Brixham,Torbay, Devon (1825)

Daniell, William. A voyage round Great Britain, undertaken in the summer of the year 1813 and commencing from the Land's-End, Cornwall. London: Longman & Co and W. Daniell, 1825. Vol. VIII. pp. 20 - 21.The view from BRIXHAM, which is here given, supposes the beholder to be looking across the bay to Torquay, in which direction the scenery is far more picturesque than on this opposite line of boundary. The village is commonly called Brixham Quay, to distinguish it from a place in the same parish called Brixham Church-town. It is inhabited principally by fishermen, and has a small pier for the accommodation of their vessels. Of these there was a considerable number in the harbour, which, like that of Torquay, is dry at low water, and consequently emits a scent by no means agreeable to mere landsmen. The village, in point of cleanliness, is in a state not at all inconsistent with the habits and pursuits of the people who dwell in it; indeed, if the plain truth may be spoken, it may dispute for pre-eminence in dirt with any fishing-town on the coast. The distance from hence to the Berry Head is little more than a mile, and the elevation of that promontory is much greater than could have been supposed, on viewing it from the northern extremity of the bay. The barracks that have been erected there shew that it was regarded as a military station of some consequence during the late war.The fishing vessels belonging to Brixham are said to amount to at least one hundred sail. Some of them are built much larger than those of former times, and in the summer months are engaged in the culm trade, the average burthen of each being eighty quarters by Winchester measure, which is sixteen heaped bushels to the quarter. A considerable number of sloops are kept for the sole purpose of trawling, an operation to be performed some leagues out at sea, where the best of the flat fish, as turbots, soles, and plaice, are taken. The principal markets are London, Bath, and Bristol, and the demand is of course not only large, but in general regular; if, however, a glut be apprehended, recourse is had to the process of salting and drying the more curable fish, such as whiting, flounders, thornback, and gurnet. Large quantities thus prepared were supplied, under the general name of buckhorn, for the use of the navy in time of war, and the article is now said to be much in request on the coast of France.This humble fishing-town was the scene of an historical event which has already been mentioned, and which demands more than a mere allusion. It was here that William, prince of Orange, landed on the 5th of November, 1688, having been invited by the general voice of a nation weary of the misrule of his infatuated father-in-law. He had sailed on the 21st of October, and had been driven back by tempestuous weather; but the delay was perhaps fortunate, as it enabled the patriotic nobility and gentry of England to mature their preparations for his reception. He proceeded to Exeter, and from thence commenced his progress towards the metropolis, on which he was joined by a great part of the army which had been collected to oppose him. [Text may be taken from a different source or edition than that listed as the source by Somers Cocks.]

Aquatint

166x239mm

S40. DANIELL William (text by AYTON, Richard): A VOYAGE
ROUND GREAT BRITAIN UNDERTAKEN IN THE SUMMER OF THE YEAR 1813 AND COMMENCING FROM THE LAND'S END, CORNWALL.

As in year 1813