Old Hampshire Mapped
Cox's Hampshire
Transcription (20)Andover
ferry
Anton, River
Lee, Thomas, Sir
Wharton, John, Sir
Weyhill Fair
hops
cheese
sheep
school
Handson, John
hospital
Pollen, John
Aethelred
Anlaf
Viscount Andover
Lord Andover
Having thus surveyed the Towns and Places about the Bay, we will go up the River Tese or Anton, which empties it self into it, and take a View of some of the chief Towns that lie on it, viz.
Andover, called by the Saxons Andeafaran, i. e. the Ferry or Passage over the River Ande. It is a Mayor, Market, and Borough Town, a great Thorough fare, lying in the Western Road from London, pleasantly seated on the Side of the Downs, which makes it both healthy and delightful, a populous and thriving Place.
The Town is governed by a Mayor, Recorder, Aldermen, Bailiffs and Common Council Men, and has the Privilege of electing Members to Parliament, who now are Sir Thomas Lee and Sir John Wharton. It has a great Market every Saturday, and two Fairs yearly, on May 1, and November 6. Weyhill Fair, which is so famous, and kept on September 30, is near this Town, but takes its Name from the adjoining Village, which is of Note for nothing else.
This Fair is reckoned to be as great an one as any in England for many Commodities, and for Sheep indisputably the biggest, the farmers coming out of the South, North and East, to buy the Dorsetshire Ewes here. 'Tis also a great Hop and Cheese Fair, the former being brought out of Sussex and Kent, and the latter out of Wiltshire, Glocestershire and Somersetshire. Here is a Free School founded by John Handson, A. D. 1569, and an Hospital for the Maintenance of six Men, built and endowed by John Pollen Esq; who was the Representative for this Borough in several Parliaments in King William III.'s Reign.
In this Town, in the Year 893, Aethelred, King of England, when the Danes ravaged all the Kingdom, that he might make the Nation happy by a safe and sure Peace, adopted Anlaf the Dane; but this great Honour and Respect could prevail but little or nothing upon his barbarous Disposition; for this League of Friendship was soon broke by him.
K. James I. honoured this Town, Reg. 19. with the Title of a Viscounty, creating Thomas, the second Son of Thomas Earl of Suffolk, Lord Howard of Charlton, and Viscount Andover, whom King Charles I. advanced, Reg. 5. to the Degree and Title of Earl of Berkshire: His Son Charles went by the Name and Title of Lord Andover, till being summoned to Parliament, as a Baron of this Realm, he was made Lord Charlton, but else the eldest Son of the Earl of Berkshire bears the Title of Lord Andover. At a little Distance South West lie
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