New book 'Three Men and a Bradshaw' released

[3MenBradshaw]

Three Men and a Bradshaw is the collection of five holiday journals written in the 1870's by John Freeman in which the author and his brothers use Bradshaw's Guide to determine their annual vacation in the British Isles.  This is Bradshaw’s as it was intended to be used – by a Victorian traveller, to aid them in the time when tourism was in its infancy.

 

The three brothers leave their London tailoring business each summer to embark upon their railway adventures in Jersey (the Jersey and Jersey Eastern railways started in the 1870's), North Devon (they witness the opening of the Ilfracombe to Barnstaple line in 1874), North Wales (Llangollen, Betws etc), Scotland (Edinburgh and the Trossachs) and finally the Wye Valley and South Wales.

 

A charming read and beautifully illustrated with John Freeman's stunning drawings - a real insight into early railway tourist travel and the impact the new lines were having upon the resorts of victorian Britain.

 

 

[JohnR]

Sounds intriguing. I take it this is a modern reprint of the originals?

[3MenBradshaw]

Sounds intriguing. I take it this is a modern reprint of the originals?

Hello John

 

Thanks for your interest, this is an abridged version of a previously unpublished journal, written at the time of the holidays. This is part of the 1876 Scottish holiday prologue:-

 

By aid of these friends, on whom much depends,

We planned out the route after travelled;

With maps at our side, we studied the 'Guide',

And its legends perused and unravelled.

 

You can see inside the book on the Amazon page :-http://www.amazon.co.uk/Three-Bradshaw-John-George-Freeman/dp/1847947441/ref=zg_bs_277113_10