Dear Fellow Members,
Most of you will know the stable clock at Shugborough, for it is one of the first things seen by the visitor when approaching the house, An article in this Newsletter describes the clock and it's maker, and you may know that after being out of order for some years it has now been repaired and is keeping good time again, During this repair work it was discovered that the dial was distorted and disintegrating and obstructing the mechanism. It is thought that it had been repaired at some earlier date, for it was painted on ordinary linoleum, so it was felt that a permanent repair was now desirable, using a fibre-glass dial of the same design and colour as the existing one, which would then last indefinitely with a minimum of maintenance, Our Centre was asked by the Trust to find the money for this work, and after some discussion with Miss Cousens, the Assistant Historic Buildings Representative, the committee agreed to pay for a new dial. Quotations are being obtained, and it is hoped that a new dial will be installed this Spring,
This year our Christmas Fayre was held in Lichfield, at the home of Bob and Sandy Marchant. The weather was just about as bad as it could be, with travelling almost impossible , but in spite of that a surprising number of loyal members turned up, and not only enjoyed a pleasant event, but supported the various stalls so well that over £80,00 was added to our funds, Many thanks to all who did so much to make it a success, especially Bob and Sandy,
Yours sincerely,
W.P.Povey
SHUGBOROUGH CLOCK AND THE TRUBSHAWS
Everyone will know by now that our fund-raising efforts will be concentrated for the next few months on collecting the moneys required to renovate the Stable Clock at Shugborough.
One feels that this is an admirable project as the clock is a landmark that must be well known to every regular visitor to the great House and it may be interesting to know something of the man who built the clock and his family.
The clock is thought to have been built in 1767 by Charles Cope Trubshaw of Colwich who was a member of the famous family of Masons descended from Richard Trubshaw born in 1689.
His son, Charles, the designer of the clock was born in 1715 and inherited the family masonry business. He was also well known as a Sculptor.
He was married in Lichfield Cathedral in 1744 and lived at Mount Pleasant, a house he had built at Colwich.
At a later date, owing to financial problems, the Trubshaw family had to sell the house and some years later at an auction sale at Wolseley Bridge in 1833 the house passed into the hands of the Benedictine Nuns.
In the course of his career he was engaged on the building of Swynnerton Hall, and also built the original Rectory at Swynnerton in 1760.
He died in 1772; his son became County Surveyor, and his Grandson, James Trubshaw (1777-1853) was the most distinguished member of the family.
As a young man he helped in the building of Fonthill, in the re-building of Wolseley Bridge and in extensions at Blithfield.
For the next forty years there were few buildings in Staffordshire and the surrounding counties where Trubshaw was not employed in the capacity of Mason, Builder, Contractor or Architect; the building of Ilam Hall, the renovation of Trentham Hall, improvements at Lilleshall Hall and Teddesley Hall, the erection of St Peter's Church, Stoke-on-Trent, St John's, Longton, Pipe Ridware and Aston and Hilderstone Churches.
His work was not confined to this region and perhaps his crowning work was the magnificent Grosvenor Bridge at Chester, opened by the young Princess Victoria in 1832 and which then contained the longest single stone arch in the world.
In this year, which marks the 150th anniversary of this great achievement, it is pleasant to reflect that the Clock-tower at Shugborough, one of the family's earlier and more modest works, is to be restored to its pristine condition and we all hope that it will be there to greet visitors for another 150 years. (Further details of the Trubshaw family and their achievements can be found in “The Life and Works of James Trubshaw” by Anne Bayliss, printed in 1978 by The Star Press, Stockport).
R.D.Birch
A GIFT FOR SHUGBOROUGH by Miss B. Cousens, Assistant Historic Buildings Representative. As readers may know, the committee of the Staffordshire Centre have recently undertaken to raise funds for a new dial for the stable clock at Shugborough, the present one having been found to be made - somewhat unexpectedly - of linoleum, which is now distorting the progress of the clock hands_ The gift of the new dial - to be made of fibreglass - is warmly welcomed by the National Trust's regional office.
Another scheme for which we need help, and which might be more immediately attractive to visitors having as it does their comfort and enjoyment in mind, is to install a seat in the Doric temple beside the house. Based on the temple of Theseus, this little building can safely be attributed to James "Athenian" Stuart, a close associate of both Thomas Anson and his brother, the Admiral.
Its proximity to the house makes the siting of this temple rather unusual but its setting is now very different from that for which it was designed. As Moses Griffiths’ drawing of 1780 shows, it originally looked on to a pool of water stretching up Trent Lodge. Time and fashion have wrought their changes and by the beginning of this century the pool had been replaced by a tennis court! Now the temple looks on to an open lawn flanked by groups of rhododendrons, with to one side the ever-expanding skirts of the yew - already in the 1930’s this tree was so famous that tickets were sold to those wishing to explore its depths and, like a maze, only a few knew the route to its heart.
In selecting an appropriate pattern for a seat in this temple, we would plan to adapt a design of Stuart’s - for he also designed furniture - which would be made up by our estate carpenter here at Attingham. Unfortunately the present price of hardwood makes this a costly project and furthermore the bench will be of a considerable length. Our 'guesstimate' would be in the region of £1,000 to provide something that will afford pleasure to numerous visitors and, properly maintained, should still be in use in 2200.
Brenda Cousens
Anyone feeling that they would like to assist in financing this project should contact Miss Cousens direct, at Attingham Park, Shrewsbury.
VISITING NATIONAL TRUST PROPERTIES BY BICYCLE
Although my first cycling began 4 miles from the centre of Manchester, short trips of thirty miles could include the Goyt Valley, Alderley Edge and Lyme Park. As that was in the early “30’s" the villages visited and roads used were quiet and still pleasant.
Utilising week ends after a move to Stafford enabled visits to Buxton, Stratford-on-Avon, the Long Mynd, Little Moreton Hall, Dovedale and Hanbury Hall. Whilst all this was very satisfying it increased the appetite! It then became necessary to extend to whole week and even 2 week trips in order to provide time to visit the Houses, Castles, abbeys and churches and to photograph buildings, countryside and gardens. For instance, this allowed for diversions, when riding down the Wye Valley, to visit Goodrich Castle "and Tintern Abbey, to climb the hills by the Wye to visit St Briavels; when riding the South Downs, to climb Ditchley Beacon, see Alfriston Clergy House and Bodied Castle; in the Yorkshire Moors, the Rievaulx Temples and nearby Abbey, with the Treasurers House in York on return; whilst in the hills of Wales, the Penryhn Estate, Bodnant, Aberglasn and Powis; traversing the western coast, Countesbury, Heddon Valley, Watersmeet, Tintagel and Bedruthan Steps; leaving the sweeping contours of Northumberland for Roman granaries at Acomb and the Wall at Housteals; when riding in the Stour Valley, for Flatford Mill and Boxted, taking in Melford Hall and Lavenham Guild Hall on the way. And again, when in the Quantocks, to ride through Holford Fields and visit the Coleridge Cottage and Wordsworth’s favourite Alfoxton.
Of the Trust properties, those that have been most impressive are Polesdon Lacey whose House, Grounds and Contents always fascinate; Mottisfont Abbey for its setting in grounds through which the Teet flows; Ascott House, with its gardens and "lived-in" atmosphere, and Chedworth Roman Villa coming, as it does, in the middle of a ride down the CoIn Valley which includes such gems as Withington, CoIn St Dennis, CoIn Rogers; Bilbury with its trout and Arlington Row, and CoIn St.Aldwyn.
The most fabulous with regard to contents is Whoddesdon Manor, with its furniture, pictures, china, books, carpets, and even snuff boxes.
As a bonus and as a Member of the Youth Hostels Assn. I have been able on many occasions to stay overnight in National Trust properties such as the ancient Hoaghton Mill in Cambridgeshire, Wilderhope Manor on Wenlock Edge, a farm in Grange-in-Borrowdale, the City Mill in Winchester where I enjoyed an early morning bathe in the Itchew, a cottage in the grounds of Polesdon Lacey, and at Troutall Farm in the lovely Duddon Valley in the Lake District.
E.Barker
NORWAY - 45 years ago
I went on a cruise to Norway on the good ship "Vandyke" 45 years ago for the crazy sum of £15 for 13 days for everything, all in luxury. It was very lovely in June; green steep mountains and green water. We sailed into many fjords, moving only in the daytime so that we missed nothing; Bergen first, a pleasant town with good shops, then on to Aandalsnaes, a little village at the end of a fjord where the fields were like gardens, full of wild flowers. Had strawberries, - wild ones - for tea with cream, and the people would not be paid for them. Lovely golden cows and sturdy ponies; haymaking in the old way. Back to the ship for dinner and dancing by daylight until nearly midnight.
Lovely waterfalls, one of which “The Seven Sisters Falls" is one of the wonders
of the world. We had lovely warm sunshine day after day; one day only it rained all day, and that day we spent at Merok, one of the best places of all, and just walked in the rain. Saw old Norwegian buildings beautifully made in wood and covered in carving; girls in national dress. Another day went to the Blue Glacier which was amazing, so cold and really blue.
Norway was truly lovely then and unspoiled by visitors, with everyone so friendly. I have happy memories of my visit and feel that it is one of the most beautiful places in the world. But that was a long time ago. I wonder what it is like now!
M.L.P.
STEAM (T)RAILS IN THE PEAK DISTRICT
The past decade or so has seen increased use of derelict industrial ground for recreation. Within the Peak National Park are three former Railways which have been converted for use as walking, riding and cycling routes and a fourth is in course of conversion.
One is in Staffordshire, follows the rivers Hamps and Manifold from Waterhouses to Hulme End and is based on the former Leek and Manifold Light Railway. This was a 30 inch narrow gauge line which ran from 1904 to 1934 before being laid out as a public footpath by the Staffordshire Council and opened in 1937.
The second, the Tissington Trail, follows 13 miles of the former Ashbourne - Buxton Railway, from Ashbourne to Parsley Hay, where it joins the High Peak Trail - see below. The Ashbourne - Parsley Hay section of the Railway opened in 1894 and traffic finally ceased in 1963. The Peak Park Joint Planning Board purchased 11½ miles of the track in 1968 and the remaining 1½ miles in 1971. Removal of rails and sleepers had left a difficult surface but by grading the ballast, covering with 12,000 tons of colliery overburden, rolling and seeding, the line was transformed into an excellent trail.
The third, the High Peak Trail, follows 17½ miles of the former Cromford and High Peak Railway from Cromford to Dowlow, near Buxton. The Railway was opened in 1830 and finally closed in 1967. 7½ miles of the trail, from Cromford to Daisy Bank (North-West of Longcliffe) is administered by the Derbyshire County Council and the remaining 10 miles, which are within the Peak Park, are dealt with by the Peak Park Joint Planning Board. The Tissington Trail joins the High Peak at Parsley Hay.
The fourth trail, in the Bakewell area is in the course of conversion and full details are not yet available.
In the absence of motor traffic (and fumes) the trails have become areas of considerable growth of plants and flowers, attracting much wildlife, and there is a great deal to attract those who are interested in the history of the Railways and the surrounding area. Perhaps, with the indulgence of the Editor, I may be able in future issues to sketch in a few more details of the individual trails,
Ray Briggs
WILDLIFE IN TRUST
To those of us who like watching and listening to birds, can recognise a few varieties and feed some of them in our gardens during the winter months, the prospect of viewing some 200 slides of birds feeding - flying - building nests, of eggs hatching, and fledglings open-mouthed, was a somewhat daunting one, We arrived quite early at Penkridge, therefore, with some trepidation, expecting to see our lecturer from the RSPB bearded and wearing a deer-stalker, wellies, a donkey jacket a-la Michael Foot, and - shouldering a very large pair of binoculars. In contrast we met Mr Trevor Gunton - Head of the Development Department - smartly attired and sporting a white carnation, which enabled us to identify him straight away, He had already arrived from St Neots, set up and tested screen and projector and arranged a display table of RSPB and NT literature. It seemed obvious that we were going to have a fully prepared professional performance - but what we did have was much more than that and we went on a wonderfully illustrated tour from St Neots to Wicken Fen, to the Norfolk Broads, Clumber Park, Avan, Lindisfarne and the Lake District with an extremely knowledgeable and humorous person, which ended when all of us wanted it to continue through Wales to Cornwall.