Journal of a tour through northern England and Scotland

This is a detailed account of a tour through northern England and Scotland written by an anonymous young lady in which she records her impressions and describes the journey for the benefit of her mother who did not accompany her. Although anonymous, the content of the journal indicates that the author is a well educated and well connected young lady whose family lived, at the time of writing, in Boar Street [Bore Street], Lichfield. She makes an oblique reference in her journal to a connection with a school, presumably in Lichfield, but in what capacity is uncertain. She appears to be an energetic, confident and well read young woman who delights in new experiences, making new acquaintances and recording her observations of people and places. She makes no mention of a father so her mother is possibly widowed. She mentions a number of physicians and surgeons known to the family so it is possible her father was also a medical man. Her travelling companions are referred to only as her Aunt, and Elizabeth and brother Herbert who joined them at York for part of the tour. The journal suggests that their itinerary has been planned for some time and although, for the most part they stay in a variety of inns and hotels en route, the party also make prearranged visits to family friends in Hull and Liverpool. Her journal begins when the party leave Derby on 23 June 1837. Their itinerary included Sheffield, Leeds, Harrogate, York and Scarborough and on to Scotland, by packet steamer, landing in Edinburgh 10 July. The writer was particularly determined to travel to Scotland and to pay homage to Sir Walter Scott. Her journal is very much a record of, in her own words, a 'quest for the picturesque' and reflects her determination to seek out the most dramatic and beautiful landscapes wherever they travelled. She gives detailed accounts of the many sites of historical and architectural interest they visited. The party also made excursions to the border towns and visited Loch Lomond and Glasgow where they visited the grave of her brother. They then boarded a packet steamer 'The Eagle' and sailed back down the west coast docking in Liverpool on 21 July. Here, Herbert leaves the party and travelled by 'rail-road' to Manchester. The author and the others in her party then took the train to Birmingham and from there a coach back to Lichfield, arriving home on 25 July.

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Former location: MSS 5/iv/4
Purchase recorded in University Librarian's Annual Report 1971/72

n 1996 this collection was microfilmed by Adam Matthew Publications as part of the micropublication, 'Women's Language and Experience, 1500-1940. Women's Diaries and Related Sources'. A set of the microfilm is available in the Cadbury Research Library for use by all registered researchers.