Roadtrip: 1820 Scotland!

July 5-7, 1820

In company with my Brother Edward started from London in the Leeds coach at 1 o clock, through St. Albans & Dinstable to Woburn; from whence through Northampton & Loughborough to Nottingham; at which place we arrived at 8 o clock the following morning, after having passed rather a restless night; however we were somewhat refreshed by a comfortable nap for about two hours, and enjoyed afterwards a very good breakfast. Here we lost our two female companions, an old woman and her daughter in law.

The Church of St. Mary at Nottingham is a very

elegant and noble building: The Castle is seated on an eminence at the south end of the town, commanding a fine prospect.

From Nottingham we passed through Mansfield, about six miles on the right is the village and castle of Balsover, the latter standing on a lofty eminence the descent of which towards the north is almost perpendicular. 

By Chesterfield to Sheffield: the road from thence through Barnsley and Wakefield is very bad, and on either side nothing but Manufacturies and coal mines are to be seen for nearly the whole way.

Arrived at Leeds 1/2 past 7 o clock in the evening.

Greaves' Hotel, 194 miles.

Leeds is a large and populous town, but most

This appears to be a contemporary print glued to a page of the journal.

filthyly dirty owing to the number of manufacturies which are in and about the town: we visited one of them and were much pleased, and likewise the Clothhall where there is exposed for sale every Saturday, upon an average, about one million pounds worth of Cloth.

The Church of St. Peter is the only one building worthy of notice, it stands at the east end of the town, and is an ancient and venerable building of the pointed style, but sadly mutilated: we were much amused as walking through the interior, in seeing three happy couples joined together in holy matrimony, six as dirty and vulgar looking people as ever one would like to see; however they appeared affected by the ceremony, whilst the clergyman was reading

it over as fast as his tongue could move, his only object being to get through it without much loss of time to himself: the happy couples soon [were wed?] and took their departure in hopes of future happiness.

During our stay here we visited mister [Gales?] family, from whom we received every attention. About three miles south west of the town of Leeds stand the interesting ruins of Kirkstall Abbey, which are well worthy of notice; and being situated upon the banks of the river it forms a very pleasing and picturesque object.