THE ATTINGHAM TRUST for the study of HISTORIC houses and collections

ISSUE 18 ANNUAL REVIEW 2020

Chairman’s Foreword Sir John Lewis

s with everyone else, I didn’t imagine that this year, my the late Geoff rey Beard and Giles Waterfi eld, have Alast as Chairman, would coincide with a pandemic that strengthened and broadened this unique organisation. has shifted the cultural landscape. How signifi cant these This year we were running fi ve courses before Covid-19 changes will be only time can tell, but the closure of historic forced their cancellation, as reported elsewhere in this houses and museums over the spring and summer months Review. I want to thank in particular the American Friends has hit these institutions hard, dependent as they are on of Attingham, without whom we could not survive, and revenue generated by the domestic and international the assistance received from Australia and New Zealand. visitor. Job losses are cutting swathes across the heritage Annabel Westman, our excellent longstanding executive industry, leaving many reeling from the loss of expertise and director, Rosalind Savill and Martin Drury also need a experience that will be hard to replace in the forthcoming special mention. Their generous and unstinting support years. The importance of the Attingham Trust’s courses will throughout my terms of offi ce have been exemplary. With be ever more relevant to encourage and sustain academic their help and that of many others, not least Rosemary excellence among its participants. Despite the popularity Lomax-Simpson, who has been involved with the Trust of virtual talks, it is widely recognised that nothing can long before any of us and whose wise counsel has carried replace learning and the interaction of participants in situ, the us all forward, the Trust is in good shape with an enviable essential vision of our founders 69 years ago. reputation stretching across fi ve continents. Despite the ravages of recent months, I am confi dent that it will My involvement with the Trust has given me much pursue its pioneering spirit under the knowledgeable and pleasure since being asked to take over the chair in 1988 experienced new Chairman, Tim Cooke, with whom I have by its Director, the late Helena Hayward. Her erstwhile worked over the last few months and will continue to do so stewardship and many who followed her, including as a trustee. I warmly welcome him to the role. American Friends of Attingham Beth Carver Wees • AFA President

y fi rst year as President of the AFA Board witnessed activities around the world came to a frightening halt. As Mboth joys and challenges. It began in October 2019 we faced the disappointing cancellation of the Attingham with a splendid Annual Fall Benefi t Lecture delivered Trust courses and our own scheduled programs as well, by Tim Knox, Director of Royal Collection Trust, who we sought other ways to keep our alumni connected, captivated the sold-out audience at the Explorers’ Club in for instance through regional Zoom gatherings around Manhattan. In November, my predecessor Sheila ff olliott the United States organized by our Alumni Engagement and I were privileged to attend the London book launch Committee. These events have helped remind us of for Annabel Westman’s brilliant volume Fringe, Frog & the strength and collegiality of our community. Joy Tassel at Drapers' Hall. It was there I last saw John Lewis returned in August with the announcement that our AFA and I am delighted to have this opportunity to congratulate Administrator, Mary Ellen Whitford, gave birth to her fi rst him as he steps down as Chairman. Although we cannot child, a son. imagine Attingham without you, John, the American Friends thank you heartily and wish you all the very best. Finally, just weeks ago we held another outstanding Fall Lecture, albeit remotely this year from Brighton Pavilion, January 2020 brought Annabel to New York, where where Annabel joined Keeper David Beevers for a highly she was warmly welcomed by American alumni at our engaging and instructive tour and conversation. We look popular Mid-Winter Reunion at the Winter Show. And forward with hope to a brighter 2021 and to continued then, just two months later, the pandemic struck, and fellowship and scholarship with all of you.

1 THE ATTINGHAM SUMMER SCHOOL David Adshead and Tessa Wild • Course Directors; Lorna Gartside • Administrator

us for a virtual gathering instead. This was an international event entered into with great enthusiasm by participants from Scandinavia, Europe, America, China, India and New Zealand. It provided us all with the opportunity to make connections, to learn more about the history of the Summer School

© Bruce M. White and gain a deeper understanding Seminar on the silver collection, of what lies in store next year. This Blickling Hall, Norfolk Boughton House, Northamptonshire includes unrivalled access to great houses, gardens and collections uncertainty of 2020. We look forward or the fi rst time since its and looking and learning in to reconvening in July when we Ffoundation in 1952, it proved situ with a host of expert tutors have a wonderful 18-day itinerary impossible to hold the Summer and lecturers, which enables planned. In addition to the usual time School this year. In the wake of the the fostering of fellowship and spent in Sussex and Derbyshire, the pandemic, all plans for the 69th professional collaborations across fi nal leg will be based in Norfolk - a Summer School were postponed disciplines and countries and the coastal county of rich contrasts and and places have been deferred chance to enhance careers and exceptional houses and collections until 2021. However, although we make life-long friendships. where amongst others, we will were so sorry not to be able to study Blickling Hall, Houghton Hall, meet in person at West Dean in We anticipate that the Summer Holkham Hall and Sheringham Park. Sussex on the inaugural day, we School will prove even more were delighted that 43 of the 48 enriching for the participants in 2021 In 2021, the Summer School will course members were able to join after the enforced lockdowns and take place from 1 - 18 July ROYAL COLLECTION STUDIES Rebecca Lyons • Director; Sara Heaton • Administrator

oyal Collection Studies Our colleagues from Royal R2020 came together Collection Trust and Historic on Zoom on 4 September, Royal Palaces have stayed marking what would have in regular touch this year been the fi rst weekend of the through an immensely course. It marked also the challenging period of closures fi rst time the programme has and furlough. Working not run since its inception closely with them, Rebecca in 1996. We began with a contributed a chapter to the short presentation of the Royal Collection Trust book palaces setting the scene George IV: Art and Splendour, for the itinerary and outlining George IV: Art and Splendour exhibition at The Queen’s which accompanied the some of the diff erent Gallery, Buckingham Palace exhibition in The Queen’s elements of the chronological Gallery, and she joined Dr development of royal buildings and to America, from New Zealand to Lucy Worsley, Co-Chief Curator of royal ways of living, before turning Europe and the sense of shared Historic Royal Palaces, in a BBC to focus on objects and collections enthusiasm and passionate Two television programme about as a key part of the programme. expertise meant that everyone felt George IV. Together we look Then each participant spoke about ready for the opportunity to come forward with hope to 2021. themself and their motivation for together in real life in 2021. Thank taking the course. It was lovely to you all, particularly those who woke In 2021, Royal Collection Studies will join across the world from India early or stayed up very late! take place from 5 - 14 September

2 Attingham Trust Annual Review 2020 • Number 18 The Attingham Study ProgrammE THE HISTORIC HOUSE IN Elizabeth Jamieson • Director; Rita Grudzień • Administrative Director

Irish Georgian Society, network of professionals, many the Historic Houses of of whom represent major cultural Ireland and the Office of institutions and heritage bodies. Public Works, they form Next year, as we experience each part of the forty-strong house in situ, we will examine group of individuals we how distinct models of ownership will be meeting next June. create contrasting experiences Course members will hear in their approach to display and from a diverse group of presentation. This, together with guest speakers on a range our more traditional emphasis on of topics encompassing the intensive study of architecture, architecture, the domestic landscapes and collections interior, colonialism and will make for a stimulating and Selection of books on the historic house in Ireland patronage. We have enjoyable nine days. included places not normally ooking on the bright side, one open to the public as well as In 2021, the Study Programme will Ladvantage of delaying this year’s focusing on some of the larger take place from 2 - 10 June Study Programme, is that it has historic houses in allowed us to add at least one more Southern Ireland, special visit to our already packed such as Castletown, timetable. We are fortunate to have and a wonderfully warm, friendly and House. supportive group of Irish alumni who have helped enormously While numerous with all aspects of planning this arts organisations course. Many work with the houses offer visits to Ireland we will be visiting and, together aimed at a global with Terry Dooley from the Centre audience, our course for the Study of the Irish Country members are made House, staff and members of the up of an international Bantry House, Co. Cork

FRENCH EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY STUDIES Helen Jacobsen • Director; Rebecca Parker • Administrator

s with all the other courses, and California, which made the Aunfortunately FES had to be timing of our Zoom call challenging cancelled this year. Despite the but we were thrilled that so many Wallace Collection being open, participants were able to join. With it proved impossible to run the almost a year to go, we have sent course with social distancing out this year’s reading list with measures in place and it has been a greater hope than usual that rescheduled for next October. We much of it will have been read! hope that as many as possible of We look forward to studying the the successful 2021 applicants will French works of art at the Wallace still be able to join us next year, and Collection and at Waddesdon we held an introductory session on Manor with renewed vim and Zoom on what would have been vigour next year, all being well. the first day of the course to enable us all to get to meet each other in In 2021, French Eighteenth-Century advance. Applicants come from all Detail of Sèvres ‘vase à monter Studies will take place from over the world, including Australia Daguerre’, c.1785, Wallace Collection 4 - 8 October

www.attinghamtrust.org 3 FROM COLLEGE TO COUNTRY HOUSE Dr Andrew Moore • Course Director; Lorna Gartside • Administrator

t has been a great joy to plan and the city, our focus will be Ia five-day Attingham course on some of the most important based on the Cambridge collections in the UK, while also College book collections and studying the historic interiors their library rooms, alongside in which they are housed. We four of the great house libraries shall visit six College libraries, in the East of England. Our and also the Cambridge hosts and guest lecturers have University Library, to study been immensely supportive two early English Renaissance of this new approach to their book benefactions. Country collections and interests. House libraries will include Having to postpone the Library, Houghton Hall, Norfolk Houghton Hall and Holkham course for exactly a year Hall in Norfolk, as well as until September 2021 means that how early modern book rooms Wimpole Hall and Anglesey Abbey we already feel well prepared to were stocked and managed in in Cambridgeshire. We also plan to welcome everyone to a brand new the historic houses of Britain. The study the collections of the Spalding Attingham short course. programme is conceived from Gentlemen’s Society in Lincolnshire the perspective of the British and the Founder’s Library in the To give an idea of what members aristocracy and gentry whose Fitzwilliam Museum to view the will experience, the course is education prepared them to run founder’s books and print portfolios. designed to provide an intensive the country estate and argues for and in situ experience of book the importance of books and their In 2021, From College to Country collections in their context. The display in this process. From our House will take place from college libraries are witness to base at the centre of the university 13 - 17 September

Desmond Guinness (1931–2020)

‘Desmond was such an energy to preserve ‘what is left of admirer of the Summer School Georgian architecture in Ireland’ and Attingham’ wrote Penny was palpable and, combined Guinness, Desmond’s wife with their enormous powers of recently and the feeling was persuasion and charisma, they mutual. Our records don’t succeeded against the odds precisely say when he first to create in Ireland a greater became involved. He may have appreciation of the country’s been first introduced by his aunt historic houses. Their purchase of Debo, Duchess of Devonshire, Castletown, County , now who received the Summer School The Hon. Desmond Guinness at owned by the state, was one of Castle, Co. Kildare in 1963. every year at Chatsworth since their greatest achievements. its foundation in 1952, a warm The group stayed in Trinity Hall welcome still enjoyed with the Hostel and gathered for a lecture This June the Attingham Study present Duke and Duchess today. at 9pm following a flight from Programme was due to visit Alternatively, it was possibly the Liverpool. A rigorous programme Castletown and Desmond’s own 6th Earl of Rosse, Chairman of had been devised – little has home of Leixlip Castle, renowned the Georgian Group and Vice- changed. throughout for its generous Chairman of the National Trust, hospitality. Sadly it was not to be or Helen Lowenthal herself, Desmond’s involvement with although plans are in place for our erstwhile founder whose The Attingham Trust as a founder 2021. But we shall miss Desmond connections spread far and wide. member and patron coincided whose personal charm was Whoever it was, Desmond was with his re-founding of the Irish legendary. He remained a valued very much involved in planning Georgian Society in 1958 alongside and interested patron to the end. the ‘third week’ of the Attingham his first wife, Mariga Guinness. Summer School to in 1959. Their keen determination and Annabel Westman Photo: © Slim Aarons/Getty Images

www.attinghamtrust.org 4 COMMENTARY Dr Eloy Koldeweij

The long arm of Attingham governmental office means that I’m acting as an expert consultant in various building conservation projects throughout the country, as well as developing activities to advance knowledge and research, such as organising seminars, giving lectures, training students, and writing articles and books, all within the discipline of historic interiors in the broadest sense. It is no overstatement to say that the seeds that were planted during the Attingham Summer School 1989 The Attingham Summer School Class of 1989 (Eloy, far right) landed on fertile soil and have been growing ever since. I am ate September this year, one of Attingham team of that year: the experiencing the benefits every day. Lthe last beautiful autumn days, late Geoffrey Beard and Catherine I visited one of the astonishing Norman and also Annabel Westman. Knowing how important Attingham castles of the Netherlands, De Even now, more than thirty years has been for me personally, I’m Haar Castle in Haarzuilens (www. later, I’ve still vivid memories of these very pleased to say that I have kasteeldehaar.nl/english). Together marvellous and intense weeks. been able to pass on this message, with my friend and colleague prof. encouraging many Dutch art Conrad Ottenheym, we showed What I could not predict that historians, curators, conservators two young Ph.D. scholars of summer, however, is how essential and others to apply for one of the our Palamusto program (www. these three weeks were going Attingham courses. The snowball palamusto.eu) around this medieval to be for the rest of my career. has steadily grown and today no castle that was rebuilt between The interdisciplinary approach of less than 70 Dutch participants 1892 and 1912 by the renowned houses, collections and disciplines have attended one or more of the Dutch architect, Pierre Cuypers, - the common and probably Attingham programmes. Attingham for the then owners, Étienne baron major thread of each Attingham has definitely influenced the Dutch van Zuylen van Nyevelt and his programme - is something that heritage field! The fact that the wife Hélène baroness de Zuylen has turned out to be essential for ‘Dutch friends of Attingham’ had de Nyevelt, née de Rothschild. everything that has happened to cancel the planned reunion since. In the intervening years I this spring (regularly organised How much this visit reminded me of obtained my Ph.D. at the Leiden since 2008) due to Covid-19 was that gorgeous summer of 1989. As University, researching seventeenth not only sad for all alumni and the one of the first Dutch participants and eighteenth century gilt leather invited Dutch participants of the I joined the Attingham Summer hangings, and worked as a private (sadly also cancelled) Attingham School that year. As is still the case, consultant for the American art 2020 courses, but also for our very we started in West Dean and visited collector and benefactor, the late dear friend and keynote speaker, Arundel, Petworth and Uppark John H. Bryan. I then had several Annabel Westman, Executive among other houses. During the short-term positions at institutions Director of The Attingham Trust. rest of the course, several other including the Victoria & Albert ‘grand classics’ were waiting for us, Museum, the Noordbrabants Eloy Koldeweij (SS 1989; SP 2003, including Hardwick Hall, Chatsworth, Museum and ‘Vereniging Hendrick 2012) Woburn Abbey, Luton Hoo, Stowe de Keyser’, the historic houses Specialist Historic Interiors, Cultural and the well-known English association of The Netherlands, Heritage Agency, the Netherlands Rothschild mansion, Waddesdon before being appointed in 1997 to Part time professor Historic Interiors, Manor. The course ended with a my current job as Historic Interiors Utrecht University lovely garden party at Syon Park Specialist at the Dutch Cultural Attingham Ambassador since 2014 where we had to say goodbye Heritage Agency. Working at Chairman of the Dutch friends of to all our new friends and the full the research department of this Attingham

5 Attingham Trust Annual Review 2020 • Number 18 THE ATTINGHAM SOCIETY Annabel Westman • Executive Director; Rebecca Parker • Assistant to Executive Director

hat a year this has been with For those of you who have not others has taken the Summer Wso many events cancelled been here before, the lecture School to become the Attingham and jobs at risk. We at the theatre, designed by David Trust, recognised for its high Attingham Trust wish you all well Copperfield, replaces an earlier standards by the museum world, and are grateful to you and all our nineteenth century one, part with members coming from all over donors for your continuing support, of the old Senate House of the globe. THANK YOU JOHN!” so vital to us in providing financial London University, built on Lord support for future applicants. Burlington’s garden and now joined to Burlington House. A CHANGE OF CHAIRMAN With regard to our Society events, Thank you to John Lewis and we look back at last February and I should like to say three things: Welcome to Tim Cooke realise how fortunate we were to hold the ‘special’ annual reunion Firstly to honour Helen Lowenthal As you have seen in this at the Royal Academy, which who, with Lydia Bond-Powell of the Review, John Lewis is retiring attracted a record number of Metropolitan Museum in New York, as Chairman. He will be house owners, alumni and guests. founded the Attingham Summer much missed having devoted Following a welcome by Rosemary School nearly seventy years ago considerable time, energy Lomax-Simpson, Ptolemy Dean, and whose nephews bought a seat and generous support over conservation architect (SS 1997), here in her name. the years. He has been the gave an excellent talk in the lecture Chairman for 32 years and has theatre, before the reception in Secondly, the enormous debt of become part of the remarkable the Collections Gallery. In gratitude we owe the Country Attingham history. His astute November, we held a well- House owners and the National judgement has guided the attended Webinar talk given by Trust, for opening their homes to Trust to the successful position Ben Cowell, Director General of share their collections with us and it holds today and we are Historic House, and hosted by without whom there would have delighted that he will remain as David Adshead. We plan to hold been no Summer School and, a trustee. Thank you John! more virtual events next year if latterly, Her Majesty the Queen and visits remain restricted. her curators with the addition of the We now warmly welcome Royal Collection Studies course. his successor, Tim Cooke, Rosemary Lomax-Simpson’s as Chairman, shortly to retire welcome at the Annual Reunion Lastly, on the axiom that the last as Chairman of Lloyds Bank shall come first, for over thirty years International. Among several “Having worked both for the Royal Attingham has been blessed in related interests, he is Vice- Academy and the Attingham Trust, having our sagacious chairman, Chairman of the Wentworth it seems appropriate to welcome Sir John Lewis, who quietly and Woodhouse Preservation Trust you all here this evening, especially wisely aided by Martin Drury, the and we all look forward to our new President of the Royal late Giles Waterfield, Rosalind working with him. Academy, Mrs Salter. Savill, Annabel Westman and many

Officers: THE ATTINGHAM TRUST 2020 Chairman: Sir John Lewis OBE Vice-Chairman: Timothy Cooke OBE Executive Director: Annabel Westman FSA Trustees: Treasurer: Ewa Manias Sir John Lewis OBE (Chairman), Diana Berry, Timothy Cooke OBE, Assistant to Executive Director: Rebecca Parker Martin Drury CBE, FSA, Sarah Medlam, Rosalind Savill DBE, FBA, FSA Directors (Summer School): David Adshead FSA, Tessa Wild Director (Study Programme): Elizabeth Jamieson Patrons: Director (Study Programme): Dr Andrew Moore FSA HM Ambassador to Washington, The Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry KT, Director (Royal Collection Studies): Rebecca Lyons KBE, FSA, FRSE, Dr. Thomas P. Campbell, Professor Sir David Cannadine FBA, Director (French Eighteenth– FSA, Sir Timothy Clifford, The Lord Crathorne KCVO, KSTJ, FSA, Century Studies): Dr Helen Jacobsen The Duke of Devonshire KCVO, CBE, Judith Goodison FSA, The Hon. Desmond Guinness, John Harris OBE, FSA, The Marquis of Lansdowne Advisory Council: LVO, DL, Rosemary Lomax-Simpson, Sir Jonathan Marsden KCVO, FSA, Errol Clark, Dr Ben Cowell FSA, Helen Dorey MBE, FSA (Chairman Scholarship Sir Hugh Roberts GCVO, FSA, The Lord Rothschild OM, GBE, FBA, Committee), Tim Knox FSA, Dr Martin Postle FSA, James Rothwell FSA, Coral Samuel CBE, Sir Hugo Swire KCMG Beth Carver Wees (AFA President)

For further information about The Attingham Trust please refer to website www.attinghamtrust.org or contact: Rebecca Parker Tel 0044 (0)20 7253 9057. E-mail [email protected] For American members contact Mary Ellen Whitford Tel 001 212 682 6840. E-mail [email protected] Registered as an Educational Charitable Trust No. 262819 Edited by Annabel Westman. Designed Dave Roberts, First Presence www.attinghamtrust.org 6