Beginning the second volume of his journals, William arrives in the ancient city of Cologne where he views its huge unfinished cathedral with its 400 year-old medieval crane, shrine to the three kings, and we learn about the death of St Ursula and the massacre of her 11,000 virginal companions. Get bonus content on PatreonSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/a-grand-tour-with-my-great-great-grandad. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode (the last from William's first volume of his journals) he continues his journey down the Rhine with his family, following in the footsteps of Lord Byron and encountering the mysterious Lorelei Rock, site of myths and legends and seductive sirens. Get bonus content on PatreonSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/a-grand-tour-with-my-great-great-grandad. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

William continues his journey through Germany. Now travelling by paddle steamer along the Rhine, where he observes the magnificent scenery, ancient castles and encounters the famous Mouse Tower with its grisly past, floating ship mills, and the curios semi-submerged Alterstein, foreteller of bountiful wine harvests. Get bonus content on PatreonSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/a-grand-tour-with-my-great-great-grandad. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Making his way home through Europe, William tours the streets of the fan shaped city of Karlsruhe. We learn about the famous Heidelberg Tun, a wine barrel the size of a house, and reach the city of Mannheim on the Rhine. The location of a huge baroque palace and an astronomical observatory once visited by Mozart and Benjamin Franklin. Get bonus content on PatreonSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/a-grand-tour-with-my-great-great-grandad. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode William continues his travels through Switzerland with his family, describing 1840s Zurich and then making his way north to Germany and the state of Baden, encountering the Gothic cathedral or minster at Freiburg and its impressively tall spire and onward to the Black Forest - land of mighty trees and wooden cuckoo clocks. Get bonus content on PatreonSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/a-grand-tour-with-my-great-great-grandad. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Now on his way home from Milan, William and his family descend the treacherous Splugan pass. Navigate the Walensee lake, following in the steps of Franz Liszt and journey on to Lake Zurich where William enjoys some pampering at the luxurious Baur Hotel. Get bonus content on PatreonSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/a-grand-tour-with-my-great-great-grandad. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode William discusses a funeral he attends in 1840s Milan. Then begins the start of his journey home with his family via the Alps and the Splugen pass into Switzerland. Get bonus content on PatreonSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/a-grand-tour-with-my-great-great-grandad. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, after finishing his time on the railway, William continues his tour of Milan taking in the Villa Belgiojoso Bonaparte, wanders through the Cristoforis shopping mall, admires the art in the famous Brera gallery and reveals his feelings about the friends he has made and the character of the locals. Get bonus content on PatreonSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/a-grand-tour-with-my-great-great-grandad. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Great Great Grandad William visits the Santa Maria della Grazia, home to one of the most famous pictures in the world (or is it). He observes grotesque religious characters reminiscent of Dickens caricatures and wonders at the sculptures on the facade of the Santa Maria della Passione. Get bonus content on PatreonSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/a-grand-tour-with-my-great-great-grandad. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode William witnesses Carnival in Milan, travels to Cassano di' Adda and Lodi with his daughter and sums up his time working on the railway, including having to deal with the corrupt management of his Belgium boss Mr Thomas. Get bonus content on PatreonSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/a-grand-tour-with-my-great-great-grandad. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we accompany William as he drives the steam train from Milan to Monza describing the route through the Victorian countryside. He then describes notable journeys during his tenure on the railway and some of the horrific accidents that happen to unfortunate people on the line. Get bonus content on PatreonSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/a-grand-tour-with-my-great-great-grandad. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special 25th episode, railway historian Anthony Dawson discusses with Ed the development of the steam railways in Europe and early locomotives like William is driving in Milan, including their impact on transportation and wider society. Get bonus content on PatreonSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/a-grand-tour-with-my-great-great-grandad. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Great great grandad William describes Monza, joins the crowd in Milan for the procession of Corpus Christi and drives the 'Lombarda' steam loco at the grand opening ceremony of the Milan to Monza railway, the second oldest in Italy. Get bonus content on PatreonSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/a-grand-tour-with-my-great-great-grandad. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The steam locomotives have finally arrived in Milan and Great Great Grandad Will begins the first day's trials in front of a crowd of 30,000 people. He then takes a tour of the railway's destination city, 1840s Monza. Get bonus content on PatreonSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/a-grand-tour-with-my-great-great-grandad. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode William continues his journey from Milan to Genoa, passing through the ancient city of Pavia where he observes what he considers the dubious artifacts in the cathedral, and reaches the port of Genoa with its long and opulent history. Get bonus content on PatreonSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/a-grand-tour-with-my-great-great-grandad. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Now on his way to inspect the steam engines being imported to Italy, William visits the Villa Simonetta near Milan with its notorious history and takes in the fabulous surroundings of the Certosa di Pavia monastery. Get bonus content on PatreonSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/a-grand-tour-with-my-great-great-grandad. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

William continues his tour of early 19th century Milan. He visits the Hospital Maggiore. Attends a ceremony in the cathedral welcoming the ruling Austrian viceroy and his highly adorned family and wanders around the Lazzaretto a former plague hospice now home to some of poorest people of the city. Get bonus content on PatreonSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/a-grand-tour-with-my-great-great-grandad. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode William discusses the numerous markets found in Milan in 1840. He witnesses the wide variety of fruits, vegetables and meats available. Discusses the merits of Macaroni and denounces the 'disgusting' habit of frogs being skinned alive. Get bonus content on PatreonSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/a-grand-tour-with-my-great-great-grandad. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode William is touring 1840s Milan describing the theatres such as the boisterous La Scala and lesser known Teatro alla Canobbiano, considered by him a better place of entertainment. He also praises Carlo Geatano Gaisruck, the worthy Archbishop of Milan, decries the Bishops of London and Exeter, and describes how cursory justice is administered in the city. Get bonus content on PatreonSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/a-grand-tour-with-my-great-great-grandad. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In episode 17, Great Great Grandad William is touring the streets of 1840s Milan. Hear about the origins of the Arena Civica amphitheatre, the dastardly cruel Galeazzo Sforza (The 5th Duke of Milan) and the scandalous but beautiful Countess Guilia Samoyloff, the talk of Milanese high society at the time. Get bonus content on PatreonSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/a-grand-tour-with-my-great-great-grandad. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join William as he tours 1840s Milan visiting the many gates or 'Porta' entrances into the city. These include the spectacularly adorned Porta Sempione (Arch of Peace), ancient (or is it) Porta Romana and the impressive Porta Ticinese. Get bonus content on PatreonSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/a-grand-tour-with-my-great-great-grandad. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Great Great Grandad William explores the interior of Milan Cathedral, where he admires the beauty of the stain glass windows, ponders over the rock crystal sarcophagus of St Carlo Borromeo, observes the busy queues for confession and then takes a stroll along the ramparts of the city's walls. Get bonus content on PatreonSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/a-grand-tour-with-my-great-great-grandad. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this yuletide episode of A Grand Tour with my Great Great Grandad, William continues his journey through 1840s northern Italy by stagecoach. On his way he encounters a fine granite bridge built on the orders of Napoleon over the Ticino river, the ladies of Lombardy with their extravagant headdresses and has a not so close shave with a Milanese barber. Get bonus content on PatreonSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/a-grand-tour-with-my-great-great-grandad. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Great Great Grandad William has now got to Turin on his way to Milan so he decides to spend a couple of days seeing the sights and sounds of that city at the time in 1840 when it was still part of the Piedmont-Sardinia Duchy. His travels include the museum of antiquity and the Egyptian museum, still a popular attraction today. Get bonus content on PatreonSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/a-grand-tour-with-my-great-great-grandad. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we join Great Great Grandad William as he continues his journey to Milan and takes the perilous journey over the alps from the Duchy of Savoy to Piedmont. With no tunnels or trains the journey is a combination of horse drawn carriage and sledge. Get bonus content on PatreonSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/a-grand-tour-with-my-great-great-grandad. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Great Great Grandad William continues his journey through France to Italy over the alps. First starting at the silk trade centre of Lyon then to Chambery the capital of Savoy and finally to Épierre where he takes in the colourful sights and sounds of the annual fair. Get bonus content on PatreonSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/a-grand-tour-with-my-great-great-grandad. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Grandad Will continues his journey by horse drawn Diligence from Paris to Milan taking in the rural sights of the River Soane, the towns of Chalon-sur-Soane, Macon and first impressions of one of France's largest cities, Lyon. Get bonus content on PatreonSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/a-grand-tour-with-my-great-great-grandad. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We join William in this episode travelling to the Palace of Versailles by train. Setting off on his journey by stagecoach from Paris to Italy. Then visiting the Palace of Fontainbleau where he sees the table where Napoleon signed his abdication and the deer gallery where the brutal execution of Count Monaldeschi was carried out by the orders of the fascinating Queen Christina of Sweden. Get bonus content on PatreonSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/a-grand-tour-with-my-great-great-grandad. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode William meets Napoleon's veterans at the Hotel des Invalides, wanders by the floating swimming baths of the Seine, visits an engineering exhibition at the Conservatoire des Arts and observes the religious ceremonies taking place at the Church of Saint Roch. Get bonus content on PatreonSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/a-grand-tour-with-my-great-great-grandad. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Great Great Grandad Will visits the noisy Paris stock exchange of the 1840s, encounters the grandeur of the Luxembourg Palace, strolls around the national assembly of the Palais Bourbon and stops by the Paris Mint. Get bonus content on PatreonSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/a-grand-tour-with-my-great-great-grandad. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Great Great Grandad William discovers the curious sculpture of the Elephant of the Bastille, wanders the calm surroundings of Pere Lachaise cemetery, admires the artworks of the Louvre and discovers the church of Saint-Germain l'Auxerrois. Get bonus content on PatreonSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/a-grand-tour-with-my-great-great-grandad. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Great Great Grandad William wonders at the animals in the botanical gardens of the Jardins des Plants, takes a tour of Napoleon's wine market and the Pantheon and ponders on Sunday trading in France. Get bonus content on PatreonSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/a-grand-tour-with-my-great-great-grandad. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 4: Great Great Grandad Will continues his sightseeing in 1840s Paris, firstly by taking a stroll along the banks and bridges of the Seine and then to the cathedral church of Paris - Notre-Dame - where he reflects on its long long history. Get bonus content on PatreonSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/a-grand-tour-with-my-great-great-grandad. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On his first night in Paris Great Great Grandad Will encounters the vibrant nightlife of Paris and next morning enjoys a stroll around the parks. Get bonus content on PatreonSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/a-grand-tour-with-my-great-great-grandad. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode William continues his journey through Europe to Paris taking in the transport, fashions and fantastic retail offerings available to the well-heeled 19th century traveller. Get bonus content on PatreonSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/a-grand-tour-with-my-great-great-grandad. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The tour begins. Ed accompanies his Great Great Grandad William Scott as he begins his journey by stagecoach from England down through Europe to Italy. Get bonus content on PatreonSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/a-grand-tour-with-my-great-great-grandad. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.