OLD HALF-TIMBERED HOUSES IN LEDBURY.
From Water Color by B. McGuinness.
British Highways
and Byways
From a Motor Car
BEING A RECORD OF A FIVE THOUSAND MILE TOUR IN ENGLAND, WALES ANDSCOTLAND
BY
Thos. D. Murphy
With Sixteen Illustrations in Colour and Thirty-two Duogravures FromPhotographs; Also Two Descriptive Maps.
BOSTON
L.C. Page & Company
MDCCCCVIII
Copyright, 1908
BY L.C. PAGE & COMPANY
(INCORPORATED)
All rights reserved
A FOREWORD
In this chronicle of a summer's motoring in Britain I have not attempteda guide-book in any sense, yet the maps, together with the comments onhighways, towns, and country, should be of some value even in thatcapacity. I hope, however, that the book, with its many illustrationsand its record of visits to out-of-the way places, may be acceptable tothose who may desire to tour Britain by rail or cycle as well as bymotor car. Nor may it be entirely uninteresting to those who may notexpect to visit the country in person but desire to learn more of it andits people. Although our journey did not follow the beaten paths ofBritish touring, and while a motor car affords the most satisfactorymeans of reaching most of the places described, the great majority ofthese places are accessible by rail, supplemented in some cases by awalk or drive. A glance at the maps will indicate the large scope ofcountry covered and the location of most places especially mentioned inthe text.
It was not a tour of cities by any means, but of the most delightfulcountry in the world, with its towns, villages, historic spots andsolitary ruins. Whatever the merits or demerits of the text, there canbe no question concerning the pictures. The color-plates were reproducedfrom original paintings by prominent artists, some of the pictureshaving been exhibited in the London Royal Academy. The thirty-twoduogravures represent the very height of attainment in that process,being reproductions of the most perfect English photographs obtainable.
T.D.M.
January 1908.
FOREWORD TO SECOND EDITION
The first edition of BRITISH HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS FROM A MOTOR CAR wasprinted from type—instead of from electrotype plates—thus giving anopportunity for additional care in the press work, with better resultsthan with the ordinary book printed from plates. The publishers thoughtalso that some time might elapse before a second edition would be calledfor. However, the unexpected happened and in less than a year a newedition is required.
This has afforded opportunity for numerous additions andcorrections—since it was hardly possible that a book covering such awide scope could be entirely free from mistakes, though, fortunately,these were mainly minor ones. I have to thank numerous readers forhelpful suggestions.
That there is a distinct field for such a book is proven by theunexpectedly large demand for the first edition. I hope that the new andrevised edition may meet with like favor.
T.D.M.
March 1, 1909.