Lyme Regis Dorset Family History Guide

Lyme Regis is an Ancient Parish and a market town in the county of Dorset.

Other places in the parish include: Colway.

Parish church: St Michael

Parish registers begin:

• Parish registers: 1543
• Bishop’s Transcripts: 1579

Nonconformists include: Baptist, Independent/Congregational, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, Society of Friends/Quaker, and Wesleyan Methodist.

Adjacent Parishes

• Charmouth
• Monkton Wyld
• Uplyme Devon

Parish Registers

Marriage Allegations

The following people have been recorded in the Hampshire Allegations for Marriage Licences granted by the Bishop of Winchester 1689 to 1837.

HINGESTON, John, of Lyme Regis, co. Dorset, 21, b., & Caroline Knott, of Alverstoke, w., at A., 10 Dec., 1835. Aff.

Lyme Regis Parish Records

Lyme Regis Poor Law Apprenticeship Records, 1623-1898

Historical Directory Transcriptions

Kelly’s Directory of Dorsetshire 1880

Lyme Regis is a seaport, municipal borough, market town and parish, situated 143 miles from London by road and 150 by rail, 5½ south east from Axminster (its nearest railway station), 24 west from Dorchester, 9 west from Bridport, 16 from Sidmouth, 16 from Crewkerne, 16 from Honiton, and 2 from Charmouth; it is in the liberty of Loaders and Bothenhampton, division of Bridport, Axminster union and county court district, Bridport rural deanery, third portion, Dorset archdeaconry and Salisbury diocese.

The scenery of the coast to the eastward is most beautiful, and to the west of a very picturesque character, caused in a great measure by the landslips which have occurred on various occasions, particularly one at Christmas 1830, about 3½ miles from the town, on the Sidmouth road.

The harbour, which affords the only safe shelter for vessels between the Portland Roads and the Start Point, below Dartmouth, in Devonshire, is about a quarter of a mile west south west from the town, and existed as early as the of Edward III. The breakwater, called the Cobb which forms the harbour, was originally composed of large pieces of rock, rudely piled on each other, but is now a work of regular masonry of Portland stone, consisting of two artificial piers projecting on each side, and enclosing a basin; it is 680 feet in length, 12 feet in breadth at the foundation, and 16 feet in height; it was partly rebuilt by Government, at a sum lower than the estimate, under the superintendence of Captain Fanshawe, as recorded in a tablet on the Cobb, in 1825, at an expense of £17,337 0s 9¼d. The name is derived from the Cobb stone with which it was originally constructed; various acts have been passed for its maintenance; by a charter of Charles II. £100 yearly out of its customs, were allowed for its repair, which grant is now obsolete.

Bonded stores have been erected here, and an officer called, Cobb-warden, is annually chosen to superintend it; the harbour dues are employed by the Town Council in executing the necessary repairs. At the Cobb is the Custom House, with a collector and assistant examining officer. The coast guard station is also here under an inspecting commander and lieutenants in command. A house for the lifeboat is on the beach west of the Cobb.

The streets are lighted with gas, and well paved; and many of the shops and other buildings are built of the blue lias limestone, and covered with slate. The Cemetery, consisting of three acres, is a short distance from the town, on the Charmouth road. It contains two mortuary chapels, and a hall for the reception of persons dying of infectious diseases. A regatta is held annually in the month of August, which is well attended. Lyme has a company of volunteer artillery with band.

There is a Masonic Lodge, named the Montague (No 665), who hold their meetings in the Masonic Hall at the Royal Lion hotel. The Independent Order of the Odd Fellows (3,970), Bridport district, have their place of meeting at the vestry. Here is an iron foundry. The market days are Tuesday and Friday for butchers meat, poultry and vegetables. The fairs are held on the first Tuesday after Candlemas and Michaelmas. The principal hotels are the ‘Cups’ and the ‘.’Royal Lion

This is a favourable watering place, and is much resorted to by families; being well sheltered from the northerly and easterly winds, is a great inducement for invalids to make it their residence. The rate of mortality from consumption and pulmonary diseases is as low, if not lower, than that of any town in the kingdom; it is a sanatorium in general for sickly children, and one of the best residences on the coast for nervous diseases, and patients suffering from its long train of symptoms. Since the opening of the railway to Bridport and the South Western line to Axminister the access has been comparatively easy from all directions.

COBB is a hamlet

Parish Clerk John Harding

Official Establishments Local Institutions &c

POST & MONEY ORDER & TELEGRAPH OFFICE.
Savings Bank & Government Annuity & Insurance Office
Postmaster Frederick Norman Sellers
Dispatch – London foreign & all parts at 9.50 am; London & all parts at 5.40 pm. Arrivals London & all parts at 7.40 am; London and all parts (day mail) at 2.30 pm. Money orders are granted and paid from 9 to 4 saturdays 9 to 8 pm

CORPORATION
Mayor Levi John Maeer Broad street
ALDERMEN Samuel Osborn Marine parade
David Shorter Skinner Marine parade
Henry Henley Broad street
John Farnham Broad street

TOWN COUNCILLORS
Charles Brown Broad street
William Porter The Cobb
Frederick E Dollin The Cobb
John William Preston Style lane
Williain Mansfield Broad street
John Grove Broad street
George Haycroft Broad street
Henry Miller Marine parade
Eli Dollin Combe street
Charles Otten Snell Broad street
Town Clerk Robert William Hilliman esq
Sergeants al Mace John Stoward & George Legg

IMPROVEMENT COMMISSIONERS
Clerk Daniel Channon
Medical Officer David Shorter Skinner
Inspector John Jerrard
Collectors Henry Radford & Charles Webb

BOROUGH MAGISTRATES
Henry Tucker esq
Henry Henley esq
Col Jonathan Fowler
Samuel Osborn esq
Edward Overton Lee esq
David Shorter Skinner esq
Clerk Robert William Hillman esq

INSURANCE AGENTS
Accident WJ Atkins Broad street
Commercial Union WH Burge
Economic Life J Mansfield
Norwich Union W Bennett
Phoenix Fire FT Dowdeswell Dorsetshire Bank
Reliance Life WJ Atkins Dorsetshire Bank
Royal Exchange J Farnham
Standard Life WJ Atkins Broad street
Sun R W Hillman Bow house

PUBLIC ESTABLISHMENTS
Assembly Rooms
Custom House, The Cobb, William Gray esq collector; WP Scovell assistant examining officer
Coast Guard Station The Cobb Capt John Patten Rn inspecting commander; Joseph Hyde chief officer
Cemetery Charmouth road Jas Carter sexton The Lodge
Dorset 1st Volunteer Artillery Edwin Wallis esq captain commanding
Inland Revenue Office Royal Lion Hotel
Lifeboat Station The Cobb Thomas Bradley coxswain
Police Station Horse st Alfred Wills sergeant in charge
Stamp Office Broad street
Town Hall Butter market
Masonic Hall at the Royal Lion hotel

PUBLIC OFFICERS
Assessor & Collector of Queen’s Taxes John Harding
Assistant Overseer & Collector of Poor’s Rates Chas Webb
Clerk to the Harbour Trustees WJ Atkins
Inspector of Common Lodging Houses & of Weights & Measures Alfred Wills
Inspector of Nuisances John Jerrerd Bridge street
Harbour Master & Collector of Harbour Dues Robert Hodder Horse street
Registrar of Births & Deaths for Lyme District & Registrar of Marriages for the Axminster District Edward Thornton Broad street
Assistant Examining Officer of Customs WP Scovell The Cobb
Distributor of Stamps LJ Maeer Broad street
Surrogate for Grunting Marriage Licenses TFAP Hodges DCL
Town Crier William Legg

PLACES OF WORSHIP
St Michael’s Church Rev FTAP Hodges DCL vicar; Rev John Curgenven BA curate
SS Michael & George Catholic Chapel Rev WF Downing priest
Baptist Chapel Rev G Binney minister
Wesleyan Chapel Rev James Gillings minister
Congregational Chapel ministers various
The Brethren Chapel Assembly rooms

SCHOOLS
National, Church street Frederick William Vernham master; Miss Milton mistress; Miss Emma Templar infants mistress
British & Foreign, Mill green George Casley master

RAILWAY
South Western Receiving house for goods & parcels W Huxford The Baths

CONVEYANCE
Royal Mail Omnibus leaves the Cupa hotel for Axminster station at 9.15 am & 12.15 pm returning from Axminster to Lyme on the arrival of the trains from London Portsmouth &c at 12.40 & 3 pm Hy Miller proprietor
Omnibus leaves the Royal Lion at 10 am returning from Bridport at 3 pm

CARRIERS
AXMINSTER W Huxford daily returning from the New inn in the afternoon
BRIDPORT Holder from the Golden Hart at 8.30 monday wednesday & saturday returns from the Pack horse Bridport in the afternoon
CHARMOUTH Hodder monday wednesday & saturday

PRIVATE RESIDENTS

Atkins William James Broad street

Bailey Miss Sidmouth road
Barnes Walter Bellevue
Benbow Miss Woodmead Uplyme rd
Bennett William Sidmouth road
Binney Rev George Baptist Cambrian villa The Cobb
Brandram Lieut Col Andrew Babb St Michael’s house Sidmouth road
Brown Capt Wm Hy RN Sherborne la

Case Wm Keble cot Sidmouth road
Chalmers John, Smith cliff
Cragie John Cliff cottage
Craigie John Holme Lea villas
Curgenven Rev John BA curate Silver street

Darby James Broad street
Downing Rev William Francis Catholic Uplyme road
Drummond Mrs Fairfield house

Fowler Miss Tivoli villa Sidmouth rd

Gillings Rev Jas Wesleyan Pound st

Hall Miss Marine parade
Hansford Robert Olinka cot Uplyme rd
Haycraft George Broad street
Hayward Misses Westhill Uplyme rd
Henley Miss Keen house
Henry Capt James Belmont house Sidmouth road
Hillman Robert William Bow house
Hingeston Mrs Sidmouth road
Hingeston William MRCS LSA Sidmouth road
Hodges Rev Frederic Thomas Amelius Parry DCL surrogate & vicar Vicarage
Houseman Mrs Roseville Uplyme rd
Hussey Capt Wm Hayter Uplyme rd

Ingram Hughes Francis Paulett house Sidmouth road

Jones John The Cobb

Landon Mrs Silver street
Lavers Albion Marine villa The Cobb
Lean Mrs Woodville
Lee Edward Overton JP Broad street
Lee Henry The Lawn Sidmouth road
Linsdell Rev Henry Tivoli villa Sidmouth road
Lister Arthur High Cliff
Loveridge Mrs Sherbourne lane
Lowndes Samuel JP St Andrews Uplyme road

Marder Miss Burleigh villa Uplyme rd
Marsh Isaac Broad street
Miller Mrs St Helier’s
Moore Mrs Clifton cottage The Cobb
Munden Mrs Bridge house

Newenham Capt William Thomas RN Pound street

Osborn Samuel Marine parade

Palgrave Francis Turner Little park
Peek Rev Edward Pine ho Broad st
Preston John W Cliff house

Read Mrs Silver street
Risdon John Champs villa Broad st

Shadwell John Style cot Sidmouth rd
Shore John Alfred villas Sidmouth rd
Skinner David Shorter Silver street
Symons Charles Springfield house

Vizard Mrs Summer Hill house

Walker Mrs Sherborne lane
Wallis John Edwin Silver street
Wallis Mrs Silver street
Wallis Walter Banfield Style house Sidmouth road
Waring Mrs Broad street
Waters Edwin Hughes Woodville Uplyme road
Wellington Mrs Cumberland cottage
Williams Mrs Little Bow house
Wray Mrs Burleigh villas

Yescombe Chas Alfred vils Sidmouth

COMMERCIAL

Abbott Jonathan Cobb Arms The Cobb

Baker Edward boot & shoe maker Broad street
Ball Abbi Mrs saddler & harness maker Broad street
Ball Charles saddler Broad street
Barrett Angelina Miss photographer Butter market
Beer John hair dresser & tobacconist Broad street
Beer John Isaac fish dealer Mill green
Bennett William commission agent Broad street
Berry William baker & grocer Horse street
Blackmoor John shopkeeper Horse street
Board Dorothy Mrs shopkeeper Monmouth street
Bondy Henry drill instructor to 1st Dorset Volunteer Artillery Coombe street
Boon George ironmonger Horse street
Boon John cowkeeper Silver street
Booth Philip boot & shoe maker Broad street
Boswell Frank photographer Church street
Bradley Thomas lodging house The Cobb
Broom Thomas poulterer Broad street
Brown Sarah Mrs shopkeeper Church street
Budd Charles ship owner Marine parade
Burge William Henry grocer & agent for W & A Gilbey wine & spirit merchants Broad street
Burt Charles beer retailer The Cobb

Cannicott Albert brush maker & toy warehouse Broad st
Cemetery Jas Carter sexton The Lodge Charmouth rd
Channon Daniel lodging house & clerk to Commissioners Japonica house Horse street
Chapman Sarah Mrs grocer Broad street
Chappell Henry linen draper Coombe street
Cheriton Matthew farmer Hole farm
Chubb Amelia Mrs lodging house Marine parade
Clarke George master mariner Collingwood cot The Cobb
Collins Elizabeth Mrs lodging house Church street
Compton Albert grocer & tea dealer Horse street
Cooper Martha Mrs lodging ho 1 Holmelea ter The Cobb
Cottage Hospital supported by voluntary subscriptions David Shorter Skinner surgeon Sherborne lane
Cox Elizabeth Mrs grocer & draper Bridge street
Cox Henry fly proprietor Church street
Cox James Eli fishmonger Church street
Cox Mary Mrs lodging house Butter market
Cox Rosanna Mrs shopkeeper Horse street
Cox Thomas marine store dealer Monmouth street
Cox Thomas shopkeeper Church street
Crees Thomas Sellick watch & clock maker Silfer street
Crigie John MB surgeon Holmelea villa
Cullinan & Edwards boys school Broad street

Dare Mary Ann Mrs Crown inn Coombe street
Davey John confectioner Broad street
Dean William lodging house Parade villa The Cobb
Dollin Eli coal merchant Coombe street
Dollin Frederick ship owner The Cobb
Dollin James dealer in fossils Bridge street
Dolphin Mary Ann Mrs shopkeeper Silver street
Dorset 1st Volunteer Artillery Capt Edwin Wallis commanding
Dorsetshire Bank (branch) (R & R Williams & Co) William James Atkins manager Broad street draw Williams Deacon & Co London
Down John carpenter & wheelwright Church street
Drower James carpenter Butter market
Dunn Ellen Mrs laundress Butter market
Danster Frederick bookseller Broad street
Dyke Charles tailor & woollen draper Broad street

England Jane Miss boarding & day school Marine
England Samuel coal merchant Marine parade
Eveleigh George farmer Middle mill

Farnham Brothers clock makers Broad street
Fowler William chimney sweeper Church street
Foxwell Edward plumber & glazier Bridge street

Gage Thomas fish dealer Sherborne lane
Gale Anne Mrs beer retailer Silver street
Game Louisa Miss lodging house Monmouth street
Game William butcher & greengrocer Coombe street
Gas Works (Brown Brothers proprietors) Church street
Gibbs John master mariner The Cobb
Goldsworthy Job shopkeeper Church street
Govier George blacksmith Broad street
Grove John Royal Lion Broad street
Gush Ann Mrs King’s Arms Coombe street
Gush Sarah Mrs honiton lace maker The Cobb

Hallett Wm. Trinity pilot, 2 Holmelea terrace, The Cobb
Harding John butcher Bridge street
Hawker Frederick beer retailer Broad street
Hawker Robert fly proprietor & lodging house Church st
Harcraft & Co lime merchants The Cobb
Henley Henry chemist Broad street
Hibbs George, Pilot Boat, Bridge street
Hillman Robert William solicitor commissioner to administer oaths clerk to the borough magistrates town clerk & registrar of the borough court of record Broad st
Hingeston William MRCS LSA surgeon Sidmouth rd
Hoare Jane Miss lodging house Marine parade
Hoare Thomas mason Coombe street
Hodder John pleasure boat builder The Cobb
Hodder Robert collector of harbour dues & harbour master Horse street
Hodder William marine store dealer Mill green
Hoskins Elizabeth Mrs beer retailer Mill green
Hounsett Joseph carrier & greengrocer Coombe street
Huxford William carrier & receiving office for the London & South Western Railway Co The Baths

Jefferd Edmund tailor Butter market
Jerrard John lodging house & road surveyor & inspector of nuisances The Cobb
Jerrard Thomas butcher Broad street

Knight Elizabeth Miss dress maker Silver street
Knight John carpenter Silver street

Lakeman George Cups & family & commercial hotel & posting house & wine & spirit merchant Broad street See advertisement
Lawton Mark baker Mill green
Langford William builder Coombe street
Lee Hannah Mrs milliner & dress maker Silver street
Legg George boot & shoe maker Silver street
Legg Thomas tailor Silver street
Littlejohn Henry lodging house Marine parade
Littlejohns Susan & Elizabeth Misses dress mas Church st
Lock Edward printer Broad street
Locke Mary Ann Mrs lodging house Church street
Lodden John baker Mill green
Long James fish dealer Gun cliff
Long William carpenter Sherborne lane
Long William fish dealer Monmouth street
Lord Sarah Ann Miss day school Mill green
Love George master mariner The Cobb
Lovelace Jobs George inn Horse street
Lyme Regis Club Robert William Hillman secretary Assembly rooms Broad street
Lyme Regis Mirror published every saturday Edward Lock publisher Broad street

Maeer Levi John draper Broad street
Mansfield Josiah boot & shoe maker Butter market
Mansfield William upholsterer Broad street
Marder James Wood chemist Broad street
May Eliza & Emily Misses grocers & glass & china dealers Bridge street
Miller Anne Mrs lodging ho 3 Holmelea ter The Cobb
Miller Harry omnibus proprietor Marine parade
Mitchell John carman Horse street
Moore Samuel Silvester nurseryman Providence nursery

Newberry John Ship inn Horse street

Osborn & England coal mers & ship owners The Cobb
Osburn Henry grocer Broad street

Painter William custom house officer Butter market
Palmer Anthony carver gilder & shopkeeper Silver street
Palmer Caroline Miss lodging house Sherborne lane
Paul Samuel china & glass warehouse Broad street
Penny & Co drapers Broad street
Pile Joseph tailor Church street
Pitfield John cabinet maker Coombe street
Porter James carpenter & joiner Silver street
Porter William blue lias stone merchant The Cobb
Pulsford Alice Mrs lodging house Marine parade
Pulsford George seedsman Bridge street
Pulsford Samuel cabinet maker Church street

Quick Thomas boot & shoe maker Bridge street

Radford & Radford auctioneers Broad street
Radford Henry slater & plasterer & collector to Improvement Commissioners Broad street
Raistrick Charles beer retailer Mill green
Randall William & Henry builders Butter market
Randall William grocer & tea dealer Butter market
Rendall George John grocer Broad street
Rowe John ship owner Spring cottage The Cobb
Rugg William beer retailer Church street
Rugg William pleasure boat owner The Cobb
Rumsey John organist The Cobb

St Michael Iron Works Co (Lim) patentees & kitchen range manufacturers engineers iron & brass founders gas hot water & steam apparatus manufacturers furnishing ironmongers cutlery electro plated tin copper japan goods & agricultural implement depôt Broad street works Church street
Sansom Henry London inn Church street
Sansom Mary Mrs beer retailer Sherborne lane
Savings Bank open every friday from 12 to 2 William James Atkins actuary Dorsetshire Bank Broad street
Scammell John nurseryman Rose cottage Charmouth rd
Scovell Wm Parsons custom house officer Butter market
Seager John fish dealer Bridge street
Sellers Frederick Norman draper Broad street
Seymour James Coles farmer Charmouth road
Shackelford John stationer Broad street
Skinner David Shorter physician & surgeon Silver street
Snell Charles Otton baker & grocer Broad street
Sorrell George baker Bridge street
Southee James grazier Colway cottage
Spencer Henry New inn Broad street
Staplefortb Henry carman Silver street
Stevens John dyer scourer &c Broad street
Stevens Richard stone mason Church street
Stoward Charles boot & shoe maker Church street
Strickland Wm Geo mechanical engineer Butter market
Swaffield Sarah Ann & Harriett Misses dress makers Broad street
Swaffield Elzbth Mrs pastry cook & confectioner Broad st
Swaffield Walter Evans tailor Broad street

Taylor John builder Mill green
Thornton Edward chemist Broad street
Turner James & Co wine merchants Market square
Turner George lodging house Monmouth house
Turner Job cowkeeper Church street

Wallis & Son millers maltsters corn & manure merchants Town mills & at Charmouth Axminster & Axmouth Devon
Wallis & Wallis coal brick & tile lime & timber merchants Coombe street
Walter Jonas stationer Broad street
Wheadon John plumber Silver street
Wheaton Henry Thomas butcher Broad street
Wild Alfred tailor Monmouth street
Williams Richard Masons Arms Silver street
Wilson Walter Victoria inn Bridge street
Wood Jane Miss laundress Mill green
Wood Thomas master mariner The Cobb
Woodman George Golden Hart Monmouth street
Woodrow George pleasure boat owner Church street
Wright Jabez boot & shoe maker Broad street

Young Williain carman Church street

Source: Kelly’s directory of Hampshire, Dorsetshire, Wiltshire (the Isle of Wight, and the Channel Islands).
By Kelly’s directories, ltd · 1880

Parish History

The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales 1870

LYME-REGIS, a town and a parish in the district of Axminster and county of Dorset. The town stands on the coast, at the mouth of the rivulet Lyme, near the boundary with Devon, 5 ½ miles SE by S of Axminster r. station, and 23 W of Dorchester.

It was given in 774, by the king of the West Saxons, to Sherborne-abbey. It was known, in the Saxon times, for its salt works. It figures in Domesday book as divided into three portions, belonging to respectively Glastonbury abbey, William Belet, and the bishop of Salisbury. It was made a borough by Edward I.; and given to his sister, the queen of Scotland, as part of her dower.

It sent 4 ships, with 42 mariners, to the siege of Calais in the time of Edward I II. It was inundated by the sea in the time of Richard II.; and was twice plundered and burnt by the French in the times of Henry IV. and Henry V. It took part with the parliamentarians in the civil war; withstood a siege of nearly seven weeks by Prince Maurice; and was relieved by the approach of the Earl of Essex.

It was the scene of the landing of the Duke of Monmouth, and of the setting up of his standard, in 1685; gave him lodging during four days at the George inn; and was the point whence he started, with about 2,000 horse and foot, on his disastrous expedition. The George inn, with “Monmouth’s room, ”was but recently taken down; and a piece of the bedstead on which he there slept is still in the possession of a resident. Twelve persons, after the overthrow of Monmouth, were executed in the town by sentence of Judge Jeffreys.

The first engagement with the Spanish armada took place in the offing in 1558; and a sea-fight between the English and the Dutch took place there in 1672. A Carmelite friary was founded in the town before 1322; and a lepers’ hospital, before 1336.

Cosmo de Medici died here in 1669, on his visit to England. De Case, the quack and astrologer in the time of James Il.; Thomas Coram, who founded the Foundling hospital in London about 1668; Sir George Somers, who discovered the Bermudas; Arthur Gregory, who was employed by Walsingham to open the letters addressed to Mary, queen of Scots; Judge Gundry; Larkham, the theologian; and Miss Mary Anning, who discovered the ichthyosaurus, the plesiosaurus, and the pterodactyle, were natives.

The coast at the town, and in its neighbourhood, is highly romantic; rises on the E in very black precipices, on the W in broken crags, thickly mantled with brushwood; and exhibits one of the richest sections of blue lias in the world, capped in some places with green sand. The cliffs abound in fossils of the ichthyosaurus, the plesiosaurus, and the pterodactyle; they contain those also of several extinct species of fish and crustaceans, together with belemnites and ammonites.

They overhang, at the mouth of the Char, an alluvial deposit, which has furnished fossil-trees and teeth of the elephant and the rhinoceros; they likewise contain much pyrites and bituminous shale, subject to occasional ignition after rain; they suffer continual erosion under the beating of the billows, insomuch that the portion of them called the Church-cliffs at the town, recedes somewhat regularly at the rate of about 3 feet a year.

They are notable, all the way to the river Axe, for disturbances similar to those which have shaken much of the picturesque coast of the Isle of Wight; they drew concourses of visitors in 1839, on account of a great landslip, known as the Pinney landslip, about 3 miles to the W; and they command very fine views away to the Isle of Portland.

The town itself is romantically situated on the slopes of two rocky hills, and in the hollow of a deep combe between them, and thence along the Lyme rivulet to the sea. Its houses are built chiefly of blue lias limestone, and covered with slate; its streets are well paved; and the parts nearest the sea lie very low, and have been subject to inundation by spring tides.

A pier, called the Cobb, appears to have been constructed so early as the time of Edward I.; is thought to have got its name from a word of ancient British origin; underwent repeated demolition by the sea, and repeated restoration at great cost; was finally reconstructed, of regular masonry, in 1825-6, at a cost of £17,337.

It comprises 232 feet of pier-proper, and 447 feet of parapet; is a semi-circular structure of great strength, with very thick outer wall rising high above the roadway, and giving protection from both wind and billows; and effects, by the regular curve of its parapet, such a concentration of sounds at a certain point as forms a “whispering gallery ”similar to that in the dome of St. Paul’s in London.

The chief public buildings are a market-house, a assembly-rooms, a custom-house, a church, three dissenting chapels, a Roman Catholic chapel, national and British schools, and alms houses. The church was rebuilt about the end of the 15th century; retains a Norman W arch; comprises nave, aisles, and chancel; was recently re-decorated; and contains monuments to the Hewlings, who were condemned by Judge Jeffreys, and whose fate was much deplored.

The town has a head post office of the name of Lyme, a banking office, two chief inns, and endowed charites £35; enjoys some repute as a watering-place, and as a resort of consumptive invalids; and is a seat of courts and a coast-guard station. Markets are held on Tuesdays and Fridays; and fairs, on 12 May and 2 Oct. Coaches run to Axminster and Bridport. Fishing and sail-cloth making are carried on. Woollen cloth manufacture was formerly prominent; is still commemorated by old buildings in which it was carried on; but has become quite extinct.

The vessels belonging to the port at the beginning of 1864 were 5 small sailing vessels, of aggregately 169 tons, and 13 largo sailing-vessels, of aggregately 1,517 tons. The Vessels which entered in 1863 were 12 British sailing vessels, of aggregately 490 tons, from British colonies; 1 British sailing-vessel, of 53 tons, from foreign countries; 1 foreign sailing-vessel, of 101 tons, from foreign countries; and 110 sailing-vessels, of aggregately 6,998 tons, coastwise. The vessels which cleared in 1863 were 17 British sailing-vessels, of aggregately 999 tons, to British colonies, and 21 sailing vessels, of aggregately 843 tons, coastwise. The amount of customs in 1867 was £565.

The town very long sent two members to parliament; but it was half disfranchised in 1832, and entirely disfranchised in 1868; and it is now governed by a mayor, 4 aldermen, and 12 councillors. The limits of the old borough comprised only 100 acres of Lyme-Regis parish, and these are still the limits of the municipal borough; but the parliamentary borough, after 1832, included the entire parishes of Lyme-Regis and Charmouth.

Corporation income in 1855, £247. Amount of property and income tax charged in 1863, £798. Electors in 1833, 212; in 1868, 252. Pop. of the m. borough in 1851, 2,661; in 1861, 2,318. Houses, 482. Pop. of the p. borough in 1851, 3,516; in 1861, 3,215. Houses, 683.

The parish comprises 1,389 acres of land, and 110 of water. Real property, with Colway, £13,900; of which £40 are in gas-works. Pop. in 1851, 2,852; in 1861, 2,537. Houses, 532. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Salisbury. Value, £275. Patron, the Bishop of Salisbury.

Source: The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales [Wilson, John M]. A. Fullarton & Co. N. d. c. [1870-72].

Administration

• County: Dorset
• Civil Registration District: Axminster
• Probate Court: Court of the Peculiar of the Prebend of Lyme Regis and Halstock
• Diocese: Salisbury
• Rural Deanery: Pre-1847 – None, Post – Bridport
• Poor Law Union: Axminster
• Hundred: Lyme Regis Borough
• Province: Canterbury