These engravings of sites in England, Wales and Scotland were made by William Byrne from drawings by the artist Thomas Hearne. One of many topographical artists active in Britain in the late eighteenth century, Hearne began working with Byrne in preparing the work in 1777 in order to capitalise on the fashion for the picturesque and an increase in domestic tourism in Britain. The work was issued in parts from 1778 and a volume of 52 plates was issued in 1786. In 1807, a second volume was published containing an additional 32 plates.
Hearne travelled across the country to make the watercolours from which the engravings were made and his studies from nature came to influence artists such as JMW Turner and Thomas Girtin. Despite his skill, however, Hearne was never elected to the Royal Academy.
This book contains both volumes of the Antiquities of Great Britain Illustrated bound together. They were once owned by the Norfolk banker Dawson Turner. Rather than following the intended arrangement, Turner had each of the views bound in alphabetical order by county, accompanied by additional sketches and etchings made by members of his family.

Contains nine additional etchings and five additional drawings made by Elizabeth Turner, Lady Palgrave (1799-1852); Maria Dawson Turner, Lady Hooker (1797-1872), Sir William Jackson Hooker (1785-1865), Mary Anne Turner (1803-74) and Mary Dawson Turner (1774-1850).