246 HISTORY OF THE 



tre, a subscription bowling green, botanic gardens, 

 two sets of assembly rooms, libraries and reading 

 rooms, &c. 



Races are held annually about the beginning of 

 August, and continue two days ; the course, 

 which is well adapted to the purpose, is situated 

 on Southampton common, and was given by the 

 corporation. The principal stakes run for, 

 are, the Southampton stakes of 20 sovs. each, 

 h. ft. and only 5 if declared, &c., with £50 added 

 from the fund ; the owner of the second horse to 

 receive back his stake ; and two plates of £50 each, 

 given by the members for the southern division of 

 the county, and the members for the town, the for- 

 mer being added to a sweepstakes of 10 sovs. and 

 the latter 5 sovs. 



Stockbridge, a small town situated on the 

 Great Western Road from London to Exeter ; 18 

 miles from Southampton, and 66 from London. 



The race course was formerly on Houghton 

 Down, about 2 miles west of the town, but a new 

 one has been formed, immediately adjoining it, in 

 the parishes of Wallop and Longstock, under Dam- 

 burg Hill, on which stands an old Roman camp, 

 from the area and entrenchment of which the 

 whole of it may be seen. A stand has been erected 

 and is also used by the members of the Bibury 

 Racing Club, which has been removed here from 

 Gloucestershire. The races here take place about 



