Page:The National Gazetteer - A Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands, Volume 2.djvu/741

Rh LYMIHGE. 733 LYMINGTON. is now a work of regular masonry, consisting of two iers projecting on each side and enclosing a ii recently enlarged, but which dries at low water. Tin! pier, which was rebuilt in 1825, at a cost less than the Parliamentary grants, viz. for 17,337, is 680 feet in length, 12 in breadth at the foundation, and 16 in height. The harbour, which is about a quarter of a mile to the W. of the town, affords tho only safe shelter for vessels between the Portland Roads and the Start Point. Various Acts of Parliament have been passed for its maintenance, and two officers, caDed Cobb- wardens, are annually chosen to superintend the repairs, which are defrayed out of its customs and harbour dues. It has a custom-house, bonding warehouses for the colo- nial and foreign produce, also a considerable coasting- trade, there being about twelve vessels belonging to the port. The town being well sheltered from the northerly and easterly winds, has become a favourite watering- place, and is much resorted to by invalids on account of its low rate of mortality from consumption and pul- monary diseases. Tho streets and lines of houses stretch along the declivities of the two rocky hills, being built chiefly of tho blue lias limestone, and covered with slate. The streets are well paved and lighted with gas, and many of the shops are of a superior class. It contains two branch banks, a savings-bank, assembly rooms, and market-place. Some of the inhabitants are engaged in tho lace, woollen and sail-cloth manufactures, others in the stone works or in tho fisheries and coasting trade. Quarter sessions are held here by the mayor, ox-mayor, and his predecessor, and there is a court of hustings every Monday. It was first incorporated by Edward I., and mui'T the: late act is governed by a mayor, four alder- men, and twelve councillors, with the style of the "mayor and burgesses of the borough of Lyme Regis." The income of the borough is 250, chiefly derived from the rents of the manor ; and the area of tho old borough, 100 acres. Its population in 1851 was 2,601, which had declined in 1861 to 2,318, while tho population of the parliamentary borough, which has an area of 2,000 . acres, declined in the same period from 3,516 to 3,215. Previous to tho passing of the Reform Bill, which en- larged its boundaries, it returned two members from the time of Kdward I., but since returns only one member to parliament, tho mayor being the returning officer. In the vicinity of tho town are many seats, and at Dowlands, beyond Whitlands, the great landslip of 1839 took place. The coast, which is bold and nigged, offers many attractions to the geologist, as presenting one of tho grandest and most extensive sections of tho blii') lias in the world, and abounds in fossils. It was here that Miss Anning first discovered the icthyosaurus, plcsiosaurus, and ptcrodactyle ; and since then the dino- nurus, with about 70 varieties of extinct fish, zoophites, and shells, have been found. The living is a vie. * in the ili"r. i .f Salisbury, val. 275, in the patron, of tho bishop. The church, dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel, stands near the edge of the cliff, and is an ancient i- of the later Tudor period, with a Norman arch at tin! W. entrance. It has recently been re-decorated, and cuiitains several stained glass windows; also a iiiment to the Hewlings, who were condemned by . The Independents, Wesleyans, Baptists, and Catholics have places of worship. There are il, British and Foreign, and infant schools. The iit vicar, the Rev. Dr. Hodges, has lately built a vicaragp. The parochial charities produce about 40 per annum, left by Captain James, Mr. Burridge, and others, I a n y eminent persons have been born here, 'k and astrologer, Coram who endowed the Foundling Hospital in London, Sir G. Somers who discovered the Bermuda and Somers islands, Judge .ily, and Miss Anning, whose name will ever !/< 'I associated with the geology of this district. Tho and Friday. Fairs ai- on the 12th .May and 2nd October, chiefly for b . n. lathe of Shcpway, co. Kent, 4 miles N. of Hythe, its post town, and 5 N. W. of Folkestone. The Westen- hanger station on the South-Eastern line of railway is about 2 miles S. of tho village. It is situated on the road known as Slane Street. Tho par. includes Stelling, Minnis, and several small places. A tributary of the Little Stour has its source here. In tho 7th century a nunnery was founded at this place by Ethelburga, daughter of Ethelbert, King of Kent, which was after- wards destroyed by the Danes. In tho 10th century tho manor passed to tho see of Canterbury, but was surrendered to the crown by Archbishop Cranmcr, and subsequently has passed through several hands. This is a hop-growing district. In this parish is situated tho workhouse of the Elham Union. Nearly a quarter of tho parish is in woodland. The living is a rect. and vie.* in the dioc. of Canterbury, val. with the cur. of Paddlesworth annexed, i920. The old parish church, dedicated to SS. Mary and Eadburga, is a somewhat quaint structure, said to have been built with material taken front a Roman edifice which stood in tho neigh- bourhood. It contains the arms of archbishops Warham and Bourchier. There is also a district church at Stand- ford. There are charities for apprenticing and other purposes, of about 10 yearly value. The Wesleyans have a chapel, and there are National and infant schools. There are some Roman remains in the neighbourhood. LYMINGTON, a div. of co. Hants, situated in the south-western part of tho county. It contains tho hunds. of Upper Christchurch and New Forest, with tho borough of Lymington, and has an area of nearly 80,000 acres. LYMINGTON, a par., parliamentary borough, and market town, in the div. of Lymington, co. Hants, 13 miles S.E. of Ringwood, and 20 S.W. of Southampton. The London and South- Western railway has a branch line from Brockenhurst junction to this place. It is situated on the western bank of the river Lymington, or Boldre, which discharges itself into the Solent, and is here crossed by a bridge. In Domesday Book it is called Lcntiine, when it belonged to the Ivry family. In tho reign of Henry I. it appears to have been a place of considerable trade, mostly in wines from France, and at that time also it first became celebrated for its salt- works. From the reign of Elizabeth it has returned two members to parliament, the Reform Bill merely altering tho limits of the borough, which now includes the whole of the parish, with a portion of Boldre. It was long a prescriptive borough, not being incorporated by charter till the reign of Edward I. Tho local government is vested in a mayor, four aldermen, and 12 common councillors. It was anciently a port of greater importance than at present, and in tho reign of Edward III. fitted out and manned nine ships to assist in the defence of the coast, which was more by four ships than the quota supplied by Portsmouth. The trade is now confined entirely to coasting vessels, the construction of a dam in 1731 to the N. of tho town having had the effect of contracting the channel of the river and diminishing its depth, so that it is now navigable only for vessels of 300 tons, instead of 500 as formerly. On the quay are a commodious public wharf and store- rooms, and near it is a yard for shipbuilding. Tho harbour at the entrance of the creek is excellent, and affords a favourite shelter for vessels belonging to members of the Royal Yacht Squadron. The inhabitants anciently exercised tho privilege of levying petty dues on merchandise brought in and lan'ded here, but this was long a disputed and vexed question with the superior port of Southampton, which obtained a pro- hibitory verdict in 1329, but in the middle of the last century it was again submitted to the county assize court, and decided in favour of Lymington. The town consists mainly of one long street, distinguished by tho names of High-street, Southampton-buildings, and Thomas-street. It is well paved and lighted with gas. In the summer it is much frequented as a watering- place, and has every accommodation for sea-bathing. There are also assembly rooms, a theatre, and a literary 5 A
 * r. in the hund. of Loningborough,