A Place Quite Northward

This book offers a kaleidoscopic series of snapshots of Northumberland as it was seen by visitors in the 350 years up to the beginning of the modern railway age. It tells us much about the visitors themselves, whether they came for business or for pleasure, and about their experience of travel in what was for many decades a dangerous border region. There are some famous names, like Daniel Defoe, and occasional royal visits. But some of the most interesting accounts come from unknown or anonymous travellers. Their stories suggest new angles on local history and reveal some suprising facts. We learn for instance that a visit to the railway was part of an official tour in 1675, exactly half way through the period covered. The book will particularly appeal to those interested in local history and in the history of travel. All readers should find a rich vein of amusement in some of the stories told, and few will come away without learning something new and unexpected.