English county histories
Encyclopedia
English county histories, in other words historical and topographical (or "chorographical
") works concerned with individual ancient counties of England before their reorganisation, were produced by antiquarians
from the late 16th century onwards. The content was variable: some recorded archaeological sites
, but others were heavily slanted towards the genealogies of county families and other biographical material, particularly relating to property and the descent of lordships of manor
s. The tradition continues with the series of Victoria County Histories
.
A closely related genre, which emerged in the second half of the 17th century, was the county "Natural History", which focused on the county's flora, fauna and natural phenomena, but which also often included chapters on antiquities. The best known examples were Robert Plot
's two volumes on Oxfordshire (1677) and Staffordshire (1686); and John Aubrey
's unpublished work on Wiltshire.
's Perambulation of Kent
(completed 1570; published 1576) is generally acknowledged as the first example of the genre. It was followed by Richard Carew's Survey of Cornwall (1602), and William Burton's
Description of Leicester Shire (1622), as well as a number of other projects (such as those of Sir William Pole, Thomas Westcote
, and Tristram Risdon
in Devon, and Sampson Erdeswicke
in Staffordshire) which, although they sometimes circulated in manuscript, did not come to completion or publication. Following the appearance of William Dugdale
's Antiquities of Warwickshire (1656), a pattern was set. In the nineteenth century John Bowyer Nichols
followed the line of a history of Leicestershire
compiled by his father John Nichols
, and saw numerous counties histories through the press at his printing firm. The scope of county histories varied, but the titles became quite standard: "Antiquities of", "Worthies of", "Geological survey", "Description of", later "Directory of", all could indicate the intention of producing a "history", a term that only in later times acquired the narrower meaning it carries today. Chorography
, topography
and toponymy
might all be involved. Materials and collections for their counties were made by antiquaries, but publication might await sponsorship or enough subscriptions, as well as a capable author who would make a readable book, perhaps of multiple volumes, from notes.
; :Category: History of Bedfordshire;
; :Category: History of Buckinghamshire; Victoria County History edited by William Page
The Cornwall history was supported by Francis Vyvyan Jago Arundell
.
This goes back to the manuscript Accompt of the most considerable estates and families in the county of Cumberland of about 1603 by John Denton.
Glover used an unpublished history by William Woolley.
John Swete provided material to Polwhele.
Both Hutchinson and Surtees drew on the work of George Allan
. John Brewster
assisted Surtees.
Morant used collections of Thomas Jekyll; and also material from Richard Symonds
he obtained via Gregory King
. A major source was the parish descriptions of William Holman. These had been acquired by Nicholas Tindal, for whom Morant worked as a curate; they then passed via Nathaniel Salmon, Anthony Allen and John Booth, before Morant had them from Booth about 1750.
Thomas Leman and probably Joseph Strutt
assisted.
Rudder's work was based on Atkyns and a manuscript of Richard Furney.
Duncumb used work by Richard Blyke; and an older manuscript by Silas Taylor (Domville).
; :Category:History of Hertfordshire; Victoria County History
Salmon drew on unpublished material of Chauncy.
Clutterbuck used collections of Thomas Blore.
Baines used Edwin Butterworth as researcher and author; he also took much from Gregson's Portfolio.
Burton made use of notes of Augustine Vincent
.
Nichols included unpublished material from William Burton, Francis Peck
, and Richard Farmer
.
Blomefield used materials from Peter Le Neve
and Thomas Martin of Palgrave. Charles Parkin
worked to complete the history. Blomefield used material collected by Antony Norris, who later worked on completing and revising the history with John Fenn
.
By Crouse and Booth of Norwich, this was largely copied from Blomefield.
This resulted from a project started by John Bridges
, and took several generations to come to fruition.
This included an edition of the 1779 History and Antiquities of Shrewsbury by Thomas Phillips, which drew on the work of James Bowen
and John Bowen.
Dukes used a manuscript of Edward Lloyd.
Robert Plot
, The Natural History of Staffordshire (1686)
Stebbing Shaw, History of Staffordshire (History and Antiquities of Staffordshire)
William Pitt, A Topographical History of Staffordshire (1817)
Dugdale used notes from William Burton
; and much material from Simon Archer.
Nash used collections of Charles Lyttelton
, including older research of Thomas Habington.
es (parochial histories).
Chorography
Chorography is a term deriving from the writings of the ancient geographer Ptolemy, meaning the geographical description of regions...
") works concerned with individual ancient counties of England before their reorganisation, were produced by antiquarians
Antiquarian
An antiquarian or antiquary is an aficionado or student of antiquities or things of the past. More specifically, the term is used for those who study history with particular attention to ancient objects of art or science, archaeological and historic sites, or historic archives and manuscripts...
from the late 16th century onwards. The content was variable: some recorded archaeological sites
Archaeological site
An archaeological site is a place in which evidence of past activity is preserved , and which has been, or may be, investigated using the discipline of archaeology and represents a part of the archaeological record.Beyond this, the definition and geographical extent of a 'site' can vary widely,...
, but others were heavily slanted towards the genealogies of county families and other biographical material, particularly relating to property and the descent of lordships of manor
Manor
-Land tenure:*Manor, an estate in land of the mediaeval era in England*Manorialism, a system of land tenure and organization of the rural economy and society in parts of medieval Europe based on the manor*Manor house, the principal house of a manor...
s. The tradition continues with the series of Victoria County Histories
Victoria County History
The Victoria History of the Counties of England, commonly known as the Victoria County History or the VCH, is an English history project which began in 1899 and was dedicated to Queen Victoria with the aim of creating an encyclopaedic history of each of the historic counties of...
.
A closely related genre, which emerged in the second half of the 17th century, was the county "Natural History", which focused on the county's flora, fauna and natural phenomena, but which also often included chapters on antiquities. The best known examples were Robert Plot
Robert Plot
Robert Plot was an English naturalist, first Professor of Chemistry at the University of Oxford, and the first keeper of the Ashmolean Museum....
's two volumes on Oxfordshire (1677) and Staffordshire (1686); and John Aubrey
John Aubrey
John Aubrey FRS, was an English antiquary, natural philosopher and writer. He is perhaps best known as the author of the collection of short biographical pieces usually referred to as Brief Lives...
's unpublished work on Wiltshire.
Development
William LambardeWilliam Lambarde
William Lambarde was an antiquarian and writer on legal subjects.-Life:Lambarde was born in London. His father was a draper , an alderman and a sheriff of London. In 1556, he was admitted to Lincoln's Inn...
's Perambulation of Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
(completed 1570; published 1576) is generally acknowledged as the first example of the genre. It was followed by Richard Carew's Survey of Cornwall (1602), and William Burton's
William Burton (antiquary, died 1645)
William Burton was an English antiquarian, best known as the author of Description of Leicestershire.-Life:...
Description of Leicester Shire (1622), as well as a number of other projects (such as those of Sir William Pole, Thomas Westcote
Thomas Westcote
-Life:Baptised at Shobrooke in Devon on 17 June 1567, he was the third son of Philip Westcote of West Raddon in the parish of Shobrooke, by his wife Katharine, daughter of George Waltham of Brenton in the parish of Exminster, Devon...
, and Tristram Risdon
Tristram Risdon
Tristram Risdon was an English antiquary and topographer, and the author of Survey of the County of Devon. He was able to devote most of his life to writing this work. After he completed it in about 1632 it circulated around interested people in several manuscript copies for almost 80 years before...
in Devon, and Sampson Erdeswicke
Sampson Erdeswicke
Sampson Erdeswicke was an English antiquarian.-Life:He was born at Sandon in Staffordshire, and entered Brasenose College, Oxford, as a gentleman-commoner in 1553...
in Staffordshire) which, although they sometimes circulated in manuscript, did not come to completion or publication. Following the appearance of William Dugdale
William Dugdale
Sir William Dugdale was an English antiquary and herald. As a scholar he was influential in the development of medieval history as an academic subject.-Life:...
's Antiquities of Warwickshire (1656), a pattern was set. In the nineteenth century John Bowyer Nichols
John Bowyer Nichols
-Life:The eldest son of John Nichols, by his second wife, Martha Green , he was born at Red Lion Passage, Fleet Street, London, 15 July 1779...
followed the line of a history of Leicestershire
Leicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
compiled by his father John Nichols
John Nichols (printer)
John Nichols was an English printer, author and antiquary.-Early life and apprenticeship:He was born in Islington, London to Edward Nichols and Anne Wilmot. On 22 June 1766 he married Anne Cradock daughter of William Cradock...
, and saw numerous counties histories through the press at his printing firm. The scope of county histories varied, but the titles became quite standard: "Antiquities of", "Worthies of", "Geological survey", "Description of", later "Directory of", all could indicate the intention of producing a "history", a term that only in later times acquired the narrower meaning it carries today. Chorography
Chorography
Chorography is a term deriving from the writings of the ancient geographer Ptolemy, meaning the geographical description of regions...
, topography
Topography
Topography is the study of Earth's surface shape and features or those ofplanets, moons, and asteroids...
and toponymy
Toponymy
Toponymy is the scientific study of place names , their origins, meanings, use and typology. The word "toponymy" is derived from the Greek words tópos and ónoma . Toponymy is itself a branch of onomastics, the study of names of all kinds...
might all be involved. Materials and collections for their counties were made by antiquaries, but publication might await sponsorship or enough subscriptions, as well as a capable author who would make a readable book, perhaps of multiple volumes, from notes.
Bedfordshire
See: History of BedfordshireHistory of Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire is an English shire county which lies between approximately 25 miles and 55 miles north of central London.-Anglian Bedfordshire:...
; :Category: History of Bedfordshire;
- Magna BritanniaMagna BritanniaMagna Britannia, being a concise topographical account of the several counties of Great Britain was an ambitious topographical and historical survey published by the antiquarians Daniel Lysons and his brother Samuel Lysons in several volumes between 1806 and 1822...
(1806) - Victoria County History three volumes, 1904–1912
Berkshire
- Elias AshmoleElias AshmoleElias Ashmole was a celebrated English antiquary, politician, officer of arms, astrologer and student of alchemy. Ashmole supported the royalist side during the English Civil War, and at the restoration of Charles II he was rewarded with several lucrative offices.Ashmole was an antiquary with a...
, Antiquities of Berkshire (1719) - J. Rocque, A Topographical Survey of the County of Berkshire, 1761
Buckinghamshire
See: History of BuckinghamshireHistory of Buckinghamshire
Although the name Buckinghamshire is Anglo Saxon in origin meaning The district of Bucca's home the name has only been recorded since about the 12th century. The historic county itself has been in existence since it was a subdivision of the kingdom of Wessex in the 10th century...
; :Category: History of Buckinghamshire; Victoria County History edited by William Page
- George Lipscomb, The History and Antiquities of the County of Buckingham published in eight parts, 1831-47 http://www.archive.org/details/historyantiquiti02lips
- James Joseph Sheahan, History and Topography of Buckinghamshire: comprising a general survey of the county, preceded by an epitome of the early history of Great Britain (1862)
Cambridgeshire
- Edmund Carter, History of the County of Cambridge (1753)
Cheshire
- Peter Perez BurdettPeter Perez BurdettPeter Perez Burdett was an 18th century cartographer, surveyor, artist, and draughtsman originally from Eastwood in Essex where he inherited a small estate and the name Perez from his maternal grandfather who was the clergyman there.He would have been notable just for his many appearances in...
, Survey of the County Palatine of Chester (1772) - George OrmerodGeorge OrmerodGeorge Ormerod was an English antiquary and historian. Amongst his writings was a major account of the history of Cheshire, a county in northwestern England.-Biography:...
, The History of the County Palatine and City of Chester (1816–19)
Cornwall
- Richard Carew, The Survey of Cornwall (1602)
- William HalsWilliam HalsWilliam Hals , was a British historian who compiled a History of Cornwall, the first work of any magnitude that was ever printed in Cornwall. He was born at Tresawen, in the parish of Merther in Cornwall. Much of his work was never published but was used by other Cornish historians, including...
, Compleat History of Cornwall, from about 1750 - An historical survey of the county of Cornwall, etc., compiled by William Penaluna
- Richard PolwheleRichard PolwheleRichard Polwhele was a Cornish clergyman, poet and topographer.-Biography:Born at Truro, Cornwall, Polwhele met literary luminaries Catharine Macaulay and Hannah More at an early age. He was educated at Truro Grammar School, where he precociously published The Fate of Llewellyn...
, The History of Cornwall (7 vols. 1803–08, revised 1816) - Daniel LysonsDaniel LysonsDaniel Lysons was a notable English antiquary and topographer of the late 18th and early 19th century, who published the four-volume The Environs of London ....
and Samuel LysonsSamuel LysonsSamuel Lysons FRS was a notable English engraver and antiquary of the late 18th and early 19th century, who - with his older brother, Daniel - published the four-volume The Environs of London...
, Magna BritanniaMagna BritanniaMagna Britannia, being a concise topographical account of the several counties of Great Britain was an ambitious topographical and historical survey published by the antiquarians Daniel Lysons and his brother Samuel Lysons in several volumes between 1806 and 1822...
The Cornwall history was supported by Francis Vyvyan Jago Arundell
Francis Vyvyan Jago Arundell
-Biography:Arundell was born at Launceston, Cornwall in July 1780, being the only son of Thomas Jago, a solicitor in that town, who married Catherine, a daughter of Mr. Bolt, a surgeon at Launceston. Francis was educated at Liskeard Grammar School and at Exeter College, Oxford, where he took the...
.
- Charles Sandoe GilbertCharles Sandoe Gilbert-Life:The son of Thomas Gilbert, was born in the parish of Kenwyn, near Truro, in 1760. In conjunction with a Mr. Powell he became an itinerant vendor of medicines in Cornwall and Devon. On Powell's retirement Gilbert continued the business alone, but afterwards took in a Mr. Parrot...
, Historical Survey of the County of Cornwall (2 vols., 1817–20) - Fortescue Hitchins and Samuel DrewSamuel DrewSamuel Drew was an Cornish Methodist theologian. A native of Cornwall, he was nicknamed the "Cornish metaphysician" for his works on the human soul, the nature of God, and the deity of Christ. He also wrote on historical and biographical themes.-Early life and education:Drew was born in the...
, The History of Cornwall (1824)
Cumberland and Westmorland
- Richard BurnRichard BurnRichard Burn was an English legal writer.-Education and career:...
and Joseph Nicolson, The History and Antiquities of the Counties of Westmorland and Cumberland, 1777.
This goes back to the manuscript Accompt of the most considerable estates and families in the county of Cumberland of about 1603 by John Denton.
- William HutchinsonWilliam Hutchinson (topographer)-Life:By 1760 he was established as a solicitor in Barnard Castle, County Durham. He was elected Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries on 15 February 1781, and communicated in November 1788 an 'Account of Antiquities in Lancashire' . Hutchinson died on 7 April 1814, having survived his wife only two...
, History of the County of Cumberland (1794).
Derbyshire
- Stephen GloverStephen Glover (antiquary)Stephen Glover , was an English author and antiquary.Glover compiled the Peak Guide, Derby, 1830, and assisted Bateman in his Antiquities of Derbyshire, 1848. Glover's best known work is the History and Gazetteer of the County of Derby, illustrated. The materials collected by the publisher, Stephen...
, Directory of the County of Derby (1827–29); and History of the County of Derby (1829–31)
Glover used an unpublished history by William Woolley.
- Samuel Bagshaw, History, Gazetteer and Directory of Derbyshire (1846)
- White, History, Gazetteer and Directory of the County of Derby (1857)
Devon
- Sir William Pole, The Description of Devonshire (c.1608-1617)
- Thomas WestcoteThomas Westcote-Life:Baptised at Shobrooke in Devon on 17 June 1567, he was the third son of Philip Westcote of West Raddon in the parish of Shobrooke, by his wife Katharine, daughter of George Waltham of Brenton in the parish of Exminster, Devon...
, Survey of Devon of 1630 - Tristram RisdonTristram RisdonTristram Risdon was an English antiquary and topographer, and the author of Survey of the County of Devon. He was able to devote most of his life to writing this work. After he completed it in about 1632 it circulated around interested people in several manuscript copies for almost 80 years before...
, Chorographical Description or Survey of the County of Devon (c. 1632) - Richard PolwheleRichard PolwheleRichard Polwhele was a Cornish clergyman, poet and topographer.-Biography:Born at Truro, Cornwall, Polwhele met literary luminaries Catharine Macaulay and Hannah More at an early age. He was educated at Truro Grammar School, where he precociously published The Fate of Llewellyn...
, The History of Devonshire (1793–1806)
John Swete provided material to Polwhele.
- William WhiteWilliam White-Politics:*William White , MP for Clitheroe in 1660*William White , North Carolina Secretary of State, 1798–1811*William White , elected member of the 1st Council of the Northwest Territories, 1883–1885...
, History, gazetteer and directory of the county of Devon: including the city of Exeter, and comprising a general survey of the county
Dorset
- John Hutchins, History and Antiquities of Dorset (1774)
- John Hutchins, The History and Antiquities of the County of Dorset, Vols. 1-4, 1815.
Durham
- William HutchinsonWilliam Hutchinson (topographer)-Life:By 1760 he was established as a solicitor in Barnard Castle, County Durham. He was elected Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries on 15 February 1781, and communicated in November 1788 an 'Account of Antiquities in Lancashire' . Hutchinson died on 7 April 1814, having survived his wife only two...
, History and Antiquities of the Country Palatine of Durham - Robert SurteesRobert Surtees (antiquarian)Robert Surtees was a celebrated English historian and antiquary of his native County Durham. Surtees was born in Durham, and educated at Kepier School, Houghton-le-Spring, and later at Christ Church, Oxford. Although a student of law he never practised as a lawyer...
, The History and Antiquities of the County Palatine of Durham
Both Hutchinson and Surtees drew on the work of George Allan
George Allan (antiquary)
George Allan was an English antiquary and attorney at Darlington.Allan spent much of his youth in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, where he was educated at the all-boys Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Wakefield....
. John Brewster
John Brewster (author)
-Life:Brewster was the son of the Rev. Richard Brewster, M.A., vicar of Heighington in County Durham. He received his education at the grammar school of Newcastle-upon-Tyne under Hugh Moises, and at Lincoln College, Oxford, where he graduated B.A. in 1775, and M.A. in 1778. He was appointed curate...
assisted Surtees.
- James Raine, The History and Antiquities of North-Durham, 1852,
- William Fordyce, The History and Antiquities of the County Palatine of Durham
- Whellan, History, Topography, and Directory of the County Palatine of Durham (1856)
Essex
- Philip MorantPhilip MorantPhilip Morant was an English clergyman, author and historian.He was educated at Abingdon School and Pembroke College, Oxford, eventually taking his Masters Degree at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge in 1729.Ordained in 1722, he began his association with the county of Essex with a curacy at Great...
, The History and Antiquities of the County of Essex, two volumes 1763-1768
Morant used collections of Thomas Jekyll; and also material from Richard Symonds
Richard Symonds (diarist)
Richard Symonds was an English royalist and antiquary, now remembered for an eye-witness diary he wrote of events of the First English Civil War.-Life:...
he obtained via Gregory King
Gregory King
Gregory King was an English genealogist, engraver and statistician.-Life:Gregory King was born at Lichfield, England. His father was a surveyor and landscape gardener. Gregory was a very bright boy and his father used him as an assistant in his surveying work. At 14 Gregory became a clerk to...
. A major source was the parish descriptions of William Holman. These had been acquired by Nicholas Tindal, for whom Morant worked as a curate; they then passed via Nathaniel Salmon, Anthony Allen and John Booth, before Morant had them from Booth about 1750.
- A New and Complete History of Essex, from a late survey (1772)
- Elizabeth Ogborne, The History of Essex (1817, one volume only)
Thomas Leman and probably Joseph Strutt
Joseph Strutt (engraver and antiquary)
Joseph Strutt was an English engraver, artist, antiquary and writer.-Childhood:Strutt was born at Springfield Mill in Chelmsford, Essex, the youngest son of Thomas Strutt by his wife Elizabeth - the mill belonged to his father, a wealthy miller...
assisted.
- William White, History, Gazetteer and Directory of the County of Essex, 1848
Gloucestershire
- Sir Robert AtkynsRobert Atkyns (topographer)Sir Robert Atkyns was a topographer, antiquary, and Member of Parliament. He is best known for his county history, the Ancient and Present State of Gloucestershire.-Life:...
, The Ancient and Present State of Glostershire (1712) - Samuel Rudder, A New History of Gloucestershire (1779)
Rudder's work was based on Atkyns and a manuscript of Richard Furney.
- Ralph BiglandRalph BiglandRalph Bigland was an English officer of arms and cheesemaker. He was born at Stepney, Middlesex, and was the only son of Richard Bigland and his wife, Mary. His father was a native of Westmorland, descended from the Bigland family of Bigland, Lancashire.-Early career:In 1728 Bigland was...
, Historical, Monumental & Genealogical Collections relative to the County of Gloucester (1791-4) - Thomas Rudge, The History of the County of Gloucester, compressed and brought down to the year 1803 (1803)
- Thomas Dudley FosbrokeThomas Dudley FosbrokeRev. Thomas Dudley Fosbroke , English antiquary, was born in London.He was educated at St Paul's School and Pembroke College, Oxford, graduating MA in 1792. In that year he was ordained and became curate of Horsley, Gloucestershire, where he remained till 1810...
, Abstracts of Records and Manuscripts Respecting the County of Gloucester (1807)
- Gloucestershire Victoria County HistoryGloucestershire Victoria County HistoryThe Gloucestershire Victoria County History is an encyclopaedic history of the county of Gloucestershire in England. It forms part of the overall Victoria County History of England founded in 1899 in honour of Queen Victoria...
Hampshire
- William Bingley, The Topographical Account of the Hundred of Bosmere (fragment) 1817
- William White, History, gazetter and directory of the County of Hampshire (1878)
Herefordshire
- John DuncumbJohn DuncumbJohn Duncumb was an English clergyman and antiquary. He is best known as the author of an unfinished county history of Herefordshire.-Life:...
, partial work (1804–12) continued by others.
Duncumb used work by Richard Blyke; and an older manuscript by Silas Taylor (Domville).
Hertfordshire
See: History of HertfordshireHistory of Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is an English county, founded in the Norse–Saxon wars of the 9th century, and developed through commerce serving London. It is a land-locked county that was several times the seat of Parliament. Today, with a population slightly over 1 million, Hertfordshire retains much of its...
; :Category:History of Hertfordshire; Victoria County History
- John NordenJohn NordenJohn Norden was an English cartographer, chorographer and antiquary. He planned a series of county maps and accompanying county histories of England, the Speculum Britanniae...
, Speculi Britaniae Pars: the Description of Hartfordshire (1598) - Henry ChauncyHenry ChauncySir Henry Chauncy Kt. was born in Ardeley, Hertfordshire and died at Yardley Bury , Hertfordshire. He was an English lawyer, educator and antiquarian...
, Antiquities of Hertfordshire (1700) - Nathaniel Salmon, History of Hertfordshire (1728)
Salmon drew on unpublished material of Chauncy.
- Robert ClutterbuckRobert Clutterbuck-Life:He was the eldest surviving son of Thomas Clutterbuck, of Watford, Hertfordshire, by Sarah, daughter of Robert Thurgood of Baldock. He was born at Watford on 28 June 1772, and at an early age was sent to Harrow School. He went to Exeter College, Oxford as a gentleman commoner. After...
, The History and Antiquities of the County of Hertford (1815-27)
Clutterbuck used collections of Thomas Blore.
- John Edwin Cussans, A History of Hertfordshire, containing an account of the Descents of the various Manors, Pedigrees of Families, Antiquities, Local Customs, &c. (16 parts in three folio volumes, 1870-81)
Kent
- William LambardeWilliam LambardeWilliam Lambarde was an antiquarian and writer on legal subjects.-Life:Lambarde was born in London. His father was a draper , an alderman and a sheriff of London. In 1556, he was admitted to Lincoln's Inn...
, A Perambulation of Kent (completed 1570; published 1576) - Richard Kilburne, A Brief Survey of the County of Kent, 1659 edition as A Topographie, or Survey of the County of Kent
- Edward HastedEdward HastedEdward Hasted was the author of a major county history, The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent .-Life:...
, The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent (1788–99) - Samuel Henshall, Specimens and parts; containing a history of the county of Kent and a dissertation on the laws (1798, partial)
- Christopher Greenwood, An Epitome of County History Vol. 1 (1818)
Lancashire
- Matthew Gregson, Portfolio of Fragments relative to the History and Antiquities of the County Palatine and Duchy of Lancaster (1817)
- John Corry, History of Lancashire (1825)
- Edward Baines, Directory and Gazetteer of the County of Lancaster (1824–5) and History of the County Palatine of Lancaster (1836).
Baines used Edwin Butterworth as researcher and author; he also took much from Gregson's Portfolio.
Leicestershire
- William BurtonWilliam Burton (antiquary, died 1645)William Burton was an English antiquarian, best known as the author of Description of Leicestershire.-Life:...
, The Description of Leicester Shire (1622)
Burton made use of notes of Augustine Vincent
Augustine Vincent
-Life:He was born presumably in Northamptonshire, about 1584, third and youngest son of William Vincent and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of John Mabbott of Walgrave, merchant of the staple. He early obtained a post in the Tower of London. He had access to the documents preserved in the Tower, and...
.
- John NicholsJohn Nichols (printer)John Nichols was an English printer, author and antiquary.-Early life and apprenticeship:He was born in Islington, London to Edward Nichols and Anne Wilmot. On 22 June 1766 he married Anne Cradock daughter of William Cradock...
, The History and Antiquities of the County of Leicester. 4 vols. (1795–1815)
Nichols included unpublished material from William Burton, Francis Peck
Francis Peck
-Life:He was born in Stamford, Lincolnshire, England, and educated at Stamford School. Peck was educated at Charterhouse School, before continuing on to St John's College, Cambridge...
, and Richard Farmer
Richard Farmer
Dr Richard Farmer was a Shakespearean scholar and Master of Emmanuel College, Cambridge. He is known for his Essay on the Learning of Shakespeare , in which he maintained that Shakespeare's knowledge of the classics was through translations, the errors of which he reproduced.-Life:He was born at...
.
- William White, History, Gazetteer and Directory of Leicestershire, 1863
Lincolnshire
- Thomas AllenThomas Allen (topographer)Thomas Allen , was an English topographer.Allen was the son of a map engraver. He was born in 1803, and died of cholera on 7 July 1833. In 1827 he published a quarto volume, ‘The History and Antiquities of the Parish of Lambeth and the Archiepiscopal Palace,’ with illustrations, chiefly drawn and...
, A History of the County of Lincoln (1833–4)
Middlesex
- John NordenJohn NordenJohn Norden was an English cartographer, chorographer and antiquary. He planned a series of county maps and accompanying county histories of England, the Speculum Britanniae...
, Speculum Britanniae: the First Parte: an Historicall, & Chorographicall Discription of Middlesex (1593)
Norfolk
- Anonymous, The Chorography of Norfolk (c.1602: unpublished)
- Francis BlomefieldFrancis BlomefieldFrancis Blomefield was an English antiquary, who projected a county history of Norfolk. During his lifetime, he compiled and published detailed accounts of the city of Norwich, Borough of Thetford and the southern hundreds of the county, but died before the whole work could be completed.-Biography...
, Topographical History of Norfolk (1739-45) http://www.british-history.ac.uk/catalogue.aspx?gid=139&type=1
Blomefield used materials from Peter Le Neve
Peter Le Neve
Peter Le Neve was an English herald and antiquary. He was appointed Rouge Dragon Pursuivant 17 January 1690 and created Norroy King at Arms on 25 May 1704. From 1707 to 1721 he was Richmond Herald of Arms in Ordinary, an officer of arms of the College of Arms...
and Thomas Martin of Palgrave. Charles Parkin
Charles Parkin
-Life:The son of William Parkin of London, he was born on 11 January 1689, and educated at Merchant Taylors' School. He went in 1708 to Pembroke Hall, Cambridge, and graduated B.A. 1711, M.A. 1717...
worked to complete the history. Blomefield used material collected by Antony Norris, who later worked on completing and revising the history with John Fenn
John Fenn (antiquarian)
Sir John Fenn was an English antiquary. He is best remembered for collecting, editing, and publishing the Paston Letters, describing the life and political scheming of the gentry in Medieval England...
.
- Anonymous, History and Antiquities of the County of Norfolk (1781)
By Crouse and Booth of Norwich, this was largely copied from Blomefield.
- John Chambers, A General History of the County of Norfolk (1829)
Northamptonshire
- Peter WhalleyPeter Whalley (clergyman)Peter Whalley was an English clergyman, academic and schoolmaster, known as an antiquarian author and literary editor.He was the son of Peter Whalley of Rugby, born on 2 September 1722 at Ecton. He was at Merchant Taylors' School from 1731 to 1740, and in June 1740 was elected to a scholarship at...
, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire. Compiled from the manuscript collections of the late learned antiquary, John Bridges, Esq. (1762–1791)
This resulted from a project started by John Bridges
John Bridges (topographer)
-Life:Bridges was born at Barton Seagrave, Northamptonshire, where his father then resided. His grandfather was Colonel John Bridges of Alcester, Warwickshire, whose eldest son of the same name purchased the manor of Barton Seagrave about 1665, and as an improving landowner introduced the...
, and took several generations to come to fruition.
- George BakerGeorge Baker (topographer)George Baker , topographer and historian, was a native of Northampton, England.While a schoolboy, at the age of 13, he wrote a manuscript history of Northampton, and from that time he was always engaged in enlarging his collections...
, History and Antiquities of the County of Northampton (1822–30)
Northumberland
- John Hodgson, History of Northumberland
- History of the County of Northumberland (15 volumes 1893–1940)
Nottinghamshire
- Robert ThorotonRobert ThorotonDr. Robert Thoroton was an English antiquary, mainly remembered for his county history, The Antiquities of Nottinghamshire .-Life:...
, Antiquities of Nottinghamshire, 1677 - John ThrosbyJohn ThrosbyJohn Throsby was an English antiquary.The son of Nicholas Throsby, alderman of Leicester and mayor in 1759, by Martha Mason, his second wife, was born at Leicester on 21 Dec. 1740, and baptised at St. Martin's Church there on 13 January following. In 1770 he was appointed parish clerk of St...
, Antiquities of Nottinghamshire, 1790
Rutland
- James Wright, The History and Antiquities of the County of Rutland (1684)
- Thomas Blore, History and Antiquities of the County of Rutland (1811, partial)
Shropshire
- Charles HulbertCharles Hulbert-Life:The son of Thomas Hulbert of Hulbert Green, near Cheadle, Cheshire, he was born in Manchester on 18 February 1778, and educated at the grammar school of Halton, Cheshire...
, History of the County of Salop (1837)
This included an edition of the 1779 History and Antiquities of Shrewsbury by Thomas Phillips, which drew on the work of James Bowen
James Bowen (artist)
James Bowen was an English painter and topographer. Bowen was a native of Shrewsbury, where he died. The antiquarian John Bowen was his son.-Works:...
and John Bowen.
- Thomas Farmer Dukes,
Dukes used a manuscript of Edward Lloyd.
Somerset
- John Collinson (1791, 3 vols.) including survey by Edmund Rack
Staffordshire
- Sampson ErdeswickeSampson ErdeswickeSampson Erdeswicke was an English antiquarian.-Life:He was born at Sandon in Staffordshire, and entered Brasenose College, Oxford, as a gentleman-commoner in 1553...
,
Robert Plot
Robert Plot was an English naturalist, first Professor of Chemistry at the University of Oxford, and the first keeper of the Ashmolean Museum....
,
Suffolk
- Anonymous, The Chorography of Suffolk (1602: unpublished)
- Robert Ryece, A Breviary of Suffolk (c.1618: unpublished)
- John Gage RokewodeJohn Gage RokewodeJohn Gage Rokewode was a historian and antiquarian.-Life:He was the fourth son of Sir Thomas Gage of Hengrave, and took the name Rokewode in 1838 when he succeeded to the Rokewode estates. John was a descendant of a maternal line from Ambrose Rookwood...
, The History and Antiquities of Suffolk, 1838 - Alfred Suckling, The History and Antiquities of the County of Suffolk (1846) http://www.british-history.ac.uk/source.aspx?pubid=413
- M. R. JamesM. R. JamesMontague Rhodes James, OM, MA, , who used the publication name M. R. James, was an English mediaeval scholar and provost of King's College, Cambridge and of Eton College . He is best remembered for his ghost stories, which are regarded as among the best in the genre...
, Suffolk and Norfolk: A Perambulation of the Two Counties with Notices of Their History and Their Ancient Buildings (1930)
Surrey
- John AubreyJohn AubreyJohn Aubrey FRS, was an English antiquary, natural philosopher and writer. He is perhaps best known as the author of the collection of short biographical pieces usually referred to as Brief Lives...
, Perambulation of Surrey (written 1673-92); published by Richard RawlinsonRichard RawlinsonRichard Rawlinson FRS was an English clergyman and antiquarian collector of books and manuscripts, which he bequeathed to the Bodleian Library, Oxford.-Life:...
as The Natural History and Antiquities of the County of Surrey (1718-19) - Owen ManningOwen ManningOwen Manning was an English clergyman and antiquarian, known as a historian of Surrey.-Life:Son of Owen Manning of Orlingbury, Northamptonshire, he was born there on 11 August 1721, and received his education at Queens' College, Cambridge, where he graduated B.A. in 1740, M.A. in 1744, and B.D. in...
and William BrayWilliam Bray (antiquary)-Life:Bray was the fourth and youngest son of Edward Bray of Shere in Surrey, who married Ann, daughter of Rev. George Duncomb. When ten years old he was entered Rugby School. On leaving school he was placed with an attorney, Mr...
, The History and Antiquities of the County of Surrey (1804–14)
Sussex
- James DallawayJames Dallaway-Life:He was the only son of James Dallaway, banker of Stroud, Gloucestershire, by Martha, younger daughter of Richard Hopton of Worcester, and was born at Bristol on 20 February 1763. He received his early education at the grammar school of Cirencester, and became a scholar of Trinity College,...
, History of the Western Division of Sussex (1815 to 1832), with Edmund Cartwright - Thomas Walker HorsfieldThomas Walker HorsfieldRev. Thomas Walker Horsfield FSA , was an English Nonconformist minister, topographer, and historian best known for his works The History and Antiquities of Lewes and The History, Antiquities and Topography of the County of Sussex .-Life:He was the eldest of six children of James Horsfield and Ann...
, The History, Antiquities and Topography of the County of Sussex (1835) - John Russell Smith, Sussex archaeological collections illustrating the history and antiquities of the county, 1853
Warwickshire
- William DugdaleWilliam DugdaleSir William Dugdale was an English antiquary and herald. As a scholar he was influential in the development of medieval history as an academic subject.-Life:...
, The Antiquities of Warwickshire (1656)
Dugdale used notes from William Burton
William Burton (antiquary, died 1645)
William Burton was an English antiquarian, best known as the author of Description of Leicestershire.-Life:...
; and much material from Simon Archer.
Wiltshire
- John AubreyJohn AubreyJohn Aubrey FRS, was an English antiquary, natural philosopher and writer. He is perhaps best known as the author of the collection of short biographical pieces usually referred to as Brief Lives...
, Antiquities of Wiltshire (written 1656-71; partially published 1862); and Naturall Historie of Wiltshire (written 1656-91; partially published 1847) - Sir Richard Colt Hoare, The History of Modern Wiltshire (1822–44)
- Wiltshire Victoria County HistoryWiltshire Victoria County HistoryThe Wiltshire Victoria County History is an encyclopaedic history of the county of Wiltshire in England. It forms part of the overall Victoria County History of England founded in 1899 in honour of Queen Victoria...
Worcestershire
- Treadway Russell NashTreadway Russell NashTreadway Russell Nash was English clergyman, now known as an early historian of Worcestershire, and the author of Collections for the History of Worcestershire, an important source document for Worcestershire county histories. He was a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London...
, History and Antiquities of the County of Worcester (1781)
Nash used collections of Charles Lyttelton
Charles Lyttelton (bishop)
Charles Lyttelton was an English churchman and antiquary, bishop of Carlisle from 1762.-Life:He was third son of Sir Thomas Lyttelton, 4th Baronet, by his wife Christian, daughter of Sir Richard Temple, 3rd Baronet of Stowe, Buckinghamshire...
, including older research of Thomas Habington.
Yorkshire
- Ralph ThoresbyRalph ThoresbyRalph Thoresby , born in Leeds and is widely credited with being the first historian of that city. He was besides a merchant, non-conformist, fellow of the Royal Society, diarist, author, common-councilman in the Corporation of Leeds, and museum keeper.-Upbringing:Ralph Thoresby was the son of John...
, using collections of John Hopkinson - Memoirs Illustrative of the History and Antiquities of the County and City of York (1816)
- Joseph HunterJoseph Hunter (antiquarian)Joseph Hunter was a Unitarian Minister and antiquarian best known for his publications Hallamshire. The History and Topography of the Parish of Sheffield in the County of York and the two-volume South Yorkshire , still considered among the best works written on the history of Sheffield and South...
, South Yorkshire (a history of the Deanery of Doncaster) (1828–31) - Edward Baines, History, Directory and Gazetteer of the County of York (1822–3)
- Thomas AllenThomas Allen (topographer)Thomas Allen , was an English topographer.Allen was the son of a map engraver. He was born in 1803, and died of cholera on 7 July 1833. In 1827 he published a quarto volume, ‘The History and Antiquities of the Parish of Lambeth and the Archiepiscopal Palace,’ with illustrations, chiefly drawn and...
, A New and Complete History of the County of York (1828–31) - The Survey of the County of York, John de Kirkby, 1866 http://books.google.com/books?id=0tgKAAAAYAAJ&dq=york+lyvet&source=gbs_navlinks_s
Worthies
- Thomas FullerThomas FullerThomas Fuller was an English churchman and historian. He is now remembered for his writings, particularly his Worthies of England, published after his death...
, Worthies of England - John Prince (Totnes)John Prince (Totnes)John Prince was vicar of Totnes and Berry Pomeroy in Devon, England, and was a biographer of the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries. He is notable for his major work, The Worthies of Devon...
, Worthies of Devon - Hartley ColeridgeHartley ColeridgeDavid Hartley Coleridge was an English poet, biographer, essayist, and teacher. He was the eldest son of the poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge. His sister Sara Coleridge was a poet and translator, and his brother Derwent Coleridge was a distinguished scholar and author...
, Worthies of Yorkshire and Lancashire (1836) - Mark Antony LowerMark Antony LowerMark Antony Lower F.S.A. M.A. was a Sussex historian who founded the Sussex Archaeological Society and is credited with starting the "cult of the Sussex Martyrs", however he was against the excesses of the "Bonfire Boys".-Life:...
, Worthies of Sussex (1865) - Cornelius BrownCornelius BrownCornelius Brown was a British journalist and historian.In 1874, 22-year-old Cornelius Brown was appointed editor of the Newark Advertiser in nearby Newark-on-Trent....
, Worthies of Notts - Winnifrith Alfred, Men of Kent and Kentish men: biographical notices of 680 worthies of Kent
- Henry Lonsdale The Worthies of Cumberland (1867)
- George Atkinson, The Worthies of Westmorland
- Browne, Edith Ophelia; Burton, John Richard (editors). A short biography of the Worthies of Worcestershire
Urban and parish histories
Histories were also written of cities, ancient boroughs, newer municipalities, and even individual parishParish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
es (parochial histories).
- John StowJohn StowJohn Stow was an English historian and antiquarian.-Early life:The son of Thomas Stow, a tallow-chandler, he was born about 1525 in London, in the parish of St Michael, Cornhill. His father's whole rent for his house and garden was only 6s. 6d. a year, and Stow in his youth fetched milk every...
, The Survey of London (1598 and 1603) - Francis DrakeFrancis Drake (antiquary)Francis Drake was an English antiquary and surgeon, best known as the author of an influential history of York, which he entitled Eboracum after the Roman name for the city.- Early life :...
, Eboracum: The History and Antiquities of the City of York, from its Original to the Present Time; together with the History of the Cathedral Church and the Lives of the Archbishops (1736) - W. Newton, The History and Antiquities of Maidstone (1741)
- Philip MorantPhilip MorantPhilip Morant was an English clergyman, author and historian.He was educated at Abingdon School and Pembroke College, Oxford, eventually taking his Masters Degree at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge in 1729.Ordained in 1722, he began his association with the county of Essex with a curacy at Great...
, The History and Antiquities of Colchester (1748) - Thomas WartonThomas WartonThomas Warton was an English literary historian, critic, and poet. From 1785 to 1790 he was the Poet Laureate of England...
, The History and Antiquities of Kiddington (1782) - William BarrettWilliam Barrett (antiquarian)William Barrett was an English surgeon and antiquary.-Life:He was born early in 1733 at Notton, Wiltshire. He passed his examination as a surgeon on 19 February 1755, and settled in Bristol in practice of his profession. On 9 November 1775 he became a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries...
, History and Antiquities of Bristol (1788) - John ThrosbyJohn ThrosbyJohn Throsby was an English antiquary.The son of Nicholas Throsby, alderman of Leicester and mayor in 1759, by Martha Mason, his second wife, was born at Leicester on 21 Dec. 1740, and baptised at St. Martin's Church there on 13 January following. In 1770 he was appointed parish clerk of St...
, The History and Antiquities of the Ancient Town of Leicester (1791) - John BrewsterJohn Brewster (author)-Life:Brewster was the son of the Rev. Richard Brewster, M.A., vicar of Heighington in County Durham. He received his education at the grammar school of Newcastle-upon-Tyne under Hugh Moises, and at Lincoln College, Oxford, where he graduated B.A. in 1775, and M.A. in 1778. He was appointed curate...
, Parochial History and Antiquities of Stockton-on-Tees (1796) - John BlacknerJohn BlacknerJohn Blackner was editor of The Statesman and author of a "history of Nottingham".-Biography:Blackner was born at Ilkeston, Derbyshire, about 1770. After serving an apprenticeship to a stocking-maker in his native place, he migrated to Nottingham...
, History of Nottingham (1815) - Thomas Walker HorsfieldThomas Walker HorsfieldRev. Thomas Walker Horsfield FSA , was an English Nonconformist minister, topographer, and historian best known for his works The History and Antiquities of Lewes and The History, Antiquities and Topography of the County of Sussex .-Life:He was the eldest of six children of James Horsfield and Ann...
, The History and Antiquities of Lewes (1824-6) - James ThompsonJames Thompson (journalist)-Life:James, son of Thomas Thompson, proprietor of the Leicester Chronicle, by his wife Elizabeth, daughter of John Garton of Halstead, Leicestershire, was born at Leicester on 6 Dec. 1817. He received his education first at a school kept by Mr. Creaton of Billesdon, and afterwards under the Rev....
, History of Leicester (1849–71) - Pishey Thompson, The History and Antiquities of Boston (1856)
- Richard Vickerman TaylorRichard Vickerman TaylorRichard Vickerman Taylor was born in Leeds, Yorkshire, on 10 October 1830, the son of John Taylor and his wife Ann Vickerman. He was married twice, first to Caroline Franks and then to Elizabeth Ann Knowles....
, The Biographia Leodiensis; or, Biographical Sketches of the Worthies of Leeds and neighbourhood, from the Norman Conquest to the present time, etc.(1865-67) - Howard DudleyHoward DudleyHoward Dudley wrote the first illustrated history of Horsham, West Sussex, in 1836. The book was entitled The History and Antiquities of Horsham and its Vicinities. He also produced the lithographs and woodcuts that were used as the illustrations, and then went on to print the book himself...
, The History and Antiquities of Horsham - Thomas FaulknerThomas Faulkner (topographer)Thomas Faulkner was an English topographer of Chelsea and other localities about London.-Life:Faulkner belonged to a family involved in the building trade in the west of London. He for many years kept a small bookseller's and stationer's shop at the corner of Paradise Row, at the west end of the...
, History and Antiquities of Hammersmith