150A. Edward Stanford / G J Symons 1872

G J Symons began his reports on rainfall in 1860 and the series was published annually until the 1900s. George James Symons (1838-1900) was a Member of the Scottish Meteorological Society and a leading proponent of gathering annual and detailed rain tables which were compiled from reports from stations throughout Great Britain and Ireland. First published in 1860 (statistics from 168 stations) Symons´ records were able to accurately show the records of rainfall in the UK. Symons appears to have been solely responsible for compiling the reports until 1889 when H Sowerby Wallis joined him. Together they prepared the reports until 1899 (from 3528 stations) when Hugh Robert Mill took over from Symons (after Symons´ death in that year). From 1903 H R Mill was responsible for publishing the reports. In June 1878 Symons was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society.¹

Symons´s work was an important effort to describe and predict rainfall and the volumes included illustrations, mainly of gauges and instruments to measure rain. Some volumes in the series had a frontispiece plate; experimental rain gauges at Rotherham, Yorks (1869); an illustration of the experimental weather station at Hawsker, Whitby (1870); and a map of rain stations in parts of Devon and Cornwall (1871). Besides using providing statistics on British rainfall, the 1867 report included a detailed chapter on rain in Americas, Europe, Australia, Pacific, by city, based on many years of observations.²

The guide (1872) contains 206 pp. followed by 2 unnumbered pages of adverts for Symons´ own Rain: How, When, Where, and Why it is Measured (published 1867); his monthly Meteorological Magazine; and for registration forms for fledgeling rainfall recorders. The frontispiece map is smaller and less detailed (fewer roads but inclusion of hills) than Stanford´s later map included in the Parliamentary County Atlas and clearly shows the rain gauge stations, each numbered. The stations can be cross-referenced using the table on pages 174-176, although this is not mentioned in the report as such.

Size: 178 mm x 110 mm.                                                                                                                SCALE OF (10 + 10 = 45 mm) STA. MILES.

RAIN GAUGE STATIONS IN PARTS OF DEVON AND CORNWALL CaOS). Note: Corrected to May 1872. (AeOS). Scale bar below map centrally. Note on rain gauges in/not in operation (Aa). Railway from Exeter towards Oakhampton to Stampford Courtney (sic) only.