Lanterna Rally

Author: Edward Francis Goldsworthy

Publisher: Theclassics.Us

Published: 2013-09

Total Pages: 28

ISBN-13: 9781230321677

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1883 edition. Excerpt: ... RECOLLECTIONS OF TAUNTON BY AN OLD TAUNTONIAN OR many years after I first opened my eyes on Taunton it was a quiet go-along-easy sort of town. The summer days and evenings were still and tranquil; the winter days were dull, and the evenings dark and dismal. We had only a few old oil lamps in the whole town, and they were small and dirty, and nearly useless, as little light was emitted from them. The only inns having a light outside or inside their doors were the "Castle," the "London," the "George," and the "White Hart" Inns. At night it was dangerous to go about, as nearly the whole town was in an unmacadamized state. Only the fore parts of the town and principal streets were paved, the back streets having no pavement or very little: for instance, the greater part of East Reach, Silver Street, Canon Street, James' Street, Middle Street, and North Town were nearly all pitched with flint stones, or very badly kept, and Shuttern was in the same condition. The streets of the town, and the people living in them, were very different from what they are now. I shall commence with East Street. First was a spirit shop kept by Locke; next came Lake, the silversmith and optician (his son, Fred, shewed his portraits in his father's shop, several of which I have in my possession); next door lived Leaker, a chemist (when he removed, it was occupied by Hake, a furrier); then followed Clarke, a patten, clog and basket maker; next was Treeby's bacon and cheese shop; Mrs. Atkins, who lived next door, sold everything--staylaces, candles, brooms, and coarse ware; Harwill's comb and brush shop followed; then came a private house (since converted into a chemist's shop) where lived Turle, a sheriff's officer. The three next shops were occupied by Spencer, a...