Devon View Books

Books and Booklets with views of Devon (and sometimes Cornwall).

Over the years I have accummulated a few books of views and also have a number of guide books with views in them. This site aims to include as many illustrations - or links to illustrations - as possible.

I have already posted a number of illustrations on-line, e.g. all the 94 plates of each of Jennings and of Fisher´s works of 1829. This page will provide a link to all sites where I have included all illustrations as well as taking you to each of the view books illustrated above.

Dugdale´s Curiosities of Great Britain or England & Wales Delineated - all engravings from an 11-volume example of Dugdale´s impressive work. A short introduction with over 200 steel engravings from c.1845.

Plates from Thomas Moore’s History of Devonshire.

Seventeen full colour plates from an incomplete set of Thomas Moore´s History.

Plates from Henry Fisher’s Devonshire & Cornwall Illustrated.

Harwood´s Views of Devon: 12 views by J & F Harwood of London.

Twenty-Four Views of Torquay (Rock & Co.) published by a local Torquay bookseller, M C Oldrey. Circa 1870.

Twelve Tinted Views of this Neighbourhood (North Devon): 12 delightfullly tinted miniature views by Besley showing Barnstaple and Bideford and area.

Edward Butcher´s Beauties of Sidmouth Displayed - the Third Edition - had 12 full colour illustrations.

Besley´s Views of Devonshire with six colour-tinted views of Plymouth, including a lovely one of the Eddystone.

Besley´s Views of Devonshire with six black and white views of Plymouth, including a nice one of Devonport.

Besley´s Views of Devonshire with eighteen black and white views of Torquay and surrounding area, including a nice one of Berry-Pomeroy.

Besley´s Views of Devonshire with six black and white views of Lynton and Lynmouth.

Besley´s Views of Devonshire with six black and white views of Torquay and surrounding area, including a nice one of Paignton.

Besley´s Views of Devonshire with eighteen black and white views of Lynton and Lynmouth area with later views of Barnstaple with the railway and (new?) hotel at Wildersmouth (c.1870).

Besley´s Route Book series. The Route Book of Devon was published from 1845 to approx. 1871 but only the books published in 1854/1856 had views. These are illustrated here with an interesting view of the "Alphington Ponies".

Croydon´s A Guide to the Watering Places on the Coast. Fully illustrated from two copies in my collection with an overview of different examples listed.

Notes on views and photography.

Firstly a number of engravings were "retouched", i.e. updated.

One example is Besley´s large view of Meadfoot in Torquay.

Early version

Later version: note new hotel in foreground

Early version

Later version: note buildings on the hills in background

Secondly, a few engravings have altered dates or dates added later. Edward Cockrem´s first Guide to Torquay and Neighbourhood has views of Hesketh Crescent, Daddy-Hole, Anstey´s Cove and Chapel Hill, Torquay: these are not dated. However, in the book of Rock & Co. views published by Oldrey (see above) these are dated 1866, 1860, 1864 and 1860 respectively.

An example is this of Torquay from the Beacon; notice the added date. This undated view currently on sale by WB B Williams at Antique Prints and Maps of Fishguard (August 2022):

https://www.antique-prints-maps.com/acatalog/Torquay-from-the-BeaconB-2351560.html

And from an album of views published by Oldrey:

Dated: 27 April 1870

Another example is this of Torquay seen from Park Hill; notice the widening of the Strand and the differing dates.

24 June 1863

8 Oct 1875

A note on picture quality.

All images are from my own collection, and usually taken by me. Where I have used other images I acknowledge this clearly.

I try to scan each illustration taking as much care with the book as possible. This does mean that some scans are not so clear, or parts not so distinct due to less pressure being placed on the covers of the book. 

Some libraries etc. are kind enough to allow photography and, especially before c. 2010, this was not always the case. Even with a good camera, taking a photo "in situ" and taking care with the item being studied, it is not always easy to take a clear, crisp image. I apologise.