The Tunbridge Wells Guide; or, the account of the ancient and present state of that place

to which is added a particular description of the towns and villages, remains of antiquity, gentlemen's seats, founderies &c &c within the circumference of sixteen miles

Tunbridge Wells: printed and sold by J. Spragge at his circulating library... etc, 1797.

Early edition of this highly informative late eighteenth century guide book to Tunbridge Wells and its outlying villages, providing a history and description of the spa town of Tunbridge Wells itself, and notes on the principal country houses in the neighbouring parts of Kent and Sussex. Also contains list of major roads leading from Tunbridge Wells, the routes of stage coaches, waggons and post and a list of the lodging houses in the town. First Edition, engraved frontispiece (of the Pantiles) and titlepage (Mount Pleasant) and dedication page. [vi], xi, 336. 12 further plates, of which six are folding, plus a tabular chart at the back. Contemporary marbled boards, calf spine (possibly slightly later), calf corners; boards rubbed. Tape repair to verso of frontispiece which also has a strip knocked off at outer margin. Plates well foxed, contents less so, the whole well thumbed. An about VG copy. First published in 1780, the early issues of this little guide have eccentric pagination and Goulden lists five variants and there are numerous variations between printings. Sprange frequently inserted extra leaves but not in all copies.