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.

Amesbury House was 87 often the residence of Gay while under the patronage of the Duke and Duchess of Queensberry.

To Warminster through Shrewton, 16 miles.

Yarnbury Castle, a fine specimen of ancient fortification.

Park House.
Enter Wiltshire.

AMESBURY,

The

a small ancient town on the
upper Avon. The church
is supposed to have belong-
ed to an abbey. Two miles
distant is that remarkable
monument of antiquity,
Stonehenge.
Seventeen
huge stones are now stand-
ing, 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 bar-
rows, many of which have
been found to contain hu-
man 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.

724

77

Quarley Hill, the remains of an ancient encampment.

Wilbury Park, T. Lechmere, Esq.

63

To Frome, 114 miles.

96

MERE,
formerly a place of conside- 100%
rable importance, It had a
castle, of which very few
traces now remain. The in-
habitantsare principally em-
ployed in the manufacture
of dowlas and ticking.

Stourhead House, the 61 Zeal's Green, Dorset- 1028

seat of the late Sir R. C.

Fonthill Abbey, erected by Mr Beckford, under the direction of Wyatt. The tower has now fallen down, and the edifice suffered greatly. Farther to the left is Pye House, J. Bennet, Esq. M. P.; and Wardour Castle, Lord Arundel.

shire.

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, 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.