''The Beauties of England and Wales'' (1801–1815) is a series of books describing the
topography
Topography is the study of the forms and features of land surfaces. The topography of an area may refer to the land forms and features themselves, or a description or depiction in maps.
Topography is a field of geoscience and planetary sci ...
and
local history
Local history is the study of history in a geographically local context, often concentrating on a relatively small local community. It incorporates cultural and social aspects of history. Local history is not merely national history writ small bu ...
of England and Wales. Produced by a variety of London publishers, the work appeared in 18 multi-part volumes arranged by county, individually authored by
John Bigland
John Bigland (175022 February 1832) was an English schoolmaster and later a historian.
Early life and education
He was born of poor parents at Skirlaugh in the Holderness area of the East Riding of Yorkshire.
Career
Bigland began his career as ...
,
Edward Wedlake Brayley
Edward Wedlake Brayley (177323 September 1854) was an English historian and topographer. Brayley collaborated with his life-long friend, John Britton, on the first 6 volumes of ''The Beauties of England and Wales''.
Early life
Brayley was ...
,
J. Norris Brewer,
John Britton,
John Evans,
John Hodgson, Francis Charles Laird,
Joseph Nightingale
Joseph Nightingale (26 October 1775 – 9 August 1824) was a prolific English writer and preacher. He was particularly noted for his topographic writing and his interest in shorthand.
Life
He was born at Chowbent in Atherton, Lancashire and beca ...
,
Thomas Rees, and
Frederic Shoberl
Frederic Shoberl (1775–1853), also known as Frederick Schoberl, was an English journalist, editor, translator, writer and illustrator. Shoberl edited ''Forget-Me-Not'', the first literary annual, issued at Christmas "for 1823" and translated '' ...
. Each volume contained engraved illustrations by artists such as
Thomas Hearne,
J. M. W. Turner,
John Varley,
Benjamin West
Benjamin West, (October 10, 1738 – March 11, 1820) was a British-American artist who painted famous historical scenes such as '' The Death of Nelson'', ''The Death of General Wolfe'', the '' Treaty of Paris'', and '' Benjamin Franklin Drawin ...
.
Readers included
Charles Dickens
Charles John Huffam Dickens (; 7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) was an English writer and social critic. He created some of the world's best-known fictional characters and is regarded by many as the greatest novelist of the Victorian e ...
.
Further reading
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*
** Contents: Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire (
Index
*
** Contents: Cambridge, Cheshire, Cornwall (
Index
*
** Contents: Cumberland, Isle of Man, Derbyshire
*
** Contents: Devonshire, Dorsetshire (
Index
*
** Contents: Durham, Essex, Gloucestershire (
Index
*
** Contents: Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Herefordshire (
Index
*
** Contents: Hertfordshire, Huntingdonshire, Kent (
Indexes
*
** Contents: Kent (
Index
*
** Contents: Lancashire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire (
Index
* (
Indexes
** (
Index
** (
Index
** (
Index
*
** Contents: Monmouthshire, Norfolk
*
** Contents: Northumberland, Nottingham (
Indexes
*
** Contents: Oxfordshire, Rutlandshire (
Indexes
*
** Contents: Shropshire, Somersetshire (
Indexes
*
** Contents: Staffordshire (
Indexes
*
** Contents: Suffolk, Surrey, Sussex (
Indexes
*
*
Index*
*
*
Notes
References
External links
* Hathi Trust
The Beauties of England and Wales; or, Delineations, Topographical, Historical, and Descriptive, of each County 1801-1815
* Europeana
{{DEFAULTSORT:Beauties of England and Wales, The
Book series introduced in 1801
19th-century history books
History books about England
History books about Wales
Series of books
Histories of populated places in England
1800s books
1810s books
History of England by county
19th century in England