Market Place, Holyhead, Anglesea in Wales. (Market Cross) c1785

by Grose, Francis

The Market Place of Holyhead, Anglesea antique print.  ".. drawn in the year 1769, shows the market place, or cross, and the ancient rude gate leading into the church yard..."

Francis Grose (1731-1791) wrote and drew many of the engravings for “The Antiquities of England and Wales; Being a Collection of Views of the Most remarkable Ruins and antient(sic) Buildings, Accurately drawn on the spot. To each view is added An Historical Account of its Situation, when & by whom built, with every interesting Circumstance relating thereto. Collected from the best authorities.” Published between 1783 and 1787, its heavily engraved views wonderfully convey the aura of the distinctive structures and landscapes, and the accompanying descriptions in olde English, below each illustration and sometimes continued on reverse, provide a brief and uncommon historic representation of the region.

Francis Grose was born in London. His father was a jeweller from Switzerland who, after moving to London, fashioned George II’s coronation crown. Francis joined the military and rose to the rank of Captain. He then became Paymaster and Adjutant of the Surrey Militia. Fortunately his inefficient financial management was able to be supported by an inheritance by his father. His life experiences, including six years as an innkeeper were invaluable in writing his most famous work "A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue".

Page size 12 x 9 inches or 30 x 23cm.