The Environs of London: Being an Historical Account of the Towns, Villages, and Hamlets, within Twelve Miles of that Capital: Interspersed with Biographical Anecdotes. Vol. 4: Counties of Herts, Essex & Kent

Description:

1st edition. Daniel Lysons (1762-1834) was an antiquary and clergyman-topographer. His ‘Environs of London’ (4 vols., 1792-96) is a topographical account of the parishes within 12 miles of London, of which this fourth volume is dedicated to the counties of Hertfordshire, Essex and Kent.

Many of the illustrations in this work were drawn and etched by Lysons and his brother Samuel, who were both accomplished artists. Horace Walpole was a close friend of the Lysons brothers and he nicknamed Daniel ‘Stumpity’ or ‘Stumpety Stump’, perhaps a reference to a limp, or to his incessant toil and travels!

Lyson's work stands out for the emphasis he laid on primary sources such as parish records, deeds, and censuses, and for his scrupulous citing of sources. His documented accounts corrected those of earlier antiquaries who had relied on folk memories, and set the standard for successors, including the Victoria History of the Counties of England. The contents of his books were more widely copied than his methods, and the volumes remain of value today. (ODNB)

Condition

4to, cont. calf, gt border, gilt tooling to spine, some wear to corners and head/foot of spine, head of spine chipped, marbled edges and endpapers. Some offseting. Vg.