The Inspiration for Rev Dew's River Avon Photos

I have been prompted to revisit the book ‘Exploring Shakespeare Country 100 years ago’ by Stuart Ludlum. This was published in 1985 and so I was surprised to see the exact same heading (shown above) as the Rev. Dew used for his 1900 talk about the Warwickshire Avon! Could the reverend gentleman be a time traveller? No – it turns out that the 1985 book is based on three articles by Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch originally published in Harper’s New Monthly Magazine in 1891. Clearly Edward Dew read these articles and copied some of the drawings for his talk. (As well as the picture shown above he copied a couple not included in this series because they aren’t in Warwickshire.)

Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch’s trip down the Avon

Q (as he called himself) travelled down the River Avon from its source with an artist friend Alfred Parsons (known as P) who drew charming illustrations for the articles. They walked beside the first part of the river and then launched a Canadian canoe at the Avon Mill in Rugby for the remainder of their journey. They stayed at inns along the course of the river and ended up where the Avon joins the river Severn at Tewkesbury.

The account makes an interesting read and can be consulted at the Warwickshire County Record Office at reference A QUI (P).