A topographical survey of the great road from London to Bath and Bristol. - With historical and descriptive accounts of the country, towns, villages, and gentlemen's seats on and adjacent to it... (14576643148)

Identifier: topographicalsur02robe (find matches)
Title: A topographical survey of the great road from London to Bath and Bristol. : With historical and descriptive accounts of the country, towns, villages, and gentlemen's seats on and adjacent to it...
Year: 1792 (1790s)
Authors: Robertson, Archibald
Subjects:
Publisher: London: : Printed for the author... and William Faden...
Contributing Library: Boston Public Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Boston Public Library



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decay of nature became vi-sible ; and on the 3d of February, 1761, atthe age of eighty-seven, he breathed hislast, much lamented, and universally re-gretted.—In a few days afterwards his bodywas interred in the Abbey church, withpublic solemnity. 150 SURVEY OF THE GREAT ROAD FROM SECT. IX, The country in the vicinity of Bath isrichly adorned with villas, stately mansions,and elegant private houses; the most dis-tinguished of which is Prior Park, the seatof the late Ralph Allen, Esq. This gentle-man being the chief proprietor of the stonequarries near Bath, and meeting with oppo-sition in the introduction of this beautifulmaterial for general use, determined, as anexample and proof of its superior qualityin ornamental building, to erect a magni-ficent mansion, decorated and enriched inthe highest degree with the various orna-ments of the different orders of architecture,for which designs were made by the lateMr. Wood; but the warmth of this reso-lution abating, a more simple, though
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LONDON TO BATH AND BRISTOL. 151 magnificent structure, was by that gentle-man designed and executed. A particularaccount of the original intention, with plansand elevations in copper-plate prints, of thepresent mansion, will be found in his His-tory of Bath. This elegant seat stands conspicuouslyupon the declivity of a stupendous hill,which rises on the south of Bath, and slopesin beautiful inequalities to the Avon.—From the house, most charming prospectsare obtained over the vale of Bath, thatcity forming the principal object in thecentre, overtopped by the swelling summitof Lansdown; a magnificent feature. About six miles from Bath is FarleyCastle, in our way to which we pass overClavertqii Down; a much frequented anddelighful ride.—This castle, though littlenoticed in history, seems, from the remainsof it now to be seen, to have been a con-siderable place, and of great strength. Partof a gateway, and three towers, coveredwith ivy, still rear their ruined heads. 152 SURVEY OF TH