Tour in Part of the Mercian and Northumbrian Kingdoms; from Downing to Alston Moor

'Tour in Part of the Mercian and Northumbrian Kingdoms; from Downing to Alston Moor'. A version of this tour was published posthumously as 'A Tour From Downing to Alston Moor' (London, 1801).

Title page illustrated with an oak garland.

This volume is based on a real tour, undertaken on horseback in 1773, with Pennant joined his artist Moses Griffith: it is summarised in Pennant's 'Literary Life' (1793), pp. 16–19. This extra-illustrated fair copy, however, was completed during the making of the 'Outlines', c.1788–c.1791: see 'Curious Travellers Editions' [https://editions.curioustravellers.ac.uk/], item ID 1136.

The 'Literary Life' attributes the original illustrations to Griffith, and some bear his signature and a date of composition. A number of these illustrations form the basis of plates published with the Tour in 1801. Illustrations (not all of which stem from the 1773 tour) include: view of the 'Castle at Castle Town' [on the Isle of Man, which Pennant visited in 1774], pp. 38–39; View of Sephton [i.e. Sefton] church, pp. 52–53; View of Lydiate Chapel, pp. 55–57; drawings of a glove, boot, and spoon supposedly used by Henry VI, pp. 100–101, and described p. 121; two views of Pendragon Castle in Westmoreland, pp. 156–157; a hollow oak, the last remaining of 'the famous...three Brothers' near Temple Sowerby, pp. 184–185; Numerous drawings of antiquities, apparently belonging to the 'Reverend Mr. Graham' at Netherby, pp. 224–225.

A view of Latham Hall [i.e. Lathom House, near Ormskirk] is attributed to 'Th[.] Falconer', pp. 60–61.

Pages 235–240 contain 'An account of the bewitching of Ferdinand Earl of Derby', see p. 34 for context.

Full itinerary and index in rear of volume.

Object Details

ID: P/16/22
Collection: Charts and maps
Type: Manuscript
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Pennant, Thomas; Griffith, Moses Falconer, Thomas
Date made: 1773; 1773-1792 1787 1787-01-01 - 1792-12-31 1787-1792 1790 1791 1792-10-27 1792 c.1788–c.1791
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Measurements: 1 volume
Parts: 'Outlines of the Globe' or 'Imaginary World Tour' and related items - manuscript tours, natural history, and illustrations authored and compiled by Thomas Pennant (1726–1798), naturalist, traveller, and writer (Manuscript)