Chapter I: Front Matter

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BRANNON'S PICTURE OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT;

Or

The Expeditious Traveller's Index to Its Prominent Beauties & Objects of Interest. Compiled Especially with Reference to Those Numerous Visitors Who Can Spare but Two or Three Days to Make the Tour of the Island.

Printed and Published by George Brannon, Wootton, Isle of Wight

EXPLANATION.

If nearly FORTY YEARS' RESIDENCE in the Isle of Wight may be allowed in some degree to qualify an ARTIST for the office of Guide, the Author has a fair claim to public patronage,--for few could have had better opportunity of acquiring local information.

He has endeavoured to render THE PICTURE an intelligent _Cicerone_, without being too garrulous or grandiloquous,--but always attentive to the stranger, leading him to every remarkable object, and giving just as much description of each, as would be acceptable to persons enjoying the full use of their eyes. It affords him, _at first glance_, an INDEX of what ought to be seen, and _how best seen in the shortest time_, in every place to which he may be successively conducted. This novelty in the work will prove very frequently of great utility, especially to those visitors who have too little time for their trip, and who, for want of such a laconic memento wherever they go, are known in a thousand instances to pass by the most interesting objects unnoticed,--not being aware even of their proximity.

* * * * *

This being the production of the same hand as several other local works, it is due to the stranger to explain in what respects they differ:--

I.--THE VECTIS SCENERY is a handsome volume in Royal Quarto, substantially bound, containing 36 highly finished line-engravings of all the most celebrated landscapes, accompanied with ample letter-press descriptions, price £1.5.0.

II.--THE PICTURE differs from the above in being intended for a _hand-book_, it is in fact a Cicerone, and therefore occasionally dwells with a degree of minuteness which could be interesting only to a person actually on the spot; but the "Vectis Scenery" takes the higher rank of an Exhibitor of picturesque scenes which ask little aid from verbal explanation, and is entitled to a place on the drawing-room table with other works of Art. The Engravings in the two publications are quite different.

III.--The PLEASURE-VISITOR'S COMPANION is a compendium of useful information, with the different Tours, &c. and Views of the Country Inns, price 2s., or with Map, 3s.

IV.--The REV. LEGH RICHMOND'S DESCRIPTION of the Island, with explanatory Notes and illustrative Engravings, price 2s.6d.

V.--A MAP of the Island and the Opposite Coast--with the Tours, &c., in cover, price 1s.6d.

* * * * *

It were useless to complain of the piracies committed upon the
Author's labors, both literary and pictorial, by parties in London
as well as in the country; but he may be allowed however to remark,
that some of the most common facts and delineations are strangely
perverted from the Truth in their new dress,--however artfully
disguised to prevent the consequences of palpable detection.

In cases even where a professional Author may be engaged by a
publisher on a local work, the time allowed is generally too
limited for acquiring accurate knowledge of his subjects: he must
depend either on prior publications or on his personal intercourse
with the residents, for much of his information. In compiling from
the first of these sources, he is very liable to mis-statement, by
investing everything in a new dress to conceal his piracies; and
the latter source leaves him open to imposition--for much of his
matter will be sheer gossip, partial statements, or unfounded
tradition, which a long experience only could detect, and place in
a proper light.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.--GENERAL ACCOUNT OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT.
PAGE
Its Peculiar Advantages for a Summer's Excursion, 9
Climate, Situation, and Extent, 15
Geology, Agriculture, and Zoology, 18
Eminent Natives, and Outline of the Local History, 21

CHAPTER II.--THE THREE PRINCIPAL TOWNS, AND THEIR ENVIRONS.
Carisbrooke Castle and Village, 25
Newport and its Environs, 29
East and West Cowes, and their Environs, 34
Objects on the road between Cowes and Ryde, 43
Ryde and its Environs, 45
St. Helen's, Bembridge, Sandown, Brading, &c., 52

CHAPTER III--THE SOUTH-EASTERN COAST OF THE ISLAND,
_Distinguished for its Romantic Scenery._
Shanklin Chine and Village, 59
Cooke's Castle, and Luccombe Chine, 63
East End, commencement of the Undercliff, 64
Bonchurch, and Ventnor, 65
Appuldurcombe and Godshill, 71
Steephill, and St. Lawrence, 73
The Undercliff, between St. Lawrence and Niton, 76
The New Light-house, and the Sandrock Spring, 79
Blackgang Chine, and St. Catharine's Hill, 81
Wrecks on the Southern Coast, 85
Chale, Gatcombe, Shorwell, Brixton, &c., 87