Code: 12663
Dimensions:
'Walker's Tour Through England and Wales'. A hand-coloured engraved map game, published by William & Thomas Darton, 1809. The engraving dissected and mounted on linen, with explanation and directions pasted to left and right margin.
John Walker was a physician, geographer and engraver who designed this map game of England and Wales. This game allows players, or "travellers" to traverse England and Wales, with 118 stops, starting in Maidstone Kent and finishing in London. Each location is accompanied by a description with facts and trivia and would have helped children familiarise themselves with the features of towns across the country. For example, in Manchester travellers are invited to stop to 'see the manufactories, the handsome streets and elegant houses', Liverpool is 'a town that fills all with astonishment' and Pontypool is noted for its Japanned ware. As John Walker was a Quaker many of the comments have a moralistic bent, for example Newmarket has a 'Cruel Diversion' and it suggests visiting the Ackworth School in Pontefract.
The publishers, William and Thomas Darton, of Holborn Hill, were well known for children's educational games and puzzles.
Framed and glazed.
