XXIII. LONDON TO EXETER THROUGH BASINGSTOKE, ANDOVER, AMESBURY, WINCANTON, ILMINSTER, AND HONITON, 164) Miles. It is proposed to carry on a line from the Southampton Railway at Basingstoke, by Andover, Salisbury, Chard, Honiton, and Exeter, whence another line is to be continued to Falmouth. Park House. Enter Wiltshire. AMESBURY, The a small ancient town on the upper Avon. The church is supposed to have belonged to an abbey. Two miles distant is that remarkable monument of antiquity, Stonehenge. Seventeen huge stones are now standing, which, with seven others lying on the ground, form the outer range. inner circle is about 8 feet from the outer one, and has eleven stones standing, and eight fallen. Between these two circles is a walk of about 300 feet in circumference. Around are numerous barrows, many of which have been found to contain human skeletons, urns, and military weapons. Dr Stukely fixes the date of the erection 460 B. C. Near Stonehenge is an inn called the Druid's Head. Pop. of Amesbury, 1171. cross river Avon. 82 Yarnbury Castle, a fine specimen of ancient forti fication. Nine miles from Honiton is SIDMOUTH, a fashionable watering-place, situated at the mouth of the river Sid, celebrated for the beauty of the surrounding scenery. It stands between two hills, nearly enclosing it on all sides but the south, which lies open to a beautiful bay of the English channel. The views between this place and Seaton are considered the finest on the south coast of Devon. The climate is extremely mild and salubrious. Sidmouth is much frequented by company in the bathing season, for whose accommodation there are warm baths, a public room, libraries, &c. It has also an ancient church and several meeting-houses. Population of parish, 3309. A few miles from Sidmouth, on the road to Exeter, is Bicton, the seat of the late Lord Rolle. In the park there is some fine timber. About 8 miles from Sidmouth, and 10 miles from Exeter, is EXMOUTH, at the mouth of the Exe, the oldest and best frequented watering-place in Devon. It is celebrated for the mildness of its climate, the town being well sheltered from the north-east and south-east winds by some high hills which rise almost close behind it. The rides and walks in the neighbourhood are remarkably beautiful. Here are Assembly Rooms, baths, libraries, and other accommodations for visitors. The Beacon Hill, on which stands the handsome chapel of St Margaret, commands one of the finest views in the west of England. The road from Exmouth to Exeter through Topsham is remarkably beautiful. Population, 4356. |