Chapter II: John Hayman for Alexander Jenkins 1806
In 1806 a new History of Exeter appeared in Exeter and London bookshops: Alexander Jenkins´ The history and description of the city of Exeter and its environs, ancient and modern, civil and ecclesiastical.[24] The history was published in Exeter by P. Hedgeland and published/distributed in London by Scatcherd & Letterman; Longman, Hurst, Rees & Orme; Crosby & Co. and J. Mawman. It appears to have been a successful work and a copy is held at most large libraries.[25] It was reprinted and published as a Second Edition in 1841 with a slightly amended title, Civil and ecclesiastical history of the city of Exeter and its environs, from the time of the Romans to the year 1806.[26] This was now printed and published by W Norton of 247, High Street, Exeter and published/distributed by Messrs P A Hannaford, Curson & Son, T Balle and W Spreat (all Exeter). Not much is known about Jenkins apart from what he tells us in his Preface. From this we learn that: The following sheets, [were] compiled at different times, and the labour of many vacant hours, when want of employment in my profession, and the cares of a numerous family left me any leisure time. He mentions his confined education but that from an earliest age, he had a strong propensity to the study of antiquities and remains of former ages. There is a hint of disappointment in lack of help from possible informants and lack of philanthropy of the current age (reiterated under General Benefactions in Chap. VI). Despite these shortcomings Jenkins was able to produce a comprehensive work of over 450 pages.
A South View of the OLD BRIDGE. Drawn by Coggan and engraved by Jenkins.
There are 12 plates or illustrations (see also
Appendix I), most of which would appear to have been prepared personally. In his Preface he remarks that: The major part of the plates, if not executed in the masterly stile (sic) of modern publications, will commemorate to posterity the places they are intended to represent. Two of the plates (both signed by Jenkins) are sketch maps of the western peninsula, two are simple sketches of old coins and two are plans, of Rougemont Castle and the cathedral layout. The latter was engraved by Jenkins but drawn and crudely signed - J Jones del
[27]. The other three are very creditable wood engravings: of the old Exeter Bridge
[28] (752)*, the Guildhall and Tower (on one sheet, 781 and 992)* and two views of Rougemont Castle (on one sheet, 774 and 775)*. The map of Exeter included is engraved by B Baker after a drawing by Hayman; and the very attractive engraving of the Great Conduit* was engraved by Jenkins from a drawing by Hayman. Only the Frontispiece illustration of the Gateway to Rougemont Castle (773)* was by and after T H Williams.
[29]
Despite the publication of George Oliver´s own The History of Exeter in 1821,
[30] a Second Edition was published in 1841 (which was more a reprint than a new edition, see Appendix III) which contained not only a completely new set of engravings but also a portrait of the author. It is possible this is a self-portrait: there is no signature. According to Somers Cocks: The 2nd edn 1841 has nos [1] – [14] of Sprake´s Views of Exeter (see
S.120) anonymously and poorly reproduced.
[31]
Alexander Jenkins as shown in the second edition of his work.[32] As mentioned, the First Edition contained a map of Exeter but the author has a copy of this work with two maps; one of which appears to be a proof copy. John Hayman may have used the map prepared for Beauties as the basis for the map of the city included in Alexander Jenkins’ History of Exeter. The plan, though drawn to a smaller scale, uses the same technique as for Hayman’s 1805 plan but there is no suspicion of simply copying, it is a new map.
This map is a little larger at 205 x 235 mm (l x h) compared to 180 x 220 mm of the Beauties map but attempts to include more of the surrounding area, so that the resulting scale is somewhat smaller: 20 Chains (or 1320 Feet) = 25 mm; compared to 800 Feet = 25 mm. Hayman´s first map included the vignette view of the Cathedral which occupied most of the space to the southwest of the river.
There is a signature: Engraved by B. Baker & D. Wright, Islington and From a survey & drawing by J. Hayman; and imprints: Engraved for Alexr. Jenkins History of Exeter and Published by P. Hedgeland, High Street, Exeter April 19, 1806.
Benjamin Baker was already one of the leading map engravers in Britain with a long pedigree. He produced over 50 maps for the long-running and successful Universal Magazine between 1791 and 1799 including a county map of Devon.
[33] Those interested in Devon mapping will recognise his name as the engraver of the County Map of Devon issued by William Faden in 1799 as Reduced from the large map by Benjamin Donn.
[34] In 1809 he was principal engraver in the Drawing Room at the Ordnance Survey office and was mainly responsible for engraving the OS map of Devon.
[35]
In this map of Exeter there is greater emphasis on the suburbs so that toll gates can be seen and a number of houses are shown, e.g., Franklin, Barley, Haccombe and the two Cleaves to the west; Cowick Priory and Alphington House to the south; and Liverydole Chapel to the east. The area actually covered is from Littlejohn’s Cross to the Tiverton Gate and from Exwick Mill to one mile out from Larkbear, the city boundary. The Exeter/Devon boundary is clearly pecked (omitting the northern part). Heights are hachured and Country Seats drawn in elevation. This map has more written information even within the city and appears to be more accurate.
The broad hatched border has been enlarged for the title and there is a North point. Whereas the list on Hayman’s earlier plan included all religious meeting places this Reference Key only relates to the churches. The northerly barracks are now described and the new Artillery Barracks shown (bottom right); Hoopers Buildings can now be seen next to the Workhouse on the Honiton-London Road. There appear to be fewer buildings shown about Larkbear by Mt. Radford, and though Bull Meadow has lost its racks, there are further rack fields shown along Magdalen Street. The plan also shows nearly all the toll gates on the main roads. At Exwick a factory and mills replace one of the houses; possibly Mr Pim’s paper mills which burnt down only three years later. Within the city the streets, most important buildings, the Guildhall, inns, hotels, Tuckers Hall, the theatre, the partly built crescent in Barn Field and even the markets are shown and lettered.
John Hayman for Alexander Jenkins – a proof copy
Link: To access Chapter III: John Hayman´s proof version of his map of EXETER - click here.
[24] Full title: The history and description of the city of Exeter: and its environs, ancient and modern, civil and ecclesiastical: comprising the religion, and idolatrous superstition of the Britons, Saxons and Danes; the rise and progress in these western counties; with a catalogue of the Bishops from the first erecting this county into a diocese, to the present era. collected from the most approved historians. Also, a general and parochial survey and description of all the churches, places of divine worship, public buildings, institutions, antiquities, present government, prospects, &c. and a list of Mayors & Bailiffs, to the close of the eighteenth century.
[25] Worldcat lists 48 entries including multiple copies: Three copies are available at HathiTrust the on-line resource of which 2 are the second edition.
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