LYMINGTON, a liberty and borough and market-town
and chapelry (parochial),
in the New Forest (East)
division of the county of
SOUTHAMPTON, 18 miles
(S. W. by S.) from Southampton,
and 95 (S. W.) from
London, containing 3164 inhabitants.
The earliest notice
of this place is in Domesdaybook,
in which it is called
Lentune, afterwards Limin-
tun, of which its present name is a variation. The
town is situated on the western bank of a creek, or
river, which falls into the Solent channel: it consists
principally of one spacious street, nearly half a mile
in length, and the houses are modern and neatly built:
the environs abound with picturesque and romantic
scenery. Its excellent accommodations for sea-bathing
have rendered it a favourite place of resort for
invalids during the summer; there are two bathing establishments;
those near the town having fallen into
decay, it is contemplated to erect more substantial
and commodious rooms in their stead; the others,
about half a mile distant, are much frequented. A neat
theatre is occupied, every alternate year, by a respect
able company of performers, from August to October;
and there is a commodious assembly-room at the Angel
Inn. In the reign of Henry I. this town first rose into
note, having then been made a port, and French wines
and other foreign commodities were imported; at that
time also it first became celebrated for its salt-works.
In the time of Edward III., the petty duties were
levied by the inhabitants on certain articles of merchandise
brought to this port, but the right to such an
impost being questioned by the superior port of Southampton,
the case was tried in 1329, and decided against
the inhabitants of Lymington, who were subsequently
often fined for persisting in their claim. At length,
in 1730, having again taken these duties, and being
sued by the mayor and corporation of Southampton,
the defendants procured the removal of the cause
to the county assize court, in which they obtained a
verdict in their favour, and since that time the petty
customs have been regularly paid here. The commercial
advantages of this port were seriously affected,
about ninety years ago, by the construction of a dam, or
causeway, to the north of the town, the effect of which
has been so to contract the channel of the river, and to
diminish its depth, by excluding a great body of water,
that it is now navigable only for vessels of three
hundred tons' burden, instead of five hundred, as formerly:
the trade, which is confined to coasting (no
foreign vessels being allowed to land their cargoes here),
consists principally in the exportation of salt, bricks,
timber, and brooms, and its chief imports are coal,
corn, and stone: the only duties receivable at the customhouse,
which is in Quay-street, are on coal and slate.
The manufacture of salt, both common, or bay salt, and
medicinal, or Epsom salt, which formerly produced an extensive
coasting and foreign trade, has greatly declined,
Liverpool and other places having become successful
rivals in this branch of business, although the superiority
of the Lymington salt is generally acknowledged:
the works are situated along the sea-shore, at a short
distance from the town, opposite to Hurst castle. On
the quay are a commodious public wharf and storerooms.
Near it is a yard for ship-building, in which
several fine yachts and other small vessels have been
constructed. During the winter season, from twenty
to forty sail of outward-bound vessels are often anchored
here at one time, paying a toll proportioned to
their tonnage; the harbour at the entrance of the creek
is excellent, and affords a favourite and safe shelter
for the vessels belonging to the members of the
Royal Yacht Club. The market is on Saturday;
and fairs are held on the 12th of May and the 2nd of
October, for cheese, horses, cattle,. &c., each continuing
two days. Lymington, which is a borough by prescription,
was incorporated by charter of James I.: the
municipal body consists of a mayor and an unlimited
number of burgesses. The mayor is chosen annually
on the Sunday after St. Matthew's day, and sworn into
office at the court leet of the lord of the manor,
usually held about the end of October, when also the
constables, town crier, serjeant at mace, &c., are appointed.
Petty sessions for the New Forest (East)
division are held by the magistrates for that division,
every alternate Saturday. The elective franchise was
conferred by Elizabeth, in the 27th year of her reign:
the right of election is vested in the corporation, the
number of voters being about thirty: the mayor is
the returning officer, and the influence of Sir Harry
Burrard Neale, Bart., is predominant.
The living is a perpetual curacy, with the vicarage
of Boldre, in the archdeaconry and diocese of Winchester.
The chapel, dedicated to St. Thomas & Becket,
has been built at different periods, being irregularly
constructed of brick and stone, with a central tower
and spire; the interior is neat, and contains several
handsome monuments. There are places of worship for
Baptists and Independents. A grammar school was
founded and endowed, in 1668, by George Fulford and
others, who devised the sum of £326 for that purpose;
in 1688, a school-house was granted by the corporation,
which, becoming dilapidated, was taken down in 1782;
and ten boys are instructed on this foundation in
reading, writing, and arithmetic, in the private residence
of the master, who receives about £20 per annum on
account of the charity. A bequest of £300 was made,
in 1777, by Anne Burrard, to found a school for the
education of poor children; ten children of both sexes
are instructed, and the interest is equally divided
between a master and a mistress. A National school is
supported by subscription, for which a school-room is
about to be built, on a piece of ground given by Sir
H. B. Neale, Bart.; and a school for eighty boys and
eighty girls is supported by a private individual. Rear-
Admiral Thomas Rogers, who died in 1814, bequeathed
£ 1000, directing the interest to be divided annually between
ten poor men and women. There are various charitable
institutions for the relief of the sick and indigent.
On a promontory on the coast, south of Lymington, is
Hurst castle, a fortress erected by Henry VIII., to defend
this part of the channel between the main land and the
Isle of Wight; it consists of a circular tower strengthened
by semicircular bastions. In this castle, Charles I. was
confined for several days after his removal from Carisbrooke,
in 1648, about one month prior to his decapitation;
it is now an important station, occupied by the
men employed in the preventive service. Two lighthouses
and a beacon are supported for the service of
vessels navigating the coast.