The History and Antiquities of the Town and Port of Hastings
William Moss published his “ The History and Antiquities of the Town and Port of Hastings” in 1824. The actual production itself was interesting because it appeared in three distinct physical sizes, small medium and large - all using the same letterpress blocks and engravings but with varying margins to suit the dimensions of the book. As was customary at the time the engravings were printed by a specialist printer and married to the letterpress text by the bookbinder. In this case the book was printed by W Lewis, Finch Lane Cornhill and the engravings by R Miller.[1]
Copies of the book in other formats may be found here: The History and Antiquities of the Town and Port of Hastings: Illustrated by a Series of Engravings (Moss 1824) Google Books ESCC Library Order via Amazon
THE
HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES
OF THE
RAPE OF HASTINGS,
SUSSEX.
COMPRISING THE HUNDREDS OF GOLDSPUR, STAPLE, SHORYSWELL, HENHURST, HAWKBOROUGH, NETHERFIELD, FOXEARLE, BATTEL, BALDSLOW, NECFIELD, GUESTLING , AND BEXHILL, WITH THEIR SUBDIVISIONS OR PARISHES
Illustrated with Engravings.
FROM ORIGINAL DRAWINGS, MADE EXPRESSLY FOR THE WORK.
BY W. G. MOSS, DRAUGHTSMAN
TO HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE.The acknowledged importance of Topographical Works, on which it is needless here to expatiate, and the pleasure as well as instruction they are capable of affording, when respectably edited and embellished, as procured for them , in the present age, a degree of patronage, equal, if not superior to almost any other line of literature. To endeavour to increase the public stock of information, on a subject so much in request, therefore, seems under these circumstances to be, at least, laudable.
Among the numerous places which continue to receive illustra[ 2 ]tion, in consequence of the encouragement mentioned , few more deserve notice than the county of Sussex ; and of that interesting part of the kingdom, no portion offers so fertile a field for the exertions of the local historian and the artist, as the district it is here proposed to publish an account of -- THE RAPE OF HASTINGS : celebrated as the scene of some of the greatest events recorded in our Annals ; importantly connected ,as being the principal member of the Cinque Ports, with the rise and establishment of our naval superiority ; singular, in many respects, from the peculiar nature of its political immunities ; and, abounding in antiquities and the finest picturesque views, it seems to afford more than usual facilities for the production of a work worthy the present advanced state of knowledge and the arts. Besides joining the county of Kent, the civilization of whose inhabitants gave them , with the Romans, a superiority over the other aborigines of Britain, this part of Sussex was itself, with the other Belgic provinces, the recorded scene of no less than thirty two battles with that people. In the Saxon and Norman eras it became equally distinguished for its civil establishments and military transactions. Its religious foundations before the dissolution of monasteries, particularly that of Battel, were of the first class ; and, in the respectability and high antiquity of its nobility and gentry, it yields to no part of the empire.
The literary department of the work now offered to the public will contain a General History of the Rape of Hastings, its Towns, Villages, Hamlets, Parishes, Manors, &c. their Trade, Population, Public Establishments, and Government, both civil and ecclesiastical; Accounts of Convents, Churches, Castles, Seats, Mansions, and other Buildings ; Pedigrees, with Biographical Notices of Eminent Persons and Families ; funeral and other Monuments, and miscellaneous Objects of Antiquity and Curiosity . It will be compiled from unpublished manuscripts in public and private collections, and the best and most authentic printed authorities. The graphical embellishments will consist of highly - finished copper plate Views of Churches, Castles, Remains of Religious Edifices,- [ 3 ]Towns, Seats, &c. by the first engravers, exclusive of vignette Wood-cuts of Armorial Bearings, Sepulchral Crosses, Seals, and other objects of Antiquity or Curiosity : the whole executed from drawings purposely made for the Work.
The History of the Rape will not exceed EIGHT Parts, forming two volumes. The First Part will be published on the first of January, 1825, and continued every alternate month, and will be printed and embellished in a similar style with the History and Antiquities of the Town and Port of Hastings, just published; of which work it is intended to form a continuation : each Part will contain four or five plates, and a proportionable quantity of letter press. Price, Demy 8vo. 58.; Royal 8vo. 7s. 6d.; ditto, with proofs on India paper, 10s. 6d. ( 1 )
PART I. will contain the following views :
1. A General View of Hastings, from the Sea .-- 2 . The Gateway and Principal Front of Battel Abbey.-3. Rye Church . - 4 . The Interior of Icklesham Church . - 5 . Ruins at Crowhurst.
Those ladies and gentlemen who intend to honour this work with their patronage, and to possess early impressions of the plates, are requested to send their names and address to W. G. Moss, Hall-Place, Kennington, who most respectfully solicits, towards its improvement, the assistance of the local clergy, and of gentlemen accustomed to Topographical Researches, any communications from whom will be thankfully acknowledged.
Orders for it will also ineet with every attention, directed to Mr. G. West, Bookseller, Hastings; the Booksellers of Rye ; Winchelsea ; and Battel; or to the Publishers, Messrs. SIMPKIN and MARSHALL, Stationers-Court, Ludgate-Street; JENNINGS, Poultry : J. Major, Fleet-Street ; or to W. CLARK , New Bond Street.
( 1) At the particular request of several subscribers, fifty copies will be printed in Demy 4to, on superfine drawing -paper, with proof impressions on India paper. Price £1 1s. each Part.
W. LEWIS , PRINTER , 21 , FINCH- LANE, LONDON .
