Publisher's Synopsis
Whitehaven, until the neglect and subsequent redevelopment of the 1960s, was one of the earliest and most complete post-medieval planned towns in England. In the late 17th and early 18th century the fortunes of Whitehaven were shaped by the effort of the Lowther family, who turned a simple fishing village into one of the largest ports in the country, handling first coal and salt, and later tobacco.;Sir John Lowther was in a unique position - not only did he own the site of the whole town, but he also took a keen interest in town planning. He did not seek to direct every detail of urban development as in later planned "company" towns. Instead, individuals (rarely Sir John's employees), built or bought for themsleves, and Whitehaven developed in a controlled yet individual way. The Lowthers corresponded prolifically with the stewards of the estate from their base in London, and much of this precious documentary evidence has survived.;These letters, together with numerous estate records, from an unusually rich archive from which a detailed account of the town's development can be constructed. This volume traces the progress and process of building construction and identifies the dates, types and distribution of buildings, both surviving and demolished. It will be of interest to social historians as well as those following the development of architecture and planning in the early modern period.
