PREFACE. I SUBMIT to the public the following delineations of Warwickshire, with blended confidence and anxiety. I beg permission to say that I have used as much exertion as the most industrious of my coadjutors, in endeavours to render this portion of the "Beauties of England" faithful and satisfactory. But the County of Warwick, is, in itself, so fertile of topographical interest; and is rendered an object of so much antiquarian curiosity by the justly-celebrated labours of its great historian, Sir William Dugdale; that it demands to be treated in a much more extended and comprehensive manner than the prescribed limits of the present undertaking can allow. While I thus feel the necessity of requesting the Reader's indulgence for the haste with which I have been constrained, in instances too numerous, to tread over interesting ground, I am convinced 1 convinced of the necessity of the restriction under which I have acted. I am thoroughly satisfied that the Publisher and Proprietors of the extensive Work of which this topographical essay forms a part, have used, and do continue to exercise, indefatigable pains, and great pecuniary liberality, in their efforts to render the publication conformable to the wish of the majority of their patrons, both as to extent and character. While investigating the county, I had the honour of being received with kindness and attention by all to whom I found occasion to apply. I trust that I may be allowed thus publicly to return thanks to the EARL OF WARWICK, for the condescension and politeness with which he attended to several questions I took the freedom of proposing respecting his noble castellated mansion. I am equally impressed with gratitude by the attention with which I was honoured by the EARL and COUNTESS of CRAVEN, on my examination of Combe Abbey. I must, likewise, beg to acknowledge the very obliging conduct of F. Parker Newdigate, Esq. of Arbury Hall. Mr. John Nickson, of Coventry; the Rev. John Kendall, and Mr. Roe, of Warwick; Mr. Wheler, the judicious historian of Stratford; and Messrs. Beilby and Knott, of Birmingham, who are pre paring for publication a new edition of Mr. Hutton's History of that Town; are entitled, among other inhabitants of the county, to the best thanks it is in my power to offer. The Reverend Dr. Parr is well known as the liberal friend of literature in general. I have to acknowledge the politeness with which he replied to the statement of a difficulty, which was, in itself, perhaps, little worthy of his consideration. J. NORRIS Brewer. Kennington, November 1st, 1814. |