31. Henry Besley / J Warren 1845
The first map associated with
the Besley name is a map of
Exeter which appeared in the Exeter
Itinerary And General Directory in June 1828 (see 20) first published by
Thomas and Henry Besley. Henry Besley commissioned a number of maps for his
series of Guide Books; both county maps on one or more sheets (see B&B 122,
128 and 134) and a Route Map besides maps of
regions, two maps of Dartmoor and his town plans. Henry´s popular guide, The Route Book of Devon, was first published c.1845
with a Second Edition appearing
approximately a year later. A map of Exeter signed by J Warren as surveyor, was included from
the beginning (illustrated above). There were further issues until 1877 (illustrated below) as well as handbooks of
towns and areas with text extracted from the Route Books. The map was also used in Besley’s Directory of Exeter from 1881 with
continual updating and the map was used into the twentieth century (see
Appendix C). The map was printed by a well-known company of F P Becker who lithographed a number of
maps for Besley as well as some county maps for other publishers.
Title: EXETER corrected to the Present Time BY
J. Warren, Surveyor
Size: 230 x 280 mm and SCALE of 30 (chains) = 40 mm.
Imprints: Engraved by the Omnigraph by F. P. Becker & Co. Patentees, 12, Paternoster Row and Published by Henry Besley, Directory Office South St., Exeter.
Apart from the reduced size this
plan owes much to Wood's survey (see 29) and almost repeats the 1840 map. The reference now focuses on public
buildings and useful addresses and no longer includes the churches. This
is the first map to show the railway as completed. The Bristol and Devon
Railway Station opened in 1844 and is shown
with two roads To the Luggage Train
and From the Train at the Red Cow Inn. Mount Radford and Clifton
Road (Workhouse) are largely developed. Other noticeable features are
the Gas Works opened in May
1839 at Haven Banks by the Basin.
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