The term grand tour conjures up English aristocrats sent to the Continent to complete their cultural education. Less well known is the reverse grand tour. In the first half of the eighteenth century Continental visitors came in increasing numbers to Great Britain (including Voltaire, Montesquieu and Rousseau). None came to Manchester.
It was not until the 1760s that awareness of British progress in technology and trade led Continentals to venture up North. Governments sent ‘spies’ to view industrial production, inspect mines, and report on inland navigation. And as travel writing vied with the novel in popularity, these visitors were followed by authors keen to satisfy the demand for guidebooks and travel diaries. All in all about two dozen of these first reports of Manchester from 1760 to 1805 survive, mainly by German and French writers, together with one each from Dutch, Italian, Danish and Swedish writers.
Why did they come? What did they think noteworthy about Manchester and its inhabitants, what disconcerting? What were its distinguishing features? And how did they interpret their observations to their readership? This will be the subject of Philip Morey‘s talk. He will focus on the foreigners’ varied reactions to the town and its surroundings, its urban environment, canal network, industry, inhabitants and leisure pursuits – at a time when the overwhelming majority find the nascent Industrial Revolution inspiring.
Everyone is most welcome to come along, members and non-members alike. Doors open at 1pm (feel free to bring a packed lunch) and the talk will begin at 1.30pm.
Tickets are £5 for members, £6 for non-members. Simply pay on the door, book online (link coming soon- no booking fee).
