Folding paper, colour lithography, peepshow, The Cheltenhamorama, published in England by H Lamb in about 1832

Eight paper covered cards joined together with a concertina of paper. The first and last cards are solid apart from a hole cut into the front one and each has a picture. The front has a wooded scene with a cave and the inside of the back has a view of Cheltenham. The outside of the back is covered with brown paper with an embossed design. The other cards are cut out into shapes denoting trees, buildings and people. The whole can be extended out to form a peepshow scene.

The view is looking north along what is known as 'the Serpentine Walk', the name given to that part of the Well Walk south of the spa well. The front face consists of a country scene, a path with a tree to the right leading to the mouth of a hermit's cave which serves as the peephole. The cut-out sections present an avenue of trees along which an assortment of ladies and gentlemen promenade. The fifth cut-out section shows the original spa room on the left, the Royal or King's Well in the centre, and the Long Room on the right. The building shown on the back scene would appear to be Crescent Terrace, with St. Mary's Church behind it.

MISC.13-1952