| Description | Notebook containing a diary of excursions, probably written by Letitia, daughter of the Rev. John Fleming Stanley, and wife of Robert William Wynne of Garthewin, "Col. Wynne". The first page is headed "Recollections of a Journey taken in the Year MDCCCXXII". The diarist's first and longest journey starts in Bath on 27 June 1822 and ends at Garthewin on 23 August 1822. It comprises a trip around the Lake District and the Scottish borders, and the scenery and places of interest are fully described, taking in Worcester, Wolverhampton, Stafford, Newcastle under Lyme, Trentham House, Wigan, Lancaster, Levens, Kendal, various locations in the Lake District, Carlisle, Langholm, Hawick, Melrose Abbey, Edinburgh for five days, Linlithgow, Falkirk, Stirling, Glasgow, Loch Lomond, Hamilton, back to Carlisle, Penrith, Ullswater, Preston, Chester and Holywell. At Edinburgh there are preparations in full swing for the visit of King George IV: "the expected visit seems to have given a heart-stirring sensation to the sober Scots, and they are brushing, cleaning, painting and leaving nothing undone to shew off 'their own romantic Town' to the greatest advantage, and to evince their own high-spirited loyalty".
Other journeys are also described: in June 1823 to Fonthill Abbey and Longleat; in September 1823 to York for the Music Meeting; in 1824 to Kenilworth; in July 1826 to Litchfield and Derbyshire, including Chatsworth House and Haddon Hall.
In August and September 1826 an excursion is made to Anglesey, crossing the Conway Suspension Bridge, "It is really quite a picture", staying at the Penryn Arms at Bangor, "an excellent Inn built within these few years, beautifully situated commanding fine views towards the Straits of Menai, Beaumaris and the sea", crossing "that magnificent work of art and genius, the [newly opened] suspension Iron Bridge over the Menai Straits", whose measurements and statistics are noted in detail, seeing Lord Anglesey's column, and staying the night at Holyhead where the diarist watches a Steam Packet boat sail for Dublin: "she lissen'd from our view with a rapidity which seem'd quite wonderful". She also writes a description of South Stack lighthouse.
Finally there is a brief description of the Manchester Music Meeting in September 1828.
The diary is illustrated with ink-washed sketches of Loch Lomond, Edinburgh Town and Castle, and Castle Menzies, Castle Humtley and Grandtully, all in Pertshire. |