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Salisbury, the capital of Wilts, situated near the confluence of the rivers Wiley, Avon, and Bourne, is distinguished for the pleasing arrangement of its buildings. It has ten principal streets, crossing at right angles, and through them is conveyed a perpetual stream of water, supplied from the Avon by sluices That part of Salisbury denominated the Close is occupied by the Cathedral, the Bishop's palace, the houses of residentiary clergy, and many spacious private dwellings. The Cathedral, erected in the 13th century, is the most elegant and uniform structure of the kind in England. The spire, which was built a century later, is celebrated for its beauty and its height, which is upwards of 400 feet. The length of the Cathedral outside from west to east is 480 feet. The length of the grand transept is 232. The interior is particularly rich in sepulchral monuments. That to the Countess of Pembroke, "Sidney's sister, Pembroke's mother," is particularly famous for the epitaph by Ben Jonson. The great east window, the window at the west end over the central door, and the chapterhouse, are also worthy of notice. Salisbury contains three parish churches, and several dissenting meeting-houses, a grammar school, where Addison received his education, Assembly Rooms, a Theatre, an Infirmary, and several charitable institutions. The Council-House, an elegant building, was erected at the sole expense of the 2d Earl of Radnor in 1795. Salisbury was formerly celebrated for its manufactories of cutlery, which, however, have of late years declined. The city returns two members to Parliament. Salisbury races generally take place in August, on the plain about three miles from the city. The population in 1831 amounted to 9876, and in 1851 to 11,657.

About three miles from Salisbury, on the left, is Longford Castle, the seat or the Earl of Radnor. It contains a valuable collection of pictures. At the distance of five miles stands Clarendon Castle, the ruins of which may still be traced, but not in such a state of preservation as to enable one to form any idea of the former grandeur of the building. It was here that, in the reign of Henry II, the laws regarding ecclesiastical authority, known by the name of the "Constitution of Clarendon," were framed. Old Sarum, famous for the privilege it for

merly possessed of returning two members to Parliament, was situated about two miles from Salisbury. The tree beneath which the election took place was cut down in 1831. There are visible traces of the walls of very extensive religious houses that once existed here.

At the distance of 8 miles from Salisbury, situated in the Plain near Amesbury, is the famous monument of antiquity called Stonehenge. It consists of a number of very large stones arranged in a circular form, and still partly connected with each other at the top by flat pieces placed in a transverse direction. Antiquarians are not agreed as to the object of this rude structure, or by whom it was made. By some it has been attributed to the Druids; by others, to the Danes; and by a third party, to the Romans.

About three miles from Salisbury is the ancient town of Wilton, at the conflux of the Wiley and the Nadder, long noted for the manufacture of carpets; but this business has now declined. The town returns one member to Parliament. Pop. 1851, 8607. Adjoining the town is Wilton House, the celebrated seat of the Earls of Pembroke, now occupied by the Right Hon. Sidney Herbert, who has at a vast expense erected a fine church in the town. Here Sir Philip Sydney wrote his "Arcadia." Twelve miles from Wilton is Hindon, near which is the famous Fonthill Abbey, now the property of the Marquis of Westminster. A little to the south of Fonthill, and about ten or eleven miles from Wilton, is Wardour Castle, the seat of Lord Arundell of Wardour. In the grounds are the ruins of the ancient castle.

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Melcombe Bingham, R
H. Bingham, Esq.

To Frampton 5 miles; 201
Frampton House, R. B.
Sheridan, Esq., grandson
of R. Brinsley Sheridan.
To Cerne Abbas, 73 m.

19
234

Sherborne, 18
Yeovil,
Ilchester,
Somerton, 273
Glastonbury, 351
Crewkerne, 22
Beaminster, 17)

15

cross river Piddle.
Piddletown.

cross river Frome.

DORCHESTER.

114

Islington House. Kingston House. Stinsford House. To Wareham, 18 miles. To Weymouth, 81. Weymouth (and Melcombe Regis), is a place of considerable antiquity at the entrance of the Wey. It formerly carried on a good trade, but the harbour has been injured by sand, and it is now celebrated as a watering-place, this character having been derived from the frequent visits of Geo. III. and his family. It gives the title of Viscount to the Marquis of Bath. It returns two 1244 M.P.'s. Population, 1851 9458. Weymouth Castle is about balf a mile southwest of the town, on a

the capital of Dorset, a town 119
of great antiquity on the
Frome. Its ancient name
was Durnovaria, signifying
the passage of the river.
It was strongly fortified.
Several Roman antiquities
have been discovered in it;
and mile distant is Maum-
bury, the most perfect Ro
man amphitheatre in the
kingdom. The church of
St. Peter contains nume-
rous monuments. Popula-
tion 1851, 6,394,
Winterborne Abbas.

101

Kingston Russell.

7 Longbredy Turnpike.
Traveller's Rest.

131

134

127

clift facing Portland. It was one of the fortresses erected by Henry VIII. to guard against invasion.

Loders Court, Sir M. H. 3 Nepean, Bart.

BRIDPORT. Bridport is situated about a mile from the sea, and derives its name from its situation between two branches of the Brit. It appears to have been a considerable town before the Conquest, and is noted in Doomsday Book. It has a handsome town-hall and market-place, and a large and ancient church. It returns two members to Parliament. Population, 1851, 7,566.

About 6 miles from Bridport is the ancient town of Beaminster, which has suffered greatly by fire no less than three times during the last two centuries, but is now in a flourishing condition. Pop. of township 1851, 2085. Near it is Parnham house, Sir H. Oglander, Bart. From Bridport to Lyme Regis is about 91 miles; to Axminster, 12 miles; to Honiton, 21 miles; to Exeter, 38 miles

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XXXII. LONDON TO EXETER THROUGH BASINGSTOKE, ANDOVER, AMESBURY, WINCANTON, ILMINSTER, AND HONITON, 164) Miles.

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