Restormel Castle, Cornwall with historic text. Grose c1785

by Grose, Francis

Restormel Castle near Lostwithiel in Cornwall antique print. One of the four chief Norman castles of Cornwall, with a 13th century circular shell-keep.

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 often amusing descriptions below each illustration provide a brief and uncommon representation of each particular 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.