 |
| Bobbingworth Church - before the Victorian rebuild |
ERO A13366 is described as an “Album
of cuttings, prints, photographs and drawings relating to Essex churches and
especially to their restoration, compiled in the 1850s perhaps by T J
Griffinhoofe, and formerly in the possession of Charles K Probert of Newport
(bookplate). [Revd Thomas J
Griffinhoofe was Vicar of Arkesden from 1859 until his death in 1869, having
previously served there as curate under his father. When proving his father’s will in 1859 he was
described as being ‘of Newport’].”
Andrew Smith reported on its
rediscovery in 2011 in the Newsletter (in an item on ‘Wall Paintings’) and in
the following edition gave information from two lead members of the Society as
follows:
Dr Michael Leach and Dr James Bettley advised
that CKP on the bookplate is C.K. Probert of Newport (1820-1887). Probert was an early member of the Society,
an antiquary and collector. The Society's printed library
catalogue of 1923 lists MS items described as the Probert Collection ('Chas K
Probert, Newport, Essex Nov 24 1883 written on the inner cover'). These were
rough notes about 48 churches. The catalogue indicates that they formed the
basis of 12 MS volumes which were bequeathed to the British Museum in
1889. His papers may be consulted at
the British Library and College of Arms (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/nra/searches/subjectView.asp?ID=P23530).
Dr
James Bettley has looked at the scrapbook in more detail. It dates from the second half of the 1850s
through to 1885, and begins by concentrating on parishes in the north west of
the county. Of particular interest are
the sketches of churches made before the Victorian restorers appeared on the
scene. For example, Bobbingworth (illustrated)
shows the timber bell tower prior to restoration in 1841, and St Mary’s, High
Ongar with a belfry and tall and slender spire before much rebuilding in 1858.
Dr
James Bettley adds: “Apart from the Suckling/Buckler cuttings, I thought it the
single most useful source on 19th century church restoration in Essex that I
have come across – the sketches and photos of churches before they were
restored provide very valuable evidence.
I was surprised to find, when I compared some of the photos of Radwinter,
that the very photos in the scrapbook were used to illustrate A Deuce of an Uproar, where they are
credited to Probert – so someone knew of this resource and used it in the
1980s”.
Having deposited the scrapbook further
information has just come to light. While
sorting through an old filing cabinet in the Librarian’s office Andrew
discovered a handwritten index of the scrapbook’s contents written on scrap
paper dating from the late 1970s. This has now been transcribed and will be
passed to the Essex Record Office for suggested addition to the catalogue entry
on SEAX. It will also be posted on
ESAH160 at the end of this series.
No comments:
Post a Comment