The Cotman Collection | 68

Cotmania. Vol. III. 1928-9

Archive: SDK Sydney Decimus Kitson Archive
Reference Number: SDK/1/2/1/3
Page: 22 verso


  • Description

    Article clipping of Kitson's published letter to the editor of The Times about Gilling Castle /
    Article clipping about Gilling Castle /
    Letter to Kitson from William Foxley Norris

    Article clipping of Kitson's published letter to the editor of The Times about Gilling Castle /
    Article clipping about Gilling Castle /
    Letter

    Date: 15 and 17 May 1929

  • Transcription

    {Clipping of Kitson's letter to The Times}
    Gilling Castle

    To the Editor of the Times.
    Sir - the sale by auction is announced for Thursday, May 16, of the panelling, heraldic stained glass, and elaborate plaster frieze of the Fairfax Room at Gilling Castle, Yorkshire. This room, built and decorated by Sir William Fairfax a few years before the Armada, is as it stands a perfect and unique example of Yorkshire Elizabethan art. In its existing original setting it is an historical monument of the first importance. The pride of race and the respect for tradition which contributed to the Pilgrimage of Grace and the Rising of the North are epitomized in this room. It is now proposed to strip, sell, and disperse the panelling, plasterwork, and stained glass from the walls and windows of this room. Such an action is surely shortsighted, in that it depreciates to an incalculable extent the value of the house for which this work was made. It is also destructive, since if the furnishings of the room are t be torn away from their setting they sink into mere "period curios." Is it too late to urge that this room should not be dismantled, but should be allowed to remain as and where Sir William Fairfax planned and built it nearly 350 years ago?
    Yours &c.,
    SYDNEY D. KITSON, Hon. Secretary,
    Royal Institute of British Architects.
    9, Conduit-Street, Regent-Street, W. 1,
    May 14.

    The Times. May 15. 1929.

    {Article in Morning Post about selling of panelling in Gilling Castle}
    GILLING CASTLE PANELLING
    --------
    FINAL BID OF £15,000
    ---------
    GLASS FROM STOKE POGES CHURCH
    --------
    By our sales room correspondent
    The Elizabethan panelling and the heraldic stained glass windows in "The Great Chamber" of Gilling Castle, near Richmond, Yorkshire, referred to in the "Morning Post" of April 18, came up for sale at Messrs. Sotheby's yesterday. An opening bid of £5,000 was asked for, but after a few moments' silence an offer of £3,000 was offered.
    The bidding was then run up by bids of £500, until £15,000 was reached, when after several appeals for "any advance," the hammer fell at the last named sum, and the auctioneer announced the name "Burton." "Bought in" was the immediate remark expressed by the auction room habitues present. No further information was forthcoming , and I understand, for the present, at any rate, the panelling will not be disturbed.
    Morning Post, May 17. 1929

    {Letter to Kitson from William Foxley Norris 1829-1937, Dean of Westminster 1925-1937}

    The Deanery ,
    Westminster.
    I only know that Cotman was amongst the little party. I am very fond of him & shall be still more so if he causes me than the real pleasure of a visit from you. When will you come? Can you do a night? do
    W.F.N. [William Foxley Norris]
    May 22

Article clipping of Kitson's published letter to the editor of *The Times* about Gilling Castle /
Article clipping about Gilling Castle /
Letter to Kitson from William Foxley Norris