Robert Brindley

Not much is known of Robert Brindley besides him being the artist and engraver of the map below for The Plymouth, Stonehouse and Devonport Directory in 1830 which was also published by Byers.

William Byers was printer, bookseller and bookbinder with various addresses in Fore Street from 1823 to 1852[1]  although he originally registered his press in 1818 (19/2/1818, DRO Q/S 52). He was the proprietor and publisher of Devonport Independent and Plymouth and Stonehouse Gazette from about 1840 to 1852 and published later editions of A Walk Round Mount Edgcumbe.a popular guide (see Byers / Cooke). He was also one of the leading producers of lithographs of local scenes.

He published the second and subsequent editions of Henry E Carrington‘s The Plymouth and Devonport Guide with issues from 1830 to 1850 (c.f. below and Becker 1). He advertised himself as Bookseller &c to Duke of Clarence 1828-1830 and subsequently as Bookseller etc. to (late) King William IV (up to) 1843. Byers is also noted in Somers Cocks for a number of Devon scenes, some after leading artists such as J D Harding and Louis Haghe, sometimes in association with S Saunders[2]. 

Brindley 

Size: 180 x 243 mm.                                                           Scale of Miles (1 = 76 mm) 1 Mile.

 THE THREE TOWNS OF PLYMOUTH, STONEHOUSE AND DEVONPORT.  Signatures[3]: Drawn and Engraved by Robt Brindley Architect & Surveyor Devonport (AeOS) and Engraved by Lionel James Pelham London. Scale bar (Ba-Ca) with Scale of Miles below.

Plan of the three towns with Torpoint shown (Aa) and the Breakwater (Ce) and as far as "New line of Road" to the new Laira bridge (Ed).                                                  (E). 

1. 1828          The Plymouth And Devonport Guide ... by Henry E Carrington ... with Lithographic Views by Worsley [4]

                      London: Longman & Co. Devonport: Byers.1828.        FB.


The Plymouth And Devonport Guide ... by Henry E Carrington ... 2nd edition [5]

 Devonport. Byers. 1830                                                                      KB.


                        The Plymouth And Devonport Guide ... by Henry E Carrington ... 2nd edition [6]

                        Devonport. W Byers. 1833.                                                                       KB, BL.


                        The Plymouth And Devonport Guide ... by Henry E Carrington ... 3rd edition

                        London: Longman & Co. Devonport: Byers. (1836).                        [assumed].


                        The Plymouth And Devonport Guide ... by H E Carrington... Fourth Edition [7]

                        London: Longman & Co. Devonport: W Byers. (1840).                          E, KB.

 

[1] First at 109, Fore Street, Dock 1823; then 32, Fore Street, Devonport 1830-1844; and 116, Fore Street 1850-1852.

 [2] See for example Somers Cocks S.91, S. 97, S.111, S.114.

[3] Both signatures are very badly executed and sometimes virtually illegible.

[4] BL 579.a.40 lacks map; last date 1827 (p.5). Somers Cocks lists an 1829 edition as well as copies for 1837 (probably 4th edition below) and 1843 (see Becker 1).

[5] Bookseller and Printer to HRH The Duke of Clarence. Text has been reset and updated: last date in text is 1828 (p.4, reference to Union Savings Bank).

[6] Bookseller to His Majesty. The 1833 edition is identical to 1830 edition except the Appendix, pp. 291-302, and a final page with list of subscribers (first side) and advert for Byer’s works is lacking. BL copy 10361.a.1 lacks pp. 1-2.

[7] Bookseller to his late Majesty. The last date in text is December 1837 (p.7) and the dedication to King William IV (died June 1838) but there is a note on page 78  that the British Association will honour the town by holding their annual meeting there in 1841; BL dates its copy to 1840 - 10368.aa.22 but this contains a new map by Becker (c.f.). Exeter copy is dated 1837 but probably based on last date in text.

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