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National Gazetteer (1868) - Lymington

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The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland - 1868

"LYMINGTON, a parish, parliamentary borough, and market town, in the division of Lymington, county Hants, 13 miles S.E. of Ringwood, and 20 S.W. of Southampton. The London and South-Western railway has a branch line from Brockenhurst junction to this place. It is situated on the western bank of the river Lymington, or Boldre, which discharges itself into the Solent, and is here crossed by a bridge. In Domesday Book it is called Lentune, when it belonged to the Ivry family. In the reign of Henry I. it appears to have been a place of considerable trade, mostly in wines from France, and at that time also it first became celebrated for its salt-works.

From the reign of Elizabeth it has returned two members to parliament, the Reform Bill merely altering the limits of the borough, which now includes the whole of the parish, with a portion of Boldre. It was long a prescriptive borough, not being incorporated by charter till the reign of Edward I. The local government is vested in a mayor, four aldermen, and 12 common councillors. It was anciently a port of greater importance than at present, and in the reign of Edward III. fitted out and manned nine ships to assist in the defence of the coast, which was more by four ships than the quota supplied by Portsmouth. The trade is now confined entirely to coasting vessels, the construction of a dam in 1731 to the N. of the town having had the effect of contracting the channel of the river and diminishing its depth, so that it is now navigable only for vessels of 300 tons, instead of 500 as formerly. On the quay are a commodious public wharf and storerooms, and near it is a yard for shipbuilding.

The harbour at the entrance of the creek is excellent, and affords a favourite shelter for vessels belonging to members of the Royal Yacht Squadron. The inhabitants anciently exercised the privilege of levying petty dues on merchandise brought in and landed here, but this was long a disputed and vexed question with the superior port of Southampton, which obtained a prohibitory verdict in 1329, but in the middle of the last century it was again submitted to the county assize court, and decided in favour of Lymington. The town consists mainly of one long street, distinguished by the names of High-street, Southampton-buildings, and Thomas-street. It is well paved and lighted with gas. In the summer it is much frequented as a watering-place, and has every accommodation for sea-bathing. There are also assembly rooms, a theatre, and a literary institute. The coast-guard service has a station here, and petty sessions are held in the town.

The principal employments are shipbuilding, and the various branches connected with the shipping trade, much being done in coal and timber. The manufacture of salt, which formerly produced an extensive trade, has greatly decline; but to the S. of the town are still works for the preparation of the common salt for domestic purposes, as well as the medicinal article known as Epsom salts. There are three commercial banks, one for savings, and a townhall. A steamboat plies between Lymington and Cowes and Yarmouth in the Isle of Wight. The living is a curacy annexed to the vicarage* of Boldre, in the diocese of Winchester. The church, dedicated to St. Thomas-a-Becket, is a brick and stone structure with a square embattled tower, and built at different periods. The parochial charities, including a school endowment, produce about £70 per annum. There are two chapels belonging to Dissenters and a National school.

In the middle of the last century a large number of Roman coins were brought to light, and within a mile from the town is Buckland Rings, supposed to have been a Roman camp. The neighbourhood abounds with well-built mansions and villa residences, among the principal of which may be named Lymington House, Fairfield-grove House, and Priestlands. On a neck of land or bank to the S.W. of Lymington is Hurst Castle, a circular tower, strengthened by semi-circular bastions, erected by Henry VIII., and for several days in 1648 the prison of Charles I. after his removal from Carisbrooke. It is now used as a coast-guard station, and two lighthouses and a beacon are placed here for the direction of vessels navigating the coast. Saturday is market-day. Fairs are held on 12th and 13th May, and 2nd and 3rd October, for the sale of cheese, horses, and general live stock. "EVERTON, a hamlet in the parish and hundred of Lymington, county Hants, a short distance from Lymington."

[Description(s) from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland (1868) - Transcribed by Colin Hinson ©2003]