Another Visit to London

Marlborough House, south aspect from The Mall

       

Carlton Gardens, near to where the Earl of Dudley's house once stood

Today I spent another pleasant day in the capital, wandering around Westminster in amongst the throngs of other visitors. Unfortunately, from my point of view, President Obama also dropped in on a visit - he hadn't told me he was coming - which meant that Westminster Abbey and St. Margaret's next door, were both closed; the latter church was one of the main reasons for my trip, so I will have to pick a better day for it next time. Still, a stroll down Tothill Street, turn right into St. James's Park (where I had lunch), and across to The Mall, made up for this disappointment. I then came across Carlton Gardens where the Earl of Dudley had a house at number 7, but it was demolished many years ago to make way for modern development. Most of the other properties are still standing, including number 4, where General De Gaulle set up his "Free French" H.Q. during the latter days of the second world war. Just along The Mall is Marlborough House, the former residence of the Prince of Wales/King Edward VII, whose "set" included Georgina, the Countess of Dudley, and many other members of Victorian high-society. Opposite Marlborough House is the rear of St. James's Palace. Buckingham Palace itself was, as is usually the case on the occasion of a state visit, surrounded by crowds of people and a heavy security presence was most noticeable. I was very interested in the statuary and monuments outside the palace, the principal work that depicts Queen Victoria being the creation of the Worcester born sculptor Sir Thomas Brock. I returned to Westminster tube station and thence via the Circle line to Paddington where I caught the train home. 

Visit to Condover, Shropshire

A few miles to the south of Shrewsbury is the village of Condover. Adjacent to nearby Condover Hall (not open to the public) is the parish church of St. Mary & St. Andrew which contains some very interesting funerary monuments to members of the local dignitaries, the Cholmondeley family and the Owen family. The statue of Sir Thomas Cholmondeley (pronounced "Chumley") is by non other than the eminent Victorian artist and sculptor George Frederic Watts who, being allergic to plaster, did not produce a great deal of this work, and is best remembered for his other works of art. There is also another monument in the church by Roubiliac, a more famous sculptor. In the afternoon I visited Wightwick Manor near Wolverhampton to see some more of the work of G.F.Watts, this time his paintings and sketches, for which he is more famous.

The Seventeenth Century Foley's by Roy Peacock.

This new publication by Black Country Society president Roy Peacock is available now from various local outlets, price £12.95. 225 pp with illustrations of portraits, maps, documents etc. Includes chapters on the Foley's at Witley Court. Highly recommended. ISBN 978 0 904015 83 6

Sunday 8th May 2011 - Watts Gallery at Compton near Guildford.

Ruth and I drove down to Guildford to see the gallery dedicated to the famous Victorian artist George Frederic Watts, whose home and workshop were in Compton village. The gallery is about to re-open to the public after a £16 million-pound refurbishment that has taken over two-and-a-half years to undertake. This weekend was a special preview event for the "friends" of  Watts Gallery, and was graced by the visit of the television actress Penelope Keith (The Good Life, To The Manor Born). G.F.Watts became established at Little Holland House in London, and there he painted his great works of art, including portraits of the contemporary "rich and famous". These included the Prince of Wales, Lilly Langtry and Ellen Terry, and of course Rachel Gurney, the future Countess of Dudley, together with her sister Laura. Nearby on Budburrow Hill stands the Watts Cemetery Chapel, an Arts &  Crafts masterpiece designed by Watts' wife Mary and completed in 1904. We thoroughly recommend a visit, despite the long journey.

Saturday 7th May 2011 - Trip to London

Myself and Ruth took a trip to London, courtesy of the Friends of Worcs. Record Office who organised a coach to the National Archives at Kew.We visited St Margaret's Church, Westminster, which is the parish church next door to Westminster Abbey; whilst the latter charges £16.00 entry, St Margaret's is free admission and just as interesting. Like the abbey, it contains the burials and monuments of many famous people, including several of the Sutton-Dudley family, who are direct ancestors of the latter-day Ward dynasty - the present Earl of Dudley's family. There are also monuments here to William Hartley Carnegie, sometime Rector of Great Witley and friend of the first Earl of Dudley. We also went to see Dudley House, the former London residence of the Ward's. This is number100 Park Lane, Mayfair, and is located opposite Speakers Corner in Hyde Park, just a few yards away from Marble Arch. Dudley House is currently undergoing major restoration courtesy of it's new owner, and is completely covered in scaffolding. However the family coat-of-arms can be seen on the ballustrade at the top of the building. It should look fabulous once work is complete.