Melcombe Bingham, R H. Bingham, Esq. To Frampton 5 miles; 201 Sherborne, 18 Ilchester, Somerton, Kingston Russell. cross river Piddle. cross river Frome. DORCHESTER. 114 151 the capital of Dorset, a town 119 101 was Durnovaria, signifying the passage of the river. It was strongly fortified. Several Roman antiquities have been discovered in it; and mile distant is Maumbury, the most perfect Roman amphitheatre in the kingdom. The church of St. Peter contains numerous monuments. Population 1851, 6,394. Winterborne Abbas. Islington House. Kingston House. Stinsford House. To Wareham, 18 miles. Weymouth (and MelTo Weymouth, 8. combe 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 1241 M.P.'s. Population, 1851 7 Longbredy Turnpike. 127 Loders Court, Sir M. H. 3 Nepean, Bart. Traveller's Rest. 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. 131 134 9458. Weymouth Castle is about half a mile south-i west of the town, on a clift facing Portland. It was one of the fortresses erected by Henry VIII. to guard against invasion. 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 9 niles; to Axminster, 12 miles; to Honiton, 21 miles; to Exeter, 38 miles. XXXII. LONDON TO EXETER THROUGH BASINGSTOKE, ANDOVER, AMESBURY, WINCANTON, ILMINSTER, AND HONITON, 164 Miles.* It is proposed to carry on a line from the South Western Railway, at Basingstoke, by Andover to Salisbury, which will be connected by the Wilts, Somerset, and Weymouth line with the Great Western Railway, near Taunton, and also, by another branch, with Dorches ter and Bridport. Park House. Enter Wiltshire. AMESBURY, a small ancient town on the upper Avon. The church is supposed to have belonged to an abbey. Two miles distant on Salisbury Plain 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. The inner circle is about 8 feet) from the outer one, and has eleven stones standing, and eight fallen. Between these two circles is a wa.k of about 300 feet in circumference. Around are numerous barrows, many of which have been found to contain human skeletors, urns, and military weapons. Dr Stukely fixes the date of the erection 460 BAC. Near Stonehenge is an inn called the Druid's Head. Pop. of Amesbury, 1171. |