33.     Jewitt – Agricultural Show I                                                 1850

In 1850 Exeter played host to the Royal Agricultural Show from Thursday 11th July to Friday 19th July, 1850. This was a prestigious event, sure to attract large numbers of influential visitors and two guide books were specially produced for the meeting. There were two main show grounds and the meeting was expected to attract between five and six thousand members.

 

 Llewellynn Jewitt (1816-1886) was a prolific writer of topographical works and an expert on coins and ceramics. He wrote biographies (e.g. of Josiah Wedgwood), edited magazines (e.g. The Reliquary) and tourist guides to other counties, including Derbyshire for A & C Black.

In 1850 he wrote a guide to Exeter for the Royal Agricultural Society of England which was published to coincide with the event, Royal Agricultural Society of England, 1850 ---The Hand-Book of Exeter . . . and a programme . . . by Llewllynn Jewitt  . . . Exeter Henry John Wallis, High Street . . . MDCCCL. This was Jewitt´s fifth guide to the annual shows and the publishing schedule must have been tight as the Preface is dated July 1st, 1850. The volume included an extra plan of the show yards signed by Jewitt (L Jewitt Delt) and printed by Maddock & Balderston of Plymouth. Two further works by Jewitt on Plymouth contained maps: The Illustrated Handbook appeared in 1865; and Jewitt’s own History of Plymouth of 1873, initially started to supplement the notes left by Edward Nettleton on his death, contained two facsimiles of earlier maps of Plymouth by Wenceslas Hollar and the Lysons (c.f.). He drew a plan of Exeter Cathedral for Murray’s guide to Devon and Cornwall. 

Title: PLAN of the CITY OF EXETER.  Llewellyn Jewitt. 1850.

Size: 310 x 220 mm but no scale.

Imprints: Published by H. J. Wallis, Exeter, and R. Lidstone, Plymouth and below the title Maddock & Balderston, Lithographers, 17, Bedford St.   Plymouth. 

North is unusually to the bottom giving a turned look to the city. It is an open street plan from St. David’s Railway Station (Red Cow Village) to Topsham Barracks and from St. Thomas to Sidwell Street. Primarily drawn for visitors, the plan naturally illustrates the show yards east of Mount Radford, next to Veitch’s Nursery, and most of the inns and hotels. Noteworthy inclusions are St. Thomas’s Union Workhouse, St. Thomas’ station, and the Cattle Market just west of the bridge.

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 34.     Besley – Agricultural Show II                                             1850

 

Although one guide had already been published (see previous entry), Henry Besley produced his own guide for visitors to the prestigious Royal Agricultural Show. Besley dedicated the guide to the President etc. of the Royal Agricultural Society, and this Preface is also dated July, 1850. It would appear that Jewitt had better informed sources: Besley had to include an Erratum slip to notify a change of caterer. Instead of Mrs Murch, a local confectioner, the gala dinner was to be provided by M Soyer of London. 

Title: EXETER Royal Agricultural Society’s Meeting 1850

Size: 230 x 275 mm with no scale but with Plan of Show Yard. 

The border is cut to make space for a Plan of Show Yard to be included. The map is orientated with the river from left to right; it shows area from Railway Station (St. David’s) to Victoria Terrace and from St. Thomas Station to St. Agnes road junction. Drawn for the show, the Yard is clearly shown (by Veitch’s Nursery). Two notes for show visitors indicate To the Heavy Soil trial field and To the light soil trial field (top). Both City Markets are shown. As on his map of the city for the Route Book, both Pince’s Nursery and Veitch’s Nursery are shown in the borders. Compared to Jewitt’s map, above, this is a disappointing plan not up to Besley’s normal standard: churches and chapels are listed in the key with only nine public buildings, and no hotels or inns are identified.

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