Charles Gregory
Charles Gregory, like most aspiring authors,
underestimated how long it would take him to complete his guide to Brixham. In
his Preface he writes: I have to make apologies
for the delay in producing the book. I fully hoped to see it finished by the
middle of March, but I found it impossible to do this, as the book now contains
more than twice the number of pages that I had originally prepared for the
Press. This apology was extremely important as Gregory had partly financed
the publication by getting advance orders so purchasers were eagerly awaiting
their copies. Additionally, he had to explain to his sponsors that the book
would cost double what he had originally expected.
Little is known
about Gregory but much of the guide is devoted to fishermen and fishing, much
to be expected in a guide about one of Britain’s most important fishing towns
(at the present time, too). It would be intriguing to know whether Gregory was
the W Charles Gregory who advertised in the guide book as Fish Salesman and
Commission Agent from the Quay at Brixham or maybe the apprentice of William
Penny indentured in 1859 and who served on the Betsy and Triumph boats in or around 1866 and received his Skipper’s
Certificate of service in 1883[1].
The work was
printed at the “Times” and “Western Guardian”
Offices in Totnes by the Mortimer brothers who also published guides to the Dart
and Berry Pomeroy (c.f. T & A Mortimer).
Size: 232 x 377 mm. Scale (1/2 MILE and 880 YARDS = 87mm.).
A MAP TO ACCOMPANY GREGORY`S
GUIDE TO BRIXHAM (Ee). Imprint: London. Stanford’s Geogl Estabt.
(EeOS). Note: Reproduced from the Ordnance
map by permission of the Controller of H.M.’s Stationery Office. (AeOS).
Plan shows area from Churston Cove and Monksbridge TP in the west to include Higher Brixham across to Berry Head and Cod Rock (name cutting border) in the east.
1.
1896 Brixham in Devonia. An Illustrated Guide, to Brixham and Torbay, by Charles Gregory.
Brixham. C Gregory. (1896).[2] KB.
Comments
Post a Comment