The chances are if you see or own an old print of the region, it was based on the work of the artist Thomas Allom. Westmorland, Cumberland, Durham and Northumberland Illustrated was published in instalments between 1832-35 and regularly reprinted in various forms until the late 1850s. It consists of over 200 engravings of the region nearly all of them based on work by Allom. But who was he? What do his prints reveal about the scenery, buildings and lifestyles of the area? What enabled so many of his prints to be produced? Why is he so little known today?

About the speaker

Mike retired as Senior Lecturer in History from Lancaster University in 2010. His research interests and publications largely focus on the North West of England, particularly in the 19th century. He regularly gives talks in the region and is actively involved in a number of societies, including the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society.