Motor Tours in the West Country — Context and Discussion

Historical Anecdote Over Route Detail

The catalog subjects suggest a focus on geographical description, but the excerpts devote considerable space to historical narratives. For instance, the account of Tresilian Bridge recounts how “the royalist general, driven into a cul-de-sac by Fairfax, made his final surrender” during the Civil War. Similarly, the story of the Killigrews—who built Falmouth at Sir Walter Raleigh’s suggestion—is told with vivid detail, including the last Killigrew’s peculiar monument described as “a beautiful Imbellishment to the Harbour.” These passages indicate that Stawell prioritizes local history over systematic road coverage, a choice that aligns with the book’s stated aim of appealing to “lovers of beautiful scenery” and those interested in “history and antiquities.”

Architectural Observation and Quirky Detail

Stawell’s eye for architectural oddities is evident in her description of Truro Cathedral. She notes that “only the south aisle is part of the old church of St. Mary: the rest is new,” and remarks on the “gorgeous baptistery” whose “coloured pavements and crimson font are in rather startling contrast to the prevailing austerity.” More striking is her inclusion of a mason’s bill for repairing the tomb of John Robarts: items include “putting seven new buttons to his coat, and a new string to his breeches knees.” Such details, while tangential to geography, give the text a distinctive character that sets it apart from a conventional guidebook.

The Photographic Companion

The book is illustrated with 48 photographs by R. De S. Stawell, the author’s husband. The excerpts do not describe the images, but the front matter notes that photographs in Chapter III are reproduced by permission of Country Life. This collaboration between writer and photographer suggests a deliberate pairing of visual and textual description. The catalog subjects treat the work as purely geographical, but the photographic element implies a more immersive, visual approach to touring—one that complements Stawell’s narrative style.

Readers approaching Motor Tours in the West Country should expect a work that uses geography as a framework for storytelling rather than a dry itinerary. Stawell’s prose rewards those interested in the byways of local history and the peculiarities of old buildings. The book is best read as a period piece that captures the early motorist’s curiosity about the layers of the past encountered along the road.

That old West Country guide stayed with me because it never rushed past the local tales for the sake of the road ahead. There’s a similar patience in this one on Florida’s water-birds, where the marsh’s quiet details matter more than the miles. Florida and the Game Water-Birds of the Atlantic Coast and the Lakes of the United States With a full account of the sporting along our sea-shores and inland waters, and — A Reader’s Guide feels like that—a gentle lingering over what’s actually around you. I think of it often.