Gretham Hospital, Durham antique print with historic description c1785

by Grose, Francis

The Hospital of God at Greatham in Durham.

Francis Grose (1731-1791) wrote “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.”  Etched and engraved on a copperplate for printing on hand-made paper, it was published in London c1785 with text below and on reverse of the illustrated ancient building.

Born in Greenford, Middlesex, the father of Francis Grose was a jeweller from Switzerland who came to London and 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, but his lackadaisical attitude to book-keeping resulted in his rectifying his financial shortfall in this field by the use of his inheritance from his father. From 1763 to 1769 he was an innkeeper. His life experiences and his exposure to the hurly-burly and coarse speech of army and street life equipped him well to produce the work for which he gained most fame.

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