Britannia, volume the first, or, An illustration of the Kingdom of England and dominion of Wales by a geographical and historical description of the principal roads thereof, actually admeasured and delineated in a century of whole-sheet copper-sculps : accomodated with the ichnography of the several cities and capital towns, and compleated by an accurate account of the more remarkable passages of antiquity : together with a novel discourse of the present state / by John Ogilby ...

[illustration]

The Road from LONDON to the City of BRISTOL By IOHN OGILBY Esq^r His Ma:^ties Cosmographer Containing 115. miles 2 furl: viz^t. From the Standard in Cornhil LONDON to Brantford 10 m 2. to Hounslow 2’2. to Colbrook 6’4. to Maidenhead 8’7 to Twiford 7’4 to Reading 5’ to Theal 4’3. to Woolhampton 5’6. to Thateham 3’2. to Newbury 3’1. to Hungerford 7’7 thence to Marlborough 9’2 to Newbury 3’1. to Chilton 9’5 to Ramesbury 2’7 to Marlborough 6’2. Thence to BRISTOL. in part of Plate 2.^d 39. Miles 7 furlongs. Thence Extended to Huntspil. Com̄. Somerset. Ending Plate 2^d. 29 m 2.

The Road from London to Bristol.

• 1. THE Point of Bearing W. by N.
• 2. The Direct Horizontal Distance 107 M.
• 3. The vulgar Computation 94 M.
• 4. The Dimensuration 115’2.

From LONDON	Comp.	Measure.
to Brentford	08	08	10’1	10’1
Hounslow	02	10	02’2	12’3
Colebrook	05	15	06’4	18’7
Maidenhead	07	22	08’7	27’6
Twiford	06	28	07’4	35’2
Reading	04	32	05’0	40’2
Theal	04	36	04’3	44’5
Woolhampton	06	42	05’6	50’3
Thatcham	03	45	03’2	53’5
to Newbury	02	47	03’1	056’6
Chilton	09	56	09’5	066’3
Ramesbury	02	58	02’7	069’2
Marlborough	04	62	06’1	075’3
Caln	10	72	12’5	088’0
Chippenham	06	77	05’6	093’6
Marshfield	07	84	09’2	103’0
BRISTOL	10	94	12’2	115’2
	94		115’2

Otherwise by Hungerford, thus

To Newbury, as before	47	47	56’6	56’6
Hungerford	07	54	08’1	64’5
Marlborough	08	62	09’6	73’7

Continued to Huntspil, Com. Somerset. thus,

From BRISTOL	Comp.	Measure.
to Langford	09	09	12’0	12’0
Axbridg	05	14	06’2	18’2
Huntspil	08	22	11’0	29’2

With the several Accounts above mention'd, take also the Post-miles from LON∣DON to BRISTOL, thus:

From LONDON to Hounslow 10 Miles, to Maidenhead 16. to Reading 12. to Newbury 16, to Marlborough 15, to Chippenham 15, and to BRISTOL 20. In all 104 Miles.

Midlesex, Buckinghamshire, Barkshire, Wiltshire, Glocestershire and Somersetshire con∣tain the whole Road, which crosses the Rivers Brent, Coln, Thames, Kennet and Avon, affording in general a very good Way, and reiterated good Towns and Through∣fares. The Post-Office making this one of their six Principal Roads of England, and branching it to the Devizes, &c. on the Left, and to South-wales, HEREFORD and OXFORD on the Right.

THUS much in general for the whole Road which consisting of two Plates, the first ending at Marlborough in Wiltshire, the Second at BRISTOL, continued to Huntspil in Somersetshire; We begin with Plate the First, containing 75’3. wherein the following Turnings are to be avoided, viz.

• At 12’5. The Left forward to Stanes.
• At 24’3. The Right to Wickham.
• At 28’3. The Right to GLOCESTER.
• At 33’6. The Right to Wargrave.
• At 36’2. The Right to Sunning.
• At 43’3. The Right acute.
• At 62’2. The forward Way to Hungerford.
• At 65’5. The Right forward to Lamborn.
• At 71’ The Left a different way to Marlbo∣rough.

In the Way by Hungerford. At 64’4. The Right to OXFORD. At 67’0. The Right.

From the Standard in Cornhil, through Cornhil, Cheapside, St. Pauls Church-yard, Ludgate-street, Ludgate, Ludgate-hil, Fleet-street, Temple-bar, the Strand, the Hay-mar∣ket and Pickadilly, as in the Description of LONDON. You come to Knightsbridg, Kensington and Hamersmith, well-frequented by the Gentry and Neighboring Citizens. Entering Brentford at 9’1. distinguish'd into the Old and New, seated on the River Brent, at its Confluence with the Thames; [as in London to St. Davids, pag. 27.]

Whence by the stately Sion House, on the Left, belonging to the late Earl of Nor∣thumberland, over Small-beer Green you enter Hounslow at 12’1. a good Thorough-fare of 4 Furlongs length, at the end of which, the direct Way leading to Stanes, carryes you to Southampton, or EXETER, or any the included Places: Your Way proceeding over Hounslow-Heath, distinguish'd into 1, 2 and 3 Mile Heaths, at 14’5. passing by Baron Windham's House on the Right, at 16’6. Enter Longford, a Village of 4 Fur∣longs; where passing 4 separated Branches of the Coln, at 18’5. cross the Coln it self.

Here at once you enter Buckinghamsh. and Colebrook (the Pontes in Antonine) a very good Thorough-fare, with a Market on Wednsdays, about 4 Furlongs long, at the end of which, branches out the direct Way to Windsor; which at Slow 3’4. beyond this place, appears pleasantly at Right Angles on the Left, at 2 Miles distance. From Slow a level Road brings you to Maidenhead, first crossing the Thames at 27 Miles, and en∣tring Barkshire, and 3 Furlongs farther the Town, extending half a Mile on the Road, of great Reception for Travellers, has a well-frequented Market on Wedns∣days, and a Key to which Barges come from London.

A quarter of a Mile beyond the Town the great Road to GLOCESTER branches out on the Right, whence through the Commons and Woods call'd Maidenhead Thicket, you pass Harehatch, and at 35’1. enter Twiford, a Village of 4 Furlongs, and good Entertainment, whence a pleasant way brings you at 39’7. to Reading, so call'd from the Confluence of the Rivers as seated on the Navigable Kennet, near its Influx into the Thames, and here cross'd by 7 Bridges; the fairest and largest Town of the County, with 3 Parish Churches; is a Corporation electing Parliament Men, Govern'd by a Maior 12 Aldermen, &c. Eminent for Cloathing and Malting, and once beautified with a rich Monastery and strong Castle.

You pass the main Town on the Right, which leaving at 40’4. a pleasant Lane conveys you to Theal, vulgo Dheal, q. d. the Vale, a discontinued Village with two or three good Inns, Extending to 44’7. thence passing Inglesfield, the pleasant Seat of the Marquess of Winchester's near a Mile on the Right, a good way through broad Lanes and open Arable, brings you at 50’2. to Woolhampton, vulgo Woolington, small but of good Reception; whence a pleasant way and Prospect conveys you at 53’4. to Thatsham, vulgo Thacham, 3 Furlongs long and a reasonable Through-fare; whence having touch'd upon the Kennet, at 56’5. enter that part of Newbury, call'd Spinhamland, the Relicts of the ancient Spinae, whose Ruins gave Rise to the pre∣sent New Town, [for which see the Road from Oxford to Chichester, pag. 161.]

At 57’4. you pass by Spein on the Left, and Donnington Castle on the Right; whence between Craven Park and Wickham Heath, at 62’2. you come to the parting of the Roads, the Left being the Post-way by Hungerford, but the Right the more usual, being both the Coach and Plow-way by Ramesbury; which prosecuting, at 65’3. you enter Wiltshire, and at 66’1. come to Chilton, a small Through-fare thought of 4 Fur∣longs extent; leaving the Place on the Right, and somewhat farther, Littlecot on the Left; and at 69’1. enter Ramesbury, a discontinued Village of 4 Furl.; and a Mile farther by Ramesbury-place, the Earl of Pembrook's; a less pleasant Way, passing at 73’6. through Middenhal, a small Village, brings you at 75’1. to Marlborough; as in Plate the 2d.

If by Hungerford; Then prosecuting the directer way at 62’2. aforesaid, you cross the Kennet, and enter that part of Hungerford call'd Charnham-street at 64’4. [as in Oxford to Salisbury, p. 165.] Leaving which, you enter Wiltsh. and by Froxfield on the Right, through Savernake Forest, and over a considerable Ascent; at 73’4. enter Marlborough aforesaid, and repassing the Kennet, fall in with your other Road at 73’7. shortning your Journey this way 11 Furlongs.

Retrograde Turnings to be avoided.

• 4 Furlongs from Marlborough, the Left to Oxford.
• The Left at the end of Theal.
• 5 Furlongs from Reading, the Right to Okingham.
• 3 Miles short of Maidenhead, the Left to Merloe.

[illustration]

The Continuation of the Road from LONDON to BRISTOL. By IOHN OGILBY Esq.^r His Ma:^ties Cosmographer Plate 2^d & last. Com̄encing at Marlborough co: Wilts and Extending to the High Cross in BRISTOL. Containing 39 miles 7 furl. viz^t. From Marlborough. to Caln. 12••5 to Chippenham 5’6. to Marshfield 9’2. & to BRISTOL 12’.2. Continued to Huntspil com̄ Somercet 29’.2. viz^t. From the High Cross in BRISTOL afores^d to Langford 12 to Axbridg 6’2 to Huntspil 11. m.

The Road from LONDON to BRISTOL.

PLATE II. Commencing at Marlborough in Wiltsh. and Extending to the High-Cross in BRISTOL: Containing 39. Miles 7. Furlongs; with the Continuation to Huntspil Com. Somerset, Con∣taining 29, Miles 2. Furlongs.

Wherein you are to Avoid these forward Turnings.

• 1. At 81’1. The Left to the Devizes.
• 2. At 82’2. The Left to BATH.
• 3. At 88’1. The Right in Caln to Malmsbury.
• 4. At 94. The Left in Chippenham to BATH.
• 5. At 107’1. The Left to BATH.

In the Continuation to Huntspil.

• 1. At 13’5. The Right-forward to Church∣hill.
• 2. At 18’7. The Right to BRISTOL
• 3. At 19’3. The Right to Uphil.
• 4. At 21’0. The Left to Baddesworth.
• 5. At 29’5. The Right to Castle-Brent.
• 6. At 29. The Left forward.

IN Plate 1. we brought you to Marlborough, (by Hungerford at 73’7. and by Rames∣bury, at 75’2.) alias Marlberge so call'd from its Chalky Soil, Antiently Cunetium, from whose Ruins it took Rise, and was once Fortified with a Castle belonging to John Sur∣nam'd Sans Terre: Here was once held a Parliament, where a Law being made for Suppression of Tumults, retains the Title of the Statute of Marlborough: 'Tis at present a good Town Govern'd by a Mayor, 12 Aldermen. 24 Burgesses. &c. Elects Parliament Men, gives Title to William Earl of Marlborough: Has a Market on Saturdays, and 3. Fairs Annually; Contains 2. Parishes, Trades chiefly in Cheese: And since its last Conflagration (for it has often suffer'd by Fire,) is handsomely Rebuilt.

Leaving the Town at 75’5. and the Lord Seymours House, with its curious adjacent Mount, together with the Kennet on the Left: You pass on the same hand Preshuter, Manton, Clatford, Fifield, and Overton: Viewing, on the right, Multitudes of great Stones disperst, vulgarly call'd the Grey Weathers. Thus a descent leading you into little Ken∣net at 80’3. giving Denomination to the River (which rising near Abury, crosses your Road 2. Furlongs, hence) you come to a neat peice of Artifice Silbury-Hill, which makes it to be Noted amongst those other Eminent Hills of the County, Badbury, St. Anns, and Martensal: Here the Road to the Devizes and WELLS branching out on the Left, you Enter Marlborough Down; at 81’5. pass through Beckinton alias Beckhampton a small Village, 5. Furlongs farther the Road to BATH, by Sandy-Lane, issuing out on the Left, whence over the Downs, repeated Ascents and Descents by Cheril on the Right, bring you at 87’1. to Cumberford Bridge over the River Coln, and 4. Furlongs beyond to the Town of Caln, Seated on the foresaid River, dirty and discontinued: But Electing Burgesses to Parliament having a Market on Teusdays.

Repassing the River in the Town, which you leave at 88’2. a Mile farther you come to Studley Bridge, where you again cross the Coln, and ascend a Hill of 3. Furl. whose top gives you a different way on the Right to Chipnam; but proceeding through Studley a small Village at 90’7. you descend, and a Stone Causey brings you at 93’3. to Chippenham, vulgo Chipnam of 7 Furlongs Extent, Seated on the Avon, over which it has a fair Bridge of 16 Arches: a good through-fare, Electing Parliament Men, with a noted Market on Saturdays. Hence an easie ascent brings you at 96’2. to a well beaten Road on the Right leading to Sodbury, (and thence by Aust-Ferry into Wales,) whence at 98’7. crossing a Val∣ley and a small Rill; at 100’3. leave Wraxhal Church on the Right entering Glocestershire at 101’3. and Marshfield at 102’5. in Extent 4. Furlongs, bleakly situate in a great Corn Country, and on the Woulds, with a Market on Teusdays, whence a direct Road brings you by Cold-Easton on your Left, at 106. to Tughil a descent yielding a fair Prospect over

the Seavern into South-Wales; then at 110’4. ascending Barton-Hill, you pass through Kings-wood, affording store of Pit-coal, and by Dungeon Cross enter BRISTOL at 114’2. by the way of Lawfords-Gate; a City whereof having occasion to Discourse more in succeeding Plates, we shall thus briefly give a General account of:

BRISTOL a City & County Seated on the River Avon (where it receives the Frome,) over which it has a stately Bridg; a Corporation sending Burgesses to Parliament: Govern'd by a Mayor, Aldermen, 2. Sheriffs, &c. In Scarlet: Computed Equal to a 10th. part of all LONDON, but enjoying a whole 7th. part of its Trade; Contains 18 Parish Churches, besides the Cathedral Founded by Robert Fitz-Harding, Son to a King of Denmark, Dedicated to St. Austin, and Planted with Regular Chanons, made an Episcopal See by H. 8. containing 6. Prebendaries, and Numbring 14. Bishops to this present: Had a Castle in the North-East part of it, Demolish'd in the late Wars, and since Built into fair Streets; is Encompast with a Wall, and Six Gates; its Principal Key is upon the Froom, whether Vessels of about 150 Tun may Arrive, Extending from Froom-Bridg to the Marsh; the other call'd the Back, upon the West side of the Avon, commences at the great Bridge alias BRISTOL Bridge and extends likewise to the Marsh, the Greater Vessels riding in Hungrode about 3. Miles below.

They reckon about 200. Sail belonging to the Port, and are chiefly Traded to from Wales, and the Midland Countries, withal keeping a Weekly Correspondance to Southamp∣ton; dealing most in Tobacco and Sherry-Sacks: the Streets are well Order'd, Houses well Built, Inhabitants Numerous, and may well be reckon'd the 2d. City of the King∣dom; its Markets on Wednsdays and Saturdays; Plentisully provided, and its Fairs on St. Jame's and St. Paul's Day Wonderfully frequented even by the Londoners themselves.

The Continuation to Huntspil.

As we ended, so we begin our Computation from the High-Cross in BRISTOL, which like another Standard in Cornhil is the Conjunction of 4. Eminent Streets, whence down High-Street over the Bridg you Enter Somersetshire, and through Redcliff-street at 7. Fur∣longs leave the Town, and 2. Furlongs farther enter Bedminster a Village of 2. Fur∣longs; at 2’7. Descending for 5. Furlongs, and at 4. Miles leave Dundrey Eminently situ∣ate near a Mile on the Right.

At 5’5. you Ascend for 6. Furlongs, whence an uneven Road brings you at 9’1. to a considerable Descent of 1. Mile 5. Furlongs Crossing Perry-Bridg, and at 12. Miles passing through Langford, a scattering Village, whence a kind of Continued Ridg of Hills on the Left accompanies you to Axbridg, which you Enter at 18. Miles: It Extends about 4. Furlongs, consisting Principally of one Street; Is Govern'd by a Mayor, &c. has a good Market on Thursdays, and is situate under the Mendip Hills near the Chedder Rocks. At 19. Miles you come to Crose a Village of 3. Furlongs, at the Towns end Crossing the River Ax, and half a Mile beyond, Passing through Lower Were a Village of 2. Furlongs, at 23’6. pass by East-Brent adjacent on the Right, and at 26’2. through Burnham a strag∣ling Village situate in the Brent-Marsh, at 27’4. leave Burnham Church on the Sea-side about a Mile on the Right, Crossing High-bridg, and by several scattering Houses at 29. Miles Enter Huntspil, vulgo Hinspil, Seated near the Navigable Parret, about 4. Miles below Bridgwater, and near its Influx into the Seavern, a good Country Town, though not dignified with any Considerable Remarque.

Backward turnings to be avoided.

• 1. Furlong from Huntspil the Right forward to Marke.
• 5. Furlongs short of Burnham the Left.
• At the end of Axbridg the Left to Were.
• 2. Miles 1. Furlong beyond Perry-bridg the Right to Winford.

• At the end of BRISTOL the Left to GLOCESTER.
• 4. Miles 4. Furlongs short of Cold Aston the Left to Deynton.
• 2. Mile 3. Furlongs short of Cold Aston the Left forward
• The Right in Chipnam a different way to Marlborough.
• 4. Furlongs short of Studley the Right to the Devizes.

Notes

• Counties past through.
• Rivers crost over.
• LONDON.
• [2’3. S.W. by W.]
• Brentford, 10’1.
• Hounslow, 12’3.
• [12’5. N.W. by W.]
• [14’6. W. by S.]
• Longford, 17 M. [18’0. W.N.W.]
• Colebrook, 18’7.
• Maidenhead, 27’6.
• [31’3. S.W.] Twiford, 35’3.
• Reading, 40’2.
• Theal, 44’5.
• [49’3. W by N.] Woolhampton, 50’3.
• Thacham, 53’5.
• Newbury, 56’6.
• [59’ W. by S.] [62’2. N. by W.] [62’6. W. by N.]
• Chilton, 66’ 3.
• [69. S.W. by W.] Ramesbury, 69’2.
• Middenhal, 73’6. Marlborough, 75’2.
• Hungerford, 64’5.
• [66’1. S.W. by S.] [72.11. by N.]
• Marlborough, 73’7.
• Marlborough. [75’2. W.S.W.]
• Little Kennet. 80’4.
• [82 2. W.N.W.]
• [84’4. W.S.W.]
• [87’1. N.W.] Cal••. 87’7.
• [88’7. S.W by W.]
• ••0’7. W. by N.]
• Chipnam. 93’6.
• Marshfield. 102’7.
• [111’2. W.S.W.]
• BRISTOL 115’2.
• BRISTOL High-Cross. S. W.
• Bedminster, 1’2
• Langford, 12. M.
• [15’ S. b. W.]
• [17’7. W.]
• Axbridge 18’2.
• Crose 19’1.
• Lower Were 20. M. [19’3. S.W. b. S.]
• [23’6. W.S.W.]
• [29. W.N.W.]
• Huntspil, 29’2.