THE ADVISORY COUNCIL OF THE VICTORIA HISTORY His Grace The Duke of Devonshire, K.G. Chartctllor of the University of Cambridge His Grace The Duke of Rutland, K.G. His Grace The Duke of Portland His Grace The Duke of Argyll, K.T. The Most Hon. The Marquess of Salisbury, K.G. Chancellor of the Uvi-venity of Oxford The Rt. Hon. The Earl of Rosebery, K.G., K.T. The Rt. Hon. The Earl of Coventry President of the Royal Agricultural Society The Rt. Hon. The Viscount Dillon President of the Society of Antiquaries The Rt. Hon. The Lord Acton Regius Professor of Modern History, Cambridge The Rt. Hon. The Lord Lister President of the Royal Society Sir Frederick Pollock, Bart., LL.D., F.S.A., etc. Corpus Professor of Jurisprudence, Oxford Sir Edward Maunde Thompson, K.C.B., D.C.L., LL.D., F.S.A., ETC. Director of the British Aiuseum Sir Clements R. Markham, K.C.B., F.R.S., F.S.A. President of the Royal Geographical Society General Editor — H. Sir Henry Maxwell-Lyte, K.C.B.,M.A., F.S.A. , ETC. Keeper of the Public Records Col. Sir J. Farquharson, K.C.B. Sir Jos. Hooker, G.C.S.L, M.D., D.C.L., F.R.S., ETC. Sir Archibald Geikie, LL.D., F.R.S., etc Rev. J. Charles Cox, LL.D., F.S.A., etc. Lionel Cust, Esq., M.A., F.S.A., etc. Director of the National Portrait Gallery Dr. Albert L. G. Gonther, F.R.S. President of the Linnean Society Col. Duncan A. Johnston Director General of the Ordnance Survey Prof. E. Ray Lankester, M.A., F.R.S., etc. Director of the Nat. Hist. Museum, South Kensington Reginald L. Poole, Esq., M.A. University Lecturer in Diplomatic, Oxford F. York Powell, Esq., M.A., F.S.A., etc. Regius Professor of Modern History, Oxford J. Horace Round, Esq., M.A. Walter Rye, Esq. W. H. St. John Hope, Esq., M.A. Assistant Secretary of the Society of An ti quartet Arthur Doubleday GENERAL ADVERTISEMENT The Victoria History of the Counties of England is a National Survey showing the condition of the country at the present day, and tracing the domestic history of the English Counties back to the earliest times. Rich as every County of England is in materials for local history, there has hitherto been no attempt made to bring all these materials together into a coherent form. There are, indeed, histories of English Counties ; but many of them — and these the best — are exceed- ingly rare and costly ; others are very imperfect ; all are out of date. The Victoria History will trace, county by county, the story of England's growth from its prehistoric condition, through the barbarous age, the settlement of alien peoples, and the gradual welding of many races into a nation which is now the greatest on the globe. All the phases of ecclesiastical history ; the changes in land tenure ; the records of historic and local families ; the history of the social life and sports of the villages and towns ; the develop- ment of art, science, manufactures and industries — all these factors, which tell of the progress of England from primitive beginnings to large and successful empire, will find a place in the work and their treatment be entrusted to those who have made a special study of them. Many archaeological, historical and other Societies are assisting in the compilation of this work, and the editor also has the advantage of the active and cordial co-operation of The National Trust, which is doing so much for the preservation of places of historic interest and natural beauty throughout the country. I vii b
