Published by: Nicky B. on March 16, 2018
A city and county of itself; containing nine parishes, 821 houses, and 4744
inhabitants. It is situated in a pleasant vale on the little river Lavant,
which washes it on all sides, except the north, and is said to have been built
by Cissa, the second king of the South Saxons, and named Cissan Caester. It
consists of four principal streets, in the form of a cross, is surrounded with
a stone wall, and had formerly four gates: the streets are broad, handsome, and
well paved, and there are six parish churches within the walls. This city sends
two members to parliament, and is governed by a mayor, recorder, and 38 common
councilmen, 4 justices of the peace being chosen out of the aldermen. An
ancient nunnery founded here, is now converted into an hospital which has a
very neat chapel. The Guildhall, situated in an obscure part of the city, is a
spacious ancient building, and the council chamber, which is over the market
house, supported by pillars, is both neat and elegant, adjoining to which is a
subscription assembly room, and there is a small theatre, situated at the
bottom of South-street.
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Published by: Nicky B. on February 19, 2018
This town is situated by the river Medway, and is joined to Rochester, to
which it is a suburb. It was built by King Charles the Second after the Dutch
war; but the dock was begun by Queen Elizabeth, and has been so much improved,
that it is now the first arsenal in the world. The houses of the various
officers are well built, and some of them even stately. The dock-yard,
including the ordnance wharf, is about a mile in length, and some of the store
rooms are near 700 feet long. Although the stores of the navy are so immense
in these magazines, every thing is arranged in the greatest order. Here are
upwards of 20 smiths’ forges constantly at work, and some of the anchors that
are made weigh near five tons. The new rope-house is 1140 feet in length, in
which cables are made 120 fathoms long, and 22 inches round. In the yard are
four docks for repairing, and six slips for building, new ships. The ordnance
wharf, which adjoins hereto, was the original dock, where the guns belonging
to each ship are now arranged in tiers, with the names of the vessels they
belonged to marked above them.
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