Clifton, Gloucestershire


A Topographical and Statistical Description of the County of Somerset etc (1810) by George Alexander Cooke:

The village of Clifton is universally allowed to be one of the most agreeable, healthy and pleasant spots in the kingdom; the air is so remarkably pure and salubrious as to occasion its being stiled the English Montpelier. It lies in the hundred of Kings-Burton; it is situated on the south and west of a cliff or hill( whence its name) one mile westward of the city of Bristol, over great part of which it commands a very pleasing prospect ,as also of the ships and vessels that , on the flood and ebb tide, sail up and down the Avon. On the opposite shore the well-cultivated lands of Somersetshire, present themselves in a very beautiful landscape, rising gradually four of five miles from the verge of the river to the top of Dundry Hill, whereon a high tower, esteemed the Proteus of the weather as being continually enveloped with mist so as scarcely to be visible, against the rain; but on the contrary, if it is seen clear and distinct, it denotes it will be a fine day. The delightful situation of Clifton has long since tempted several persons of large fortune to make it their principal residence and others continuing to follow their example, has occasioned the hill to be almost everywhere covered with respectable mansions, most of them built with free-stone in a very elegant stile; and a noble crescent on a plan superior to anything of the kind. Here are also a great number of handsome houses, built purposely for letting lodgings; some nearly adjoining the Hot-Wells.

At a small distance is Doury-square, the Parade, and for those who choose a gentle elevation there is Albermarle-row, and above that are others still higher rising in every gradation to the top of Clifton-hill where many airy lodging houses that command a fine prospect of the country abound.

The general price paid for lodgings, either at the Hot-Wells or Clifton is 10 shillings a week for each room from the 25th March to the 29th September, from which time to the 25th March again is only 5 shillings each room : servants room half price: and for those who choose to board, the usual price is 16 shillings a week each person, over and above what is paid for lodging: this for any time of the year: servants are boarded at half price.

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Quotations
 Chapter 6 
To hear them talking so much of Captain Wentworth, repeating his name so often, puzzling over past years, and at least ascertaining that it might, that it probably would, turn out to be the very same Captain Wentworth whom they recollected meeting, once or twice, after their coming back from Clifton -- a very fine young man; but they could not say whether it was seven or eight years ago, -- was a new sort of trial to Anne's nerves. She found, however, that it was one to which she must enure herself. Since he actually was expected in the country, she must teach herself to be insensible on such points. And not only did it appear that he was expected, and speedily, but the Musgroves, in their warm gratitude for the kindness he had shewn poor Dick, and very high respect for his character, stamped as it was by poor Dick's having been six months under his care, and mentioning him in strong, though not perfectly well-spelt praise, as "a fine dashing felow, only too perticular about the schoolmaster," were bent on introducing themselves, and seeking his acquaintance as soon as they could hear of his arrival.
 

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