son, Henry, who took over the business of his father. He had become a partner and succeeded to the firm in 1834. The company had already been trading as T Besley & Son according to directories of 1825 and 1828 and they were listed as T & H Besley in 1828 and 1834 Fig. 9). Henry Besley was born in 1800 and baptised on 15th June at Holy Trinity, Exeter. He married Caroline Lifton of Exmouth on 2nd April 1834 at Littleham. They had a son Henry John, baptised 8th March 1835. He married Redelpha (born Cambridge 1820/21) and one of their children was called Robert Henry, still alive in 1886. Henry was taken into partnership by father Thomas c.1825 and the business was transferred to him on 9th May 1834. He died on 18th July 1886 in Exeter and was buried three days later at St. Mary Major.

Note: Many of Besley´s publications are not dated: however, if an advertising section is included there is often a number in brackets, e.g. (71), bottom right of first page indicating a date, i.e. 1871 in this example. For more information on Besley see Centres of Production - Exeter. 

Besides the county maps issued with the various Route Books of Devon from 1845 to 1877 there were many area maps including two of Dartmoor. Nine maps and plans are listed here. 

Click to access directly.

Besley 1 - Plan of Plymouth, Stonehouse and Devonport by Brown and Keeble - see below

Besley 2 - Exeter by Warren and engraved by F P Becker

Besley 3 - Exeter specially prepared for the Royal Agricultural Society´s Meeting in 1850

Besley 4 - Plan of Plymouth, Stonehouse and Devonport by Becker c.1852

Besley 5 - Plan of Torquay by Becker & Son

Besley 6 - South East Devon by Trott for the Route Books 1871 and 1877

Besley 7 - Coast of North Devon by King for the Route Books 1871 and 1877

Besley 8 - Dartmoor 1 c.1875

Besley 9 - Dartmoor 2 c.1879


Besley 1 

Size: 155 x 275 mm.                                                             Scale of Half a Mile (4 = 40 mm). 

PLAN OF PLYMOUTH, STONEHOUSE and DEVONPORT (Ed). Signatures: R Brown, Architect, Delin within title panel (in form of Maltese Cross) and W Keeble, sculp. London just below. Only railway is the Dartmoor Rail Road through Cat Down. Barracks at Mill Bay. Attractive compass in form of an anchor. Panel (Ed) with text Plymouth Royal Victoria Spa, Mineral and Medical Spring.                                             

1. 1841  The Stranger's Handbook to the Western Metropolis               Devonport. W Wood. 1841.                         KB

 2. 1845   Imprint added: Printed & Published by Henry Besley, Directory Office, South Street, Exeter. (CeOS). Map has been updated: Moons Cove redrawn; barracks at Mill Bay removed and now reservoir; Mutley Lane and other roads upgraded from paths and now without the tree-lining; panel (Ed) has disappeared and new roads drawn; inclusion of railways to Mill Bay and Morice Town.

 

The Route Book Of Devon ....

Exeter. H Besley. (1845[1]).       BL, KB, DevA.

 

The Route Book Of Devon ... Second Edition 

Exeter. H Besley. (1846[2]).       [BL], DevA, KB.

 

The Route Book Of Devon ... New Edition

Exeter. H Besley. (1850[3]).               DevA.

 

Hand Book of Plymouth, Devonport, Stonehouse, &c. Extracted from the Route Book of Devon   

Exeter. H Besley. (1851[4]).               KB.


[1] Advertised in Besley’s West of England, Or, Improved Almanack of 1845 as Shortly will be published. BL copy is BL (796.d.30); BL second edition is BL (796.d.51).

[2] Includes many dates in 1840s but last date in text refers to Wesleyan Chapel in Teignmouth, erected 1845-46.

[3] Last date in text is reference to basin at Devonport to be opened in 1851 (p.313). Author’s copy has advert for a New Edition of the Hand Book of Exeter especially in time for the Royal Agricultural Society’s visit to Exeter in July, 1850.

[4] Has been bound together with four other contemporary guides, hence has no cover. This was one of the earliest parts extracted from the Route Book, repaginated and bound in paper covers. Very few of these cheaper and smaller guides included a map. Reference to basin at Devonport to be opened in 1851 (p.37).


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