The universal geography : earth and its inhabitants

HAMPSHIRE. 137
on the capacious bays wliich indent the coast. Agriculture and shecjj farming
are the principal occupations, the manufactures being altogether unimportant.
The Salisbury Avon traverses the western extremity of the county. Flowino-
past the ancient towns of Fordingbridge and liiiigiicood, it enters the Eno'lish
Channel below Christcliuirh, a small seaport, the only attraction of which consists
of a fine priory church. Bourncmoutli is an aspiring watering-place to the west of
the Avon, much resorted to on account of its dry climate, but not so favoured as
many other watering-places as regards picturesque scenery.
Li/ndhurst, the capital of the New Forest, is a smalltown much frequented durin"-
the summer, because the neighbourhood is full of interest to the botanist and entomo-
logist. On the skirts of the forest is Lymington, an outport of Southampton, with
an inconsiderable coasting trade. Bay-salt is manufactured in its neighbourhood.
The peninsula at the head of Southampton AVater, formed by the confluence
of the Test and Itchin, is occupied by the town of Southampton. The Roman
town of Ciausentum lay to the east of the Itchin, its site being occupied now by the
village of Bittern. The Test, or Anton, is a good trout stream. It rises above the
old town of Andorcr, to the west of which lies the village of Weyhill, famous for
its sheep and hop fairs, and runs past the towns of Stochhridge and Romseij. The
latter boasts a noble abbey church. Adjoining it is Broadlands, the residence of
the late Lord Palmerston, to whom a monument has been erected in the town.
The Itchin washes the foot of a plateau upon which rises the ancient and illustrious
city of WincJiestcr, known as Caer Gwent, or " White Town," in the time of the
Britons, perhaps in token of its pre-eminence. During the century which preceded
the invasion of the Rom-ans immigrant Belgte settled at Winchester, whence its
Latin name of Venta Belgarum. The Saxons made it the capital of Wessex, and
subsequently of the whole of England, and notwithstanding sieges and ravages, it
retained its title until the twelfth century. For a long time afterwards it was
looked upon as a kind of holy city, and Parliaments met there, and kings were
crowned in its cathedral. The latter is its chief edifice, and recalls the time of its
ancient supremacy. It has been built and transformed in various ages, and includes
examples of all the styles of architecture—from the rude Norman to the most
highly ornate decorated. The great western window occupies more than two-
thirds of the height of this superb structure, and the light which penetrates through
its stained glass falls upon mortuary chests, supposed to contain the bones of early
Saxon kings. Winchester College, founded by William of Wykeham in 1387, is
another remarkable monument of the Middle Ages, not so much on account
of its architecture as of an adherence to ancient traditions in the system of
education carried on within its walls. Of the old royal castle, originally built by
William the Conqueror, only the wall and a subterranean passage remain. The
palace which Charles II. erected is now occupied as a barrack. The Hospital of
St. Cross, founded in 1136, lies about a mile to the south of Winchester, and the
"wayfarer's dole," consisting of a horn of beer and a piece of bread, is still given
to all who apply for it at the porter's lodge. Higher up on the Itchin i« the
market town of Alres/ord.