Appendix C

 Henry Besley

Few local printers published extensively but the Besleys of Exeter could probably claim to have been one of the most prolific of local publishers. By the mid-1800s the family-run business had a long tradition stretching back almost half a century. Thomas Besley (Senior) was born in 1760 and had various business addresses as printer, bookseller and stationer or bookbinder: he is listed in various directories of the time at Southgate Street (1801 and 1811); at Holy Trinity (1803); and at Bell Hill, or more specifically at 76, Bell Hill, South Street (between 1816 and 1834). It must be assumed that Thomas was mainly a jobbing printer taking on contracts wherever possible and not taking on the extra responsibility for publishing.

Thomas and Jane had 6 children including Thomas Junior who also became a printer in Exeter; Robert, born 14th October 1794 (died 1876), a type founder in the firm of Thorowgood and Besley and who became Lord Mayor of London 1869-70; and Henry (baptised 15th June 1800 at Holy Trinity) who eventually became partner and successor to the family business. Thomas died on 27th October 1834 aged 74.

Thomas' eldest son, Thomas (Junior), was born in Exeter in 1790/1 and married Mary (also born in Exeter the same year). They had one son, Henry, who is thought to have died in 1853. Thomas, too, was also a printer and bookseller, as well as stationer and library proprietor (1823). About 1816 we find works printed and sold by either T Besley Senior or T Besley Junior, obviously to differentiate between the two businesses, with the latter printing and publishing books until roughly 1836 although his Devonshire chronicle and Exeter news paper ran until 1853.

However, it was Thomas Senior's younger son, Henry, who took over the business of his father. The company had already been trading as T Besley & Son according to directories of 1825 and 1828 and they were listed as T & H Besley in directories of 1828 and 1834. The imprint Printed ... by T and H Besley first appears approx. 1820 (e.g. Hyam Isaacs Address to the Jews). The company published directories as well as Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset sheet almanacs from 1828. Their first map of Exeter appeared in that year and was advertised in the Exeter Flying Post of 3rd July.

The map of Exeter that J Warren executed for Henry Besley (32) about 1845 for inclusion in the Route Book of Devon was probably brought up-to-date more frequently than any of the other maps and plans included here. As such it may be pertinent to include a summary of the main changes made throughout the map’s life. The original map is described fully in the map catalogue. The map was included in editions of the Route Book (RB), sections were extracted for special Hand Books of Exeter (HB), the map was issued as a folding map (FM), from 1878 it was included in issues of the Post Office Directory (PO) and also appeared in a guide produced for Thomas Worth, son of Thomas who had taken over Mol’s Coffee House and turned it into Worth’s Art Gallery, Worth’s Guide to Exeter - The Cathedral Hand Book (WG).

1. 1845            See entry 31.

2. 1854            Directions to Pince's Nursery and To Veitch's Nursery added outside border (below).                              RB.

3. 1869            Signature of J Warren removed. The South Western Railway added from northeast to Queen Street and St. David's stations necessitating removal of nursery and stream. To Veitch’s Nursery erased. Public Hall added next to prison. Additional developments, e.g. in southeast and along Workhouse Lane.                                                                                                                                                                       HB, RB, FM.

                       By 1870 the title had been reduced to EXETER and only the Besley imprint remains. The London and South Western Railway is now shown with Queen Street Station but Longbrook has disappeared (presumably underground). Of particular note are the new and separated reservoirs and the considerable housing at Victoria Park, in Prospect Park, along Black Boy Road, beside Clifton Road, in College Park and Albert Terrace. The Free Cottages are shown and Larkbeare has reappeared. In the References the Albert Museum replaces the Episcopal Charity schools which are now moved to St. Michael’s and The Queen’s Hotel replaces the Star Inn.

4. 1877            Title simply EXETER (20 mm below border). Becker’s signature erased.                                                HB.




5. 1877           Rougemont Hotel replaces City Prison (site acquired by the Devon & Exeter Hotel Co. in 1875). A new note added FREEHOLD LAND SOCIETY’S ESTATE.                                                                          RB.

6. 1878            Becker signatures reinstated. Rougemont Hotel shows signs of erasure.                                    HB, PO.

                        By 1881 the map had been enlarged to 275 x 345 mm and although no scale is shown it is to the same scale as the previous Warren maps or 30 chains = 40 mm. The title is repositioned (top right), the scale bar and the References are removed and the imprint changed to read H.Besley & Son. The area covered is increased to the South to include Pince’s Nursery; to the West to include Foxhayes, to the North to include Pennsylvania Park and to the East to include most of Heavitree. Considerable additional housing is shown especially in St. Thomas and north of Tiverton Old Road. The Grammar school and Wonford Asylum are shown in Heavitree. The railway is taken to the Basin and Gas Works.

7. 1882            The note FREEHOLD LAND SOCIETY’S ESTATE is omitted.                                                 PO.

8. 1883            From c.1883 the map was lithographically altered. Larger size: 310 x 370 mm. The title is now: EXETER AND SUBURBS. Imprint: PRINTED & PUBLISHED BY H BESLEY & SON, SOUTH STREET, EXETER. New imprint: ENTERED AT STATIONERS’ HALL. A plain three line border; North point. Extends out to Exwick, St. Thomas and Wonford. Certain lettering is redone and places are retitled (HM Prison instead of County Gaol) etc.

For the 1883 edition of Besley’s Directory the map with new title measured 272 x 307 mm. The plan now extends to Exwick, St. Thomas & Wonford. Certain lettering has been redone and places re-titled. The Directory map was again made slightly larger for the 1884 edition, but otherwise was little altered.          PO.

9. 1885            Minor changes, e.g. St. Anne’s Well Brewery deleted behind the Rougemont Hotel and Victoria Hall and a nursery added by Velwell Villas. Deletion of T.G. stations.                                                                  PO.

10. 1886          Minor changes, e.g.”Field” markings deleted at Pennsylvania Park, Combs Farm deleted, Trews Weir added, Grammar School changed from L-shape structure to small buildings.                              PO.

11. 1889          Minor changes, e.g. STREET becomes ST in imprint. Higher Barracks becomes Cavalry Barracks, New developments replace Polsloe House and Recreation Ground, changes to roads and buildings at the Devon C. Constabulary – New North Road.                                                                                PO.


12. 1890          Minor changes, e.g. title redrawn (more floral), STREET in imprint and many names show signs of re-engraving. The area at St. Thomas shows developments: Pince’s name removed at nursery; county ground added; and Cowick Road added at Union Street with change in depiction of buildings.             PO[1].

13. 1901          Imprint: Printed & Published by Besley & Dalgleish. Size now 300 x 375 mm.              

                        The plan remains much the same but a lot of the lettering has been altered even when the same wording is retained. New developments along Black Boy Road and a reference to the Freehold Land Society’s Building Estate north of Prospect Park. Workhouse Lane is now Polsloe Road with two brick fields (Exeter Brick & Tile Co. founded 1899) and Polsloe Park is now built-up.                                                   HB, WG.





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[1] Although the Directories were published frequently not all of the copies seen contained a map, for example, Exeter WSL also has copies for 1894 and 1900 lacking the map.


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