Harriet Green (1753-1821) | ABBOTT and HOLDER

VIEWS IN WALES 1801

These watercolours were made on the tour Harriet and her husband, the artist Amos Green (1735-1807), made of Wales in 1801. The extract below describing the tour comes from her Memoir of Amos Green, published posthumously, in 1823.

… we set out August 6^th, went from Chester by the coast to Conwy ferry; the castle and mountains on the opposite shore, formed a scene of new and most interesting impression. We went on the Denbighshire side of the river (Cf. No.1) to Llanrwst (Cf. No.2), spent three days at that place, making delightful excursions, the first of which was Capel Curig, were the road was but just passable for a horse. The scenery seemed to surpass every thing we had seen, as Snowdon did every mountain; and it was a day of peculiar delight. Except from our guide, and at the inn, we had not heard a word of English all day. A Harper played the national airs with great skill, and we were completely initiated in North Wales. The novelty was deeply felt, and produced a sort of visionary charm, that is too subtle for expression. We had two more piney excursions of highest interest; we relied wholly on the cottages for refreshment, and no food was ever more highly relished than the bread and milk we obtained from them. Proceeded to Conwy, breakfasted at Sir George Beaumont’s, (he was now living at a charming place near Conwy), and pursued our way to Carnarvon (sic). Here the assizes and other circumstances prevented our stay more than a night, and we proceeded to Tan-y-Bwlch (Cf. No.3). The road was sublime, but tremendous, which we felt, in finding accommodation in the little cottage-like inn at Tan-y-bwlch. In this lovely vale we remained above three days, quite enchanted with its beauty. From thence we went to Donnelly (sic Dolgellau) and made an excursion to Barmouth, for the sake of the exquisite scenery on the road, formed by the varying views of Cader Idris (Cf. No.4), and the river, which at high water forms a most beautiful bay. From Donnelly (sic Dolgellau) we went to Bala, and from thence by the pass of Glyndiffis (Cf. No.5) to Llangollen (Cf. Nos.6 and 7). Here we had a charming morning ramble to Llandysilio (sic) (Cf. No.8) and Valle Crusis (sic) and passed an entertaining afternoon and evening with the celebrated ladies of the vale…