WILTSHIREWINCHESTER. 



67 



Wiltshire may be said to be naturally divided 

 into two portions, by an irregular range of hills, 

 which extends transversely through the greater part 

 of the county, in a direction inclining from the 

 north-east to the south-west. These districts are 

 usually denominated South and North Wiltshire, 

 and differ very materially from each other, not only 

 in appearance, but in almost every distinguishing 

 quality. South Wiltshire forms the western divi- 

 sion of a vast track of chalk hills, comprising a con- 

 siderable part of Hampshire, and having for its 

 boundaries the rich lands of Berkshire, and the ex- 

 treme verge of the Marlborough hills on the north ; 

 the broken ground of Somersetshire on the west ; 

 the New Forest of Hampshire on the south ; and 

 the heaths of Surrey and Sussex, together with the 

 West Downs of the latter county, on the east. 

 North Wiltshire differs completely from the southern 

 division of the county in its general appearance. 

 Instead of a constant series of " chalky waves," the 

 aspect of this district, which extends from the verge 

 of the Downs to the hills of Gloucestershire, is 

 nearly that of a perfect flat, the few deviations 

 from the ordinary level being for the most part so 

 gradual as scarcely to be perceptible on a cursory 

 view. The country here, moreover, is so extremely 

 close and well wooded, that when viewed from any 

 of the surrounding hills, it appears like one vast 

 plantation of trees. If examined in detail, however, 

 it is found also to contain many extensive tracts 

 of rich pasture land, situated on the banks of the 

 lower Avon and the Thames, and of such smaller 

 streams as flow into' the one or the other of these 

 rivers. 



With regard to agriculture, the southern division 

 may be regarded as one vast sheep farm. The 

 summer stock of sheep kept in this division alone 

 was formerly estimated at somewhat more than 

 500,000 head, including lambs, of which at least 

 150,000 were bred annually. In the south-west 

 portion of Wiltshire, adjoining to Dorsetshire, a 

 considerable number of cows are kept for the pur- 

 pose of making butter, in order to assist, with the 

 contiguous parts of the latter county and Somerset- 

 shire, in the supply of the cities of Bath and Salis- 

 bury, and some towns of the northern district, 

 which lie immediately in the neighbourhood of the 

 great cheese dairies, where whey butter only is 

 made. With respect to the arable cultivation of 

 this district, it possesses no very peculiar features. 

 Fallowing is in very general use ; and the chief 

 manure is the produce of the sheep-fold. The 

 most general crops on the high white lands are 

 wheat and barley, and on the grounds in the 

 valleys, green crops for the winter maintenance of 

 the sheep and cattle. Potatoes are likewise planted 

 in considerable quantities on the sandy veins which 

 run through the county in this division. On the 

 meadow lands, irrigation is practised perhaps more 

 extensively here than in any county of England, 

 and with signal advantages. Indeed, water mea- 

 dows are indispensable appendages to a South Wilt- 

 shire farm ; as without them it would be almost 

 impossible to pursue the present system of sheep 

 breeding, which is certainly more profitable to the 

 farmer, to his landlord, and to the country at large, 

 than any other mode of agriculture that could be 

 substituted in its stead. The distinguishing feature 

 of the agriculture of North Wiltshire is the pastur- 

 age or grazing system ; which is conducted princi- 

 pally with a view to the supply of the dairy with 

 milk for the manufacture of cheese. Great num- 



bers of cows are therefore kept in that district, and 

 a considerable part of them is likewise reared in it. 

 The cheese of North Wiltshire has long been de- 

 servedly famed ; though for some time after it be- 

 came the staple commodity here, it was sold in the 

 London market as the manufacture of Gloucester- 

 shire. Now, however, much of it is well known 

 under the application of the " North Wiltshire," and 

 is very generally esteemed superior to the cheese 

 of the adjoining county. In all things relative to 

 the dairy, indeed, the inhabitants of this district 

 probably excel those of any part of England. But 

 though the principal part of the pasture lands in 

 this district is devoted to the purposes of the dairy, 

 a considerable portion of them is also appropriated 

 to grazing cattle for sale. Pigs are also reared in 

 vast numbers in different parts of the county. 



The manufactures of this county are of consider- 

 able importance. Woollens were formerly made 

 to a great extent ; at Salisbury the manufacture 

 has greatly fallen off within these 20 years, and 

 very little is now made. Salisbury likewise car- 

 ries on a considerable manufactory of cutlery and 

 steel goods, which are considered equal in work- 

 manship to any made in the kingdom. Carpets of 

 an excellent quality, kerseymere and linsey are 

 made at Wilton. Broad cloths and other descrip- 

 tions of woollen goods are made at Bradford, Hey- 

 tesbury, Chippenham, Westbury, Trowbridge, and 

 all the adjacent towns and villages. Linen is 

 manufactured at Mere ; fustians and thicksets at 

 Aldbourn. Linen and silk are made to a consider- 

 able extent at Stourton and Maiden-Bradley. The 

 ale called " Wiltshire" and " Kennet," is in great 

 estimation, being principally sent to London. The 

 principal export of the county consists of its agri- 

 cultural produce ; and besides supplying its own 

 extensive manufactories, it sends a large proportion 

 of its wool out of the county. The imports con- 

 sist chiefly of what is required for domestic con- 

 sumption, such as coal, &c. Population of the 

 county in 1841, 258,733. 



WINCHESTER ; an ancient city of England, 

 in Hampshire, situated near the river Itchin, 62 

 miles S. W. by W. from London. It is about half 

 a mile long, from east to west, and contains nine 

 parish churches. It was known in the time of the 

 Romans, who made it one of their military sta- 

 tions. During the reign of Egbert, it became the 

 metropolis of the kingdom, but was soon rivalled 

 by London. Its commerce was also obstructed by 

 various accidents ; and, in the reign of Henry VIII. 

 it received a blow, in the dissolution of monasteries 

 and the destruction of religious houses; after which, 

 Winchester contained scarcely any thing more than 

 a shadow of its former grandeur. In the reign of 

 Charles I., the city and castle of Winchester, which 

 remained faithful to that monarch, were compelled 

 to surrender to Cromwell, who destroyed the works 

 of the castle, together with the fortifications of the 

 city. The cathedral of Winchester is one of the 

 most interesting buildings in England. The ori- 

 ginal structure, built by Saxon kings, is entirely 

 destroyed. In the eleventh century, the cathedral 

 was rebuilt by bishop Walkelin. The next im- 

 provement was undertaken by William de Edyng- 

 ton, treasurer to Edward III., and was finished by 

 bishop Wykeham in 1394 : the eastern part was 

 rebuilt at the beginning of the sixteenth century. 

 The length of the cathedral is 556 feet. Next to 

 the cathedral, in interest and antiquity, stands the 

 college of St Mary's, founded by Wykeham in 1387, 



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