An account of the topography, climate, and present state of the town of Torquay (Devonshire), with reference, particularly, to its suitableness as a place of residence for invalids / [John Coldstream].

  • John Coldstream
Date:
[1833]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An account of the topography, climate, and present state of the town of Torquay (Devonshire), with reference, particularly, to its suitableness as a place of residence for invalids / [John Coldstream]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    way between these two river-courses, is supposed by many to contribute greatly to the dryness of the locality. But this idea, as well as that which imputes a similar effect to the limestone rocks (with their nearly vertical strata,) on which the town is built, seems to require more distinct proof than has yet been ad¬ duced. No register of the direction of the wind has been published. It is generally supposed, however, that, in all seasons, the wind blows from the west and south for a longer time than from the east and north. But it was otherwise during the winter 1832- 33, when on seventy-three days only the wind blew from points between S. E. and W., and on seventy-eight days from those between E. and N. W., both inclusive. These winds were distri¬ buted amongst the several months in the following proportions. Wind. Days of 1832, 1833. S. E. to W. E. . to N. W. strong gales. November, 17 days 13 days 12 December, 19 12 10 January, 7 24 3 February, 20 8 12 March, 10 21 3 44 days of strong g gales” in the above table, are those on which, irrespective altogether of the temperature, a de¬ licate invalid could not have gone abroad with comfort. The most boisterous gales were from the south-west. One of these (on the 19th and 20th of February,) was severely felt, and prov¬ ed most destructive all along the south and west coasts of Eng¬ land ; but Torquay sustained little damage. The blasting of the east wind, so remarkably baneful to vegetation in spring on the north-east coasts of Britain, is sometimes experienced here; and its peculiar chilling effect Is sensibly felt, although not to the same degree as in Scotland. The greater part of the town, however, is well sheltered from its direct action. In estimating the advantages which this locality possesses as a place of residence for invalids, the power of the sun’s rays, and the concentration of their effect within the cove by the sides of the bounding hills, must be taken into account. Thermo- metrical indications can give no just idea of the importance of these to the invalid. But it is evident that they tend to pro¬ duce a local atmosphere in which he may take exercise out of doors, with safety and comfort, on many more days than he could, in the same season, in other places less favourably cir¬ cumstanced. It may be proper to add here a note of the number of days in each month of the season 1832-33 on which it appeared to the
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