Sidmouth Scenery; or, Views of the Principal Cottages & Residences of the Nobility and Gentry:

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With Lord Gwydir's Summer Cottage! Internally, folding coloured frontis, additional engraved title page with coloured print, [5], (viii) only, [1], 2-100, [2] pp. Complete with twenty-two hand-coloured aquatints (including folding panoramic frontispiece of Sidmouth and coloured vignette on engraved title page). Engraved map of Sidmouth on penultimate page with touring directions below. Illustrations by Daniel Havell; after H. Haseler. Contemporary half red morocco over marbled boards, expertly rebacked using original spine. Smooth spine partitioned by gilt rules and with gilt decorations between, gilt spine lettering, marbled endpapers, Some rubbing to boards. Overall, a very good copy; very clean and fresh. There are two issues of this book with the latter having two more views and no text. Page 100 is devoted to a description of 'Additional Buildings &c.' that, at the time of printing, were being completed in or near Sidmouth. Two of the buildings mentioned in this section later had plates illustrative of them. "Copies with the extra views also discard the letterpress title and text, the book appearing in album form only. It will also be noted that the present copy carries a leaf giving the name of the 'first fifty subscribers', and it is possible that the early state was limited to a number but little in excess of fifty" (Abbey). This copy has the subscriber list. Probably the next owner of Woodlands was Peter Burrell, Lord Gwydir, who purchased the old house in about 1806 and immediately set about altering it into the most picturesque thatched cottage ornée, spending a great deal of money in the process. Historically, the Gwydir estates lay in County Caernavon. Lord Gwydir's estate was Langley Park, Beckenham, Kent, and 'Woodland Cottage', as he renamed the house, was his seaside retreat. Part of the cottage was pulled down and a new west front was built overlooking the garden allowing a suite of reception rooms to be formed, all of which were decorated in fashionable Regency style. Lord Gwydir was also responsible for the lovely barrel ceilings found in the Dining Room and rooms 11, 14 and 15. He put in a new staircase - one of the best in the district - with a spacious landing. All the windows were changed and many fashionable 'Gothic' headed casements were installed; some still have the original coloured glass. Regency craftsmen replaced the inner doors and mouldings. He was so keen to oversee the work and improvements himself that he rented a house in Fortfield Terrace (built 1790-94) for the duration of the work. The building he created was mentioned in many books on Regency times. As a result of family connections he moved in the highest social circles and was a friend of the Prince Regent, 'Woodland Cottage' was visited by many of his society friends. The garden was a particularly picturesque feature, and much commented upon. There was a loggia along the north side supported by pillared oak trunks and roofed with rustic branches with the bark left on, these were planted with roses and honeysuckle which twined up, the whole terminating in a little room of similar design all surrounded by orchards. As with many great houses of the time, when Lord Gwydir was not in residence visitors were admitted to view the house and gardens. 22 hand coloured aquatints. Abbey Scenery 307. Prideaux p329. Only 1 copy located by OCLC.