Reise durch England, Wales und Schottland im Jahre 1816

Name of traveller

Samuel Heinrich Spiker (1786-1858)

Reason for travel

• travelling as cultural tourist, self-improvement

Date of travel

1816

Hinter Aberconway wird die Gegend bergig, und der Weg so schwer zu befahren, daß man 4 Pferde nehmen muß. Die Straße windet sich hier an den Bergen hin, die auf der rechten Seite so steil hinablaufen, daß man die Straße mit einer 3 Fuß hohen Schutzmauer versehen hat, um das Herabstürzen der Wagen zu vehindern. (Spiker 33)

Content

• art: contains two etchings of Tintern Abbey
• customs: interest in observing customs and development of industry but little engagement with the language and culture
• history: factual tone of the account with a lot of historical detail
• people: 
  • references to Thomas Pennant (1726-1798), George Nicholson and Christian August Gottlieb Goede (1774-1812)
  • claims to know Thomas Telford (1757-1834) personally, with detailed descriptions of his various achievements in north Wales
• terrain: notes romantic nature of the landscape
• transport:
  • modes of travel: ferry services on the Menai Strait between Caernarfon, Bangor and Beaumaris
  • some focus on the act of travel, especially in relation to the condition of the roads
• Dutch translation: Reis door Engeland, Walles en Schotland, gedaan in het Jaar 1816. Vol. 2 Amsterdam: Beijerinck & Willemz, 1819. Print.
• English translation: Travels through England, Wales and Scotland in the Year 1816. 2 vols. London: 1820. Print.
• click here to read the full account

Nationality of traveller

German

Language of publication

German; translations: Dutch, English

Gender of traveller

Male

Type of publication

travelogue

Citation

Spiker, Samuel Heinrich. Reise durch England, Wales und Schottland im Jahre 1816. Vol. 2 Leipzig: Göschen, 1818. 23-115. Print.