British Antiquarianism and Architectural History Francis Grose Antiquities of England and Wales 1773

Francis Grose

Book

Grose, Francis. Antiquities of England and Wales, 1773, a foundational eighteenth century antiquarian survey that documents medieval castles, abbeys, and architectural remains across England and Wales at a moment when systematic historical preservation had not yet emerged as an institutional practice. Compiled from Grose’s own field observations and drawings, the work records structures that in many cases were already in decay, providing a visual and descriptive archive of the built environment prior to nineteenth century restoration movements. Grose, working outside formal academic institutions while serving in excise duties and later traveling with the Surrey Militia, produced one of the earliest large scale efforts to catalog national architectural heritage for a broader readership.

Grose, Francis. Antiquities of England and Wales. London: S. Hooper, 1773. Four volumes. Folio. The set is extensively illustrated with engravings based on Grose’s drawings, including frontispieces, vignette title pages, and numerous plates throughout each volume depicting abbeys, castles, and other historic sites. The accompanying descriptive texts provide historical context and architectural detail, reflecting Grose’s stated aim to produce a readable and accessible account of England and Wales’s historical monuments. Upon Grose’s death, his preparatory sketches and finished drawings for the work were acquired for George III and are now preserved in the British Library, underscoring the recognized importance of his documentation.

Produced during a period of growing antiquarian interest in Britain, Antiquities of England and Wales contributed to the emergence of national historical consciousness tied to landscape, architecture, and medieval heritage. The work precedes later institutional preservation efforts and remains a key source for the study of sites that have since been altered or lost. Grose’s combination of fieldwork, illustration, and narrative description established a model for subsequent antiquarian publications and shaped how historical monuments were studied and valued. Bound in leather with gilt decoration and marbled endpapers; armorial bookplate present. Some scuffing and abrasions to boards with minor loss at spine ends and reinforcement to one gutter; interiors clean and stable. Overall good condition.

Item #17492

Price: $875.00