Barn Elms and its Geniuses.

Introduction: This web site, which I hope you will enjoy, was conceived many years ago and during its long gestation has developed a life of its own in a way that I couldn't have imagined or predicted. Whether its nature and character will prove to justify its existence now that it is born is yet to be seen. You must judge for yourself and perhaps let me know. Please be prepared to accommodate my tendency to stray just a little from the theme when something or someone has particularly captured my interest. There are a number of threads that you can follow relating to horticulture, travel, music and art of the Georgian period. If you wish to, you will be able to access internal and external links by clicking on the highlighted key words.

  • It was an article by Stephen Pile in the Observer in the early 1980s that drew William Cobbett to my attention. As I recall he talked about it being the fashion "to come up from the country, crusty and quoting Cobbett..." He then talked about Cobbett's 'Advice to Young Men (and incidentally, Young Women) in the Middle and Upper Ranks of Life...'. Once read, that idiosyncratic work inevitably draws one to Cobbett's other books and to the books he himself read and recommended - but more of that later.

  • Jimi Hendrix was the last pop musician who moved me before, needing more from songs, I came up for air(s) and discovered the counter tenor voice and the composers who wrote for them. Handel inevitably made the greatest impact. First his oratorios, then his operas took root in my life and then, as the fascinating story of the revival of interest in Handel in the tercentenary of his death became apparent, I was able to discover the work of Professor Edward Dent and his followers - but more of that soon.

  • A holiday in Sicily in 1977 was a fascinating introduction to the flora of the island, but also to some of its introduced plants, the Pelargoniums. It doesn't take long for collectors of this fantastically diverse genus to discover the name of Sir Richard Colt Hoare amongst the greatest of the Georgian growers, especially if you are lucky enough to have access to Robert Sweet's 'Geraniaceae', and I envied him the extent of his enormous collection.

    • So with these three separate enthusiasms in literature, music and horticulture, it was a real pleasure on its own to collect and enjoy the books, music and plants associated with them. But, how very, very extraordinary was it, to discover that all three of the individuals had links to the same house in Surrey - Barn Elms? It rather shook me and still does to some extent. The house and farm, alas, are long gone and the area is now part of Barnes in what has become South West London. The farm, first a reservoir is now a wetlands bird reserve. The house burned down in the 1950s after being allowed to run to ruin by a London Council following the demise of the Ranelagh Club who had occupied it for years. All that remains of it now is a wooded area overgrown through the bulldozed remains of the ruin and, perhaps - the spirit(s?) of the many extraordinary people who lived there...

    They in turn were linked to many more talented Georgians who, curiously, were often associated with Wiltshire, particularly Salisbury. I had to move there and learn more about...

    George Frederick Handel: Lodged with a Mr Andrews of Barn Elms on first arriving in London in 17--, possibly at the instigation of some of the members of the Kit Cat Club, especially the Duke of Newcastle, who met in the part of Barn Elms occupied by the publisher Jacob Tonson, Secretary to the Club. Later, he was associated with James Harris of The Cathedral Close, Salisbury; father to the first Earl of Malmesbury.
     
    John James Heidegger: Collaborator with and producer of Handel's operas. Held the lease on part of Barn Elms from 1727 to 1750. Was 'Master of the King's Revels' and entertained King George II at the house.

    William Cobbett: Held the lease of Barn Elms farm in 18--. His enormous literary output is complemented by his own taste in and recommendations of particular books. Thus 'Advice to Young Men in the Middle and Upper Ranks of Life...' contains references to 'La (Nouvelle) Maison Rustique' and to Bewick's 'Birds'and 'Quadrupeds'. Sometime antagonist of John Benett of Pyt House, nr Tisbury in Wiltshire - called him the 'gallon-loaf man'.

    Richard Colt Hoare: Lived in Barn Elms before inheriting Stourhead, (now the jewel in the National Trust crown) in Wiltshire. Travelled extensively in Europe and in the UK and wrote about and sketched what he saw. Art collector and patron of J M W Turner. Friend of Sir John Fleming Leicester, whose gallery is preserved at Tabley House, Knutsford, Cheshire. Acquainted with Constable through a mutual friendship with Bishop Fisher of Salisbury. Memorial in Salisbury Cathedral.
     
    Richard Fenton: Friend and travelling companion of Sir Richard after meeting him for the first time on a visit to see Stourhead. Lawyer and author. Author with Sir Richard's illustrations of a 'Historical Tour through Pembrokeshire'
     
    William Coxe: Was Rector of Bemerton and friend of Sir Richard, also biographer of Handel and and his amanuensis, J C Smith (Son of Handel's friend and Coxe's stepfather). Historian and biographer of some members of the Kit Cat Club. Antagonist of John Benett following an article by Benett on tithes. Memorial in former garden of the poet William Lisle Bowles in The Cathedral Close, Salisbury. Brothers Peter and Edward have a couple of books each to their name, sister Martha married Sir Peter Rivers and inherited the famous portrait of Handel by Balthasar Denner
     
    William Beckford of Fonthill, Wiltshire: Controversial neighbour of Sir R C Hoare with, like him, a former Lord Mayor of London amongst his ancestors. Cousin to Peter Beckford: Lived at Stepleton, Dorset. Author of 'Familiar Letters from Italy...' and 'Thoughts on Hunting'. Wife had an affair with William Beckford. She as Louisa Rivers was the daughter of Rt Hon George Lord Rivers.
     
    Robert Sweet: Foreman at Colvill's Nursery in the King's Road Chelsea and acquaintance of Sir Richard through his horticultural interests, in particular his Pelargonium collection at Stourhead, illustrations of plants from which are contained in his 'Geraniaceae'. Made much use of Herbarium belonging to Aylmer Bourke Lambert of Boyton House in Wiltshire who was a friend of Sir R C Hoare, Vice President of the Linnaean Society and author of 'The Genus Pinus'.
     
     

     

     

    Other pictures of Barn Elms:

    Index

    I'd be pleased to hear from anyone who finds the site interesting or who can add anything relevant to it.
    Email me at : rsoar@hotmail.com

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