Printing and publishing of science and industry for the Westcountry to 1800
by Ian Maxted
Mercator’s map of the Westcountry from the Atlas minor, 1607
Produced to accompany the presentation given at the
Centre for Printing History and Culture’s Print Networks conference
Print, Printing and Industrial Heritage in the Southwest
held in Kresen Kernow, Redruth on 10 and 11 June 2026
Exeter Working Papers in Book History ; 41
Summary
1. Earliest contacts
2. Maps and itineraries
3. Topographical writers
4. Travellers' tales
5. Law and statutes
6. Newspapers and periodicals
7. Gazetteers, directories, encyclopedias
8. The scientific eye, antiquaries, natural history
9. Agriculture
10. Trade and tourism, almanacks, directories
1. Earliest Contacts
BCE
1300/1200. Trade contacts with eastern Mediterranean
450/430. Herodotus. Historiai.
325. Pythias of Massalia. Lost account of voyage cited by:
Diodorus Siculus Bibliotheca historica 60/40BCE
240/220. Eratosthenes of Cyrene. Geōgraphikḕ. Map reconstructed from writings
25/5. Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa. Lost marble map of Roman empire, basis of itineraries
CE
150/170. Claudius Ptolemy. Geōgraphikḕ Hyphḗgēsis.
280/310. Antonine itinerary
350/450. Peutinger table. Missing sheet of Britain reconstructed.
680/730. Ravenna Cosmography
2. Maps and itineraries
Mappae mundi
1000/1050. British Library Cotton ms Tiberius B. V., folio 56v.
1290/1300. Hereford mappa mundi. Richard of Haldingham? Lincoln?
Maps of Britain
1255/1259. Matthew Paris. Britannia nunc dicta Anglia. 4 versions, last finished after his death.
1360/1375. Gough Map. Bodleian Library MS Gough Gen. Top. 16.
Coastal mapping and navigation
1325. Portolan chart of Vesconte. British Library Add. MS 27376, folio 181recto.
1539. Coastal defences map made for Henry VIII. British Library, Cotton Ms. Augustus I I,
Printed maps
1482. Claudius Ptolemaeus. Cosmographia. Early woodcut map, Ulm, Lienhart Holle.
1546. George Lily Britanniae insulae
County Maps
1574/1579. Christopher Saxton. [Atlas]. County maps of England.
1611. John Speed.The theatre of the empire of Great Britaine. Inset town maps.
Large scale maps of counties
1604. John Norden. Maps of Cornwall hundreds.
1675. John Ogilby. Britannia, volume the first. Road maps.
1699. Joel Gascoyne. A map of the county of Cornwall.
1736. John Strachey. Somersetshire Survey’d And Protracted.
1765. Benjamin Donn. A MAP of the COUNTY of DEVON, with the CITY [...] of EXETER.
1765. Isaac Taylor. DORSET SHIRE
3. Topographical writers
National Compiled Published
William Harrison. Description of England in Holinshed Chronicles 1560s-1570s 1577
William Camden. Britannia. 1580s-1600 1600
Thomas Cox Magna Britannia antiqua & nova. 1710-1730? 1716-1731
Cornwall Compiled Published
Richard Carew. The history of Cornwall. 1580s-1602 1602
Norden, John. Speculi Britanniae pars … description of Cornwall 1590s? 1728
William Hals. The compleat history of Cornwall. 1740s? 1742 [part]
William Borlase . Observations on the antiquities [of ] Cornwall 1730s-1762 1754
Richard Polwhele. The history of Cornwall. 1790s 1803
Devon Compiled Published
Sir William Pole. Collections towards a description of […] Devon. 1580s-1635 1791
Thomas Westcote. A view of Devonshire in MDCXXX. 1590s-1630 1845
Tristram Risdon. The chorographical description … of Devon. 1590s-1640 1714
John Prince. Danmonii orientales illustres: or, the worthies of Devon. 1670s-1723 1701 [part]
William Chapple. A review of part of Risdon’s survey of Devon. 1772-1785 1785 [part]
Richard Polwhele. The history of Devonshire. 1780s-1806 1793-1806
Dorset Compiled Published
Thomas Gerard. A survey of Dorsetshire. 1622 1732
John Hutchins. The history and antiquities of the county of Dorset. 1740s-1773 1774
Somerset Compiled Published
Thomas Gerard. The particular description of the county of Somerset. 1633? 1900
John Collinson. The history and antiquities of the county of Somerset. 1780s? 1791
4. Travellers' tales
Travel dates Published Name and notes
1478 1778 William of Worcester. Itinerarium. Translation published 1969.
1533-1543 1710-1712 John Leland. Itinerarii. Translation published 1745.
1635 1904 Lieutenant Hammond. A short survey of the Western Counties.
1669 1821 Lorenzo Magalotti. Travels of Cosmo III, Grand Duke of Tuscany.
1698 1888 Celia Fiennes. Through England on a side saddle.
1720s 1724 William Stukeley Itinerarium curiosum.
1720s 1724-1726 Daniel Defoe. A tour through Great Britain.
1750 1888 Richard Pococke. Travels through England.
1788 1788 Stebbing Shaw. A Tour to the West of England.
1780s? 1798 William Gilpin. Observations on the western parts of England.
1789-1800 1997-2004 John Swete. Travels in Georgian Devon.
1794-1796 1798 William George Maton, Observations [...] western counties of England.
1799, 1802 1807 Robert Southey. Letters from England. Pseudonymous.
1790s 1799 George Lipscombe. A journey into Cornwall from Hampshire.
1790s 1800 Martin Dunsford. Miscellaneous observations in the course of two tours.
5. Law and statutes
Stannaries. Parliament
1534 Devon. Stannaries. Here foloyth the confirmation of the charter perteynynge to all the tynners
wythyn the cou[n]tey of deuonshyre [...]
1562 Devon. Stannaries. All the statutes of the stannary. 1562.
1725 Pearce, Thomas. The laws and customs of the stannaries in the counties of Cornwall and Devon.
1750 Pitt, Thomas A state of the proceedings of the convocation, or, parliament for the Stannaries
of the County of Cornwall
1753 Cornwall. Stannaries. Laws of the stannaries of Cornwall, made at the convocation
or parliament of tinners, at Truro
England. Parliament
1514 An act for true makyng of clothes in Devon called whyte straytes.
1585 An act for the preservation of the haven of Plymouth.
1593 An act for the reformation of sundry abuses in clothes, called Devonshire kersies or dozens
1641 An act against divers incroachments and oppressions in the Stannarie Courts.
1662 An act for the regulation of the pilchard fishing in the counties of Devon and Cornwal.
1670 An act to enable the Kings Majesty to make leases, grants, […] parcel of his Highness
Dutchy of Cornwall, or annexed to the same.
1700 An act to enable His Majesty to make leases and copies of offices, lands and heraditaments, parcel
of his Dutchy of Cornwall [...]
1706 An act for vesting certain messuages and lands, in the counties of Devon and Cornwall, of
Nicholas Rowe, Esq; in trustees, [...].
1707 An act to enable Her Majesty to make leases and copies of offices, lands and heraditaments, parcel
of her Dutchy of Cornwall [...]
1708 An act for settling the estate of John now Earl of Exeter pursuant to agreements made on the
marriage of the same Earl [...]
Great Britain. Parliament
1709 An act for clearing, preserving, and maintaining the harbour of Cat-water, lying near Plymouth, in
the county of Devon; [...]
1709 An act for explaining and making more effectual an act for [...] Trinity-House to rebuild the
lighthouse on the Edystone-Rock.
1710 An act to enable Her Majesty to grant the scite of the castle of Exon [...] for the use and benefit of
the county of Devon.
1710 An act for clearing, preserving, and maintaining the harbour of Cat-water, lying near Plymouth,
in the county of Devon [...]
1714 An act for sale of the estate of John Tregagle, Esq; deceased, lying within the counties of Devon and Cornwall, […]
1715 An act for vesting certain manors and lands, in the counties of Devon and Kent, the estate of
Sir William Courtenay, Bart. […]
1719 An act for sale of part of the estate of Francis Gwyn, Esquire in the County of Devon, for
raising money […]
1719 An act for vesting the estate of John Pendarves, late of Roscrow in the county of Cornwall, Esq;
deceased, in new trustees […]
1725 An act for vesting in trustees, certain manors, lands and tenements, in the county of Cornwall,
late the estate of Sir Jonathan Trelawny
6. Newspapers
London Proprietor Title
1622-1642 Nathaniel Butter. News from most parts of Christendom, weekly, title varies.
1642-1651 [Many Civil War newsbooks]
1665-date London gazette, started as Oxford gazette, now The gazette.
1702-1735 Elizabeth Mallet Daily courant, the first successful daily newspaper.
Bristol Proprietor Title
1702-1715 William Bonney Bristol post boy
Exeter Proprietor Title
1704-1715 Sam Farley’s Exeter post-man, later titles by Farleys, mainly in Bristol.
1709-1711 Jos. Bliss’s Exeter post-boy.
1714-1722 Philip Bishop Exeter mercury.
1715-1718 Joseph Bliss Protestant mercury, possible continuation of Exeter post-boy.
1717-1791 Andrew Brice The post-master, title varies, ends as Old Exeter journal.
1760-1764 John Spencer Exeter chronicle.
1763-1917 [Robert] Trewman’s Exeter flying post, firstly Exeter mercury, then Exeter evening-post.
1792-1952 [Shirley] Woolmer’s Exeter and Plymouth gazette, first Exeter gazette to 1793 or later.
Plymouth Proprietor Title
1718-1725 E. Kent Plymouth weekly-journal or general post.
1780-1782 Plymouth chronicle.
1808-1863 Lazarus Congdon Plymouth and Dock telegraph.
Sherborne Proprietor Title
1737-1749 William Bettinson Sherborne mercury, merged with Western flying post.
1744-1867 Robert Goadby Western flying post or Yeovil mercury.
Bath Proprietor Title
1749- Bath Journal.
Bath 1760-1975+ Bath chronicle and weekly gazette.
Taunton Proprietor Title
1724-1727 Taunton Journal.
1810-1936+ Taunton courier and Western advertiser.
Falmouth Proprietor Title [No 18th century newspapers in Cornwall]
1801-1802 Thomas Flindell Cornwall gazette and Falmouth packet
Truro Proprietor Title
1803-1951 Peter Nettleton Royal Cornwall Gazette, Falmouth packet & Plymouth journal
1810-date John Heard West Briton and Royal Cornwall gazette.
6a. Mining references in the Exeter Flying Post 1764-1792
North Molton, Sir Richard Bampfylde about to open a copper mine. 27 Apr 1764.
Ottery Saint Mary, report of discovery of coal mine. 7 Nov 1766.
Lanivet, Chance-Fortune copper mine, 3 shares for sale 28 Jul 1769.
Gunnislake copper mine, shares for sale. 8 Jun 1771.
Camborne mines, sale of late Sir John Molesworthy’s shares. 5 Jan 1776.
Marazion, Wheal Virgin, sale of Late Sir John Molesworth's shares. 29 Apr 1779.
Bradford Pool tin mine, Drewsteignton offering contract to clear adit. 1 May 1783.
Christopher Gullett, owner of silver mines opens Sunday School. 18 Nov 1784.
Dartmoor Mining and Smelting Co. appointing John Hawkins as agent. 21 Sep 1786.
Dartmoor Mining and Smelting Co. notice of ownership. 28 Sep 1786.
Bere Ferrers Lead Mine, 1/64th share for sale. 10 May 1787.
Consultations by Sir Francis Basset MP on plans to help Cornish mines. 22 Nov 1787.
Details of plans to help Cornish copper mines 6 Dec 1787.
Duke of Devon’s copper mine exhausted. 17 Jun 1790.
Illogan, Tin Croft mine, Hornblower and Winwood's steam engine fitted. 3 Mar 1791.
Tin and copper mines reported to be flourishing. 8 Dec 1791.
Poldice, Gwennap, engine house blown up by explosion of gunpowder. 12 Jan 1792.
Poldice, Gwennap, shares for sale. 9 Feb 1792.
Calstock tin and copper mine, shares for sale. 22 Mar 1792.
Calstock tin and copper mine, shares for sale. 9 Aug 1792.
High price of tin and copper attracting labour from agriculture. 16 Aug 1792.
Christopher Gullett and Co. dissolving partnership. 20 Sep 1792.
Kea, Hagarowan tin bounds for sale. 8 Nov 1792.
Combe Martin silver mines, lease for sale. 15 Nov 1792.
Perranporth, Wheal Ramoth, shares for sale. 11 Apr 1793.
Illogan Tin Croft Mine, shares for sale. 12 Jun 1794.
Perranporth, Wheal Ramoth, shares for sale. 12 Mar 1795.
Wheal Fortune, Gwennap, shares for sale. 16 Apr 1795.
Moretonhampstead, report of discovery of a mine. 23 Apr 1795.
Lease of a silver-lead mine for sale. Exeter Flying Post. 27 Aug 1795.
Mary Tavy, all mines on Kingsell Down and Horndon Down for sale. 5 Nov 1795.
North Red Moor Mine, Callington, shares for sale. 5 May 1796.
Perranporth, Wheal Ramoth, shares for sale. 1 Sep 1796.
Kenwyn, Creegbraws shares for sale. 27 Oct 1796.
Illogan, Prince William Henry Copper Mine, share for sale. 17 Nov 1796.
6b Periodicals
1665-date. Philosophical transactions. Published by the Royal Society of London.
1731-1907. The gentleman's magazine
1732-1785. The London magazine.
1752-1789. The monthly review.
1758-date. The annual register. First editor Edmund Burke.
1768-1820 .Medical transactions. Published by the College of Physicians in London.
1770-1847. The lady's magazine; or entertaining companion for the fair sex.
1770-1992. Archaeologia. Published by the Society of Antiquaries of London.
1783-1851. Transactions of the society, instituted at London, for the encouragement of arts,
manufactures, and commerce.
1784-1815. Annals of agriculture. Started by Arthur Young.
1787-date. The botanical magazine, subsequently Curtis's Botanical Magazine.
1796-1825. The monthly magazine. Founded by Sir Richard Phillips, edited by John Aikin.
7. Gazetteers, encyclopedias
1704. John Harris. Lexicon technicum: or, an universal English dictionary of arts and sciences.
1728. Ephraim Chambers. Cyclopædia: or, an universal dictionary of arts and sciences.
1759. Andrew Brice. The grand gazetteer, or Topographic dictionary, both general and special.
1771. Society of Gentlemen in Scotland. Encyclopædia Britannica; or, a dictionary of arts and sciences.
8. The scientific eye, antiquaries, natural history
Selected works on mining published outside the Westcountry
1530. Agricola, Georgius. Georgii Agricolæ Bermannus; sive de re metallica. (Basel: Froben).
1556. Agricola, Georgius. Georgii Agricolae de re metallica. (Basel: Froben). Translated 1912.
1639. Plattes, Gabriel A discovery of subterraneall treasure, viz. of all manner of mines and mineralls,
(London: Iasper Emery)
1680. Becher, Johann Joachim. Minera arenaria perpetua: sive Prodromus historiæ […] circa auri
extractionem. (London: Mark Pardoe).
1681. Houghton, Thomas. Rara avis in terris: or the compleat miner, in two books; […]
The second [on] dialling and levelling grooves (London).
1683. Ercker, Lazarus. Fleta minor. The lavvs of art and nature, in knowing, judging, assaying, […]
metals. (London: Thomas Pettus). Purchased by Richard Coffin, Portledge Library.
1694. Houghton, Thomas. Royal institutions: […] proposals for […] silver & gold mines […] in […]
Africa, and America. London: T. Houghton)
1713. Stringer, Moses. Opera mineralia explicata: or, The mineral kingdom, within the dominions of
Great Britain, display'd. (London: Jonas Brown)
1729. Houghton, Thomas. Rara avis in terris: or The compleat miner, in two books.
New edition. (Derby: Samuel Hodgkinson)
1747. Hooson, William. The miners dictionary. Explaining not only the terms used by miners, but also
[…]theory and practice. (Wrexham: T. Payne)
1748. Hardy, William. The miner's guide: or, compleat miner. […] to which is joined Houghton's
Dialing and Levelling […]. (Sheffield: Francis Lister,)
1758. Borlase, William. The natural history of Cornwall. […] stones, semimetals, Metals, Tin, […]
manner of mining.(Oxford: W. Jackson).
1776. Gellert, Christlieb Ehregott. Metallurgic chymistry. Being a system of mineralogy in general […]
Translated […] . (London: T. Becket)
1777. Born, Ignaz, Edler von. Travels through the Bannat of Temeswar, Transylvania, and Hungary,
1770 […] Translated. (London: G. Kearsley) Visiting mines in Hungary.
1778. Pryce, William. Mineralogia Cornubiensis; a treatise on minerals, mines, and mining:
(London: James Phillips)
1788. Geissau, Anton Ferdinand von. Essay on the construction and use of a mine-auger. […]
Translated. (London: W. Richardson).
1797. Rashleigh, Philip. Specimens of British minerals, […] from the cabinet of Philip Rashleigh,
of Menabilly, […] Cornwall. (London: W. Bulmer)
1798. Karsten, Dietrich Ludwig Gustav. A description of the minerals in the Leskean Museum.
Translated by George Mitchell. (Dublin: R. E. Mercier).
9. Agriculture
1770-1774. Alexander Hunter. Georgical essays: In which the food of plants is particularly considered.
4 volumes.
1780-1799. Bath and West of England Society. Letters and papers on agriculture. Volumes 1-9.
1794.. Robert Fraser. General view of the county of Cornwall, with observations on the
means of its improvement.
1794. Robert Fraser. General view of the county of Devon, with observations on the
means of its improvement.
1793. John Claridge. General view of the agriculture county of Dorset, with observations on
the means of its improvement.
1794. John Billingsley. General view of the agriculture in the county of Somerset, with observations on
the means of its improvement, for the consideration of the Board of Agriculture.
1797. John Billingsley. General view of the agriculture in the county of Somerset […]
And now re-printed with considerable additions and amendments.
1796. William Marshall. The rural economy of the West of England.
2 volumes, 2 editions in the same year.
10. Trade and tourism, almanacks, directories
Almanacks and pocket books
1709. John Bridges. A book of fairs; or, a new guide to West Country travellers.
1745. The universal pocket companion.
1755. The Exeter pocket-journal; or, West-Country gentleman and tradesman's memorandum-book.
1760. The Exeter pocket-journal; or, west country gentleman and tradesman's memorandum-book.
1788. The Exeter pocket journal; or, west-country gentleman and tradesman's memorandum book.
Trade directories
1783. Bailey, William. Bailey's western and midland directory; or, merchant's and tradesman's
useful companion.
1784. Bailey, William. Bailey's British directory; or, merchant's and trader's useful companion.
1790. British Directory Office. The universal British directory of trade, commerce, and manufacture.
1791. The Exeter pocket journal; or, west country gentleman and tradesman's memorandum-book.
1794. The Exeter pocket journal; or, west country gentleman and tradesman's memorandum-book.
1796 .The Exeter pocket journal; or, west country gentleman and tradesman's memorandum-book.
Tourist guides
1746. Simpson, Samuel. The agreeable historian, or the compleat English traveller.
1768. Rural elegance display'd, in the description of four western counties, Cornwall, Devon,
Dorset, and Somerset.
1784. Society of Gentlemen. The new British traveller; or, A complete modern universal display
of Great-Britain [...]
1794. Society of Gentlemen. The new and complete English traveller.
A new edition of The new British traveller
1789. W. A. Tunnicliff. Topographical survey of the counties of Somerset, Gloucester, Worcester, […]
1791. W. A. Tunnicliff. Topographical survey of the counties of Hants, Wilts, Dorset, Somerset,
Devon and Cornwall.
1792. The Plymouth-dock guide, &c. or, An authentic account of the rise and progress of that town.
1796. The Plymouth-Dock guide, or, An authentic account of the rise and progress of that town.
1800. Hyett, William. Guide in a tour to the watering places, And their environs, On the south-east
coast of Devon.
