82 APRIL 2012 THE SHROPSHIRE MAGAZINE
8 Situated adjacent to Attingham Park,Longner Hall is another Nash design.Built in 1803 on the site of the previousmanor house it has been the Burtonfamily seat since the 14th century.
Nash blithely offered to work ‘in anystyle, Grecian, Swiss or any kind ofGothic.’ The Burtons chose the last andthe result is his most bravura work in theGothic manner.
The park and grounds werelandscaped by Humphry Repton around1804. Repton had sought to dissuade theBurtons from rebuilding their manorhouse.
He told them people associated ‘newmoney with gauche houses’. He advisedthem to stick with the old presumably soas he could spend more money on thelandscape.
Today, Gill Burton explains‘Longner’s attraction lies in its Reptonlandscape surrounding the Nash designedHall. We have also recently put the WalledGarden back into production with thehelp of Tom Donnelly, a professionalgardener’.
Longner Hall’s Open Garden is 2pm– 5pm, Sunday, May 6. It is part of theNational Garden Scheme with fundsraised being donated to MacmillanCancer.
Teas will be served from the GardenStudio with proceeds going to St Eata’sChurch, Atcham.
GOLDEN MOMENTSIn London recently I visited Rupert Cokeat work gilding in the Brompton Oratory,Knightsbridge. Rupert was brought up atHolkham Hall, Norfolk, a masterpiece ofPalladian revival designed by WilliamKent and Thomas Coke, a dilettante andenthusiast. Rupert’s father, the presentEarl of Leicester, is a champion of thesurvival of great houses and I hosted himto lunch at Cronkhill with other membersof the Society of Dilettanti not long ago.
Lord Leicester’s younger son is no lesspassionate about conservation. Rupert wasinspired to develop his vocation as a gilderby his girlfriend Karen Pecenkus who isgod mother to my daughter. Karen is ahighly regarded and established London-based gilder and conservator and sheinspired Rupert to take up the samevocation and complete his formal training.
Rupert has gone on to become asuccessful gilder in his own rightundertaking restoration work in some ofEngland’s finest architectural gems andmost fascinating private homes. He hasalso worked extensively for his brother,Viscount Coke, at Holkham Hall.
I have seen some of his meticulouswork at Holkham transforming faded18th century gilding into shining gold.Rupert says: “I am the first familymember to physically work on thestructure of the house and my projectshave included the Green State Bedroom,
doorways, window shutters and pictureframes. It can be back-breaking work butthe results are worth it.” The Coke familymotto is Prudens Qui Patiens (Theprudent man is the patient one). [email protected] / mobile 07980214 520 / www.rupertcoke.com
I’M STUCK ON YOU At Upton Cressett Hall, near Bridgnorth,I recently heard Bill Cash MP present anerudite talk on the history of the Hall,now home to his son William. Thefollowing day my six-year-old daughteralso joined me at William’s weekend partywhere she met Anthony Haden-Guest.
The British American writer, reporterand cartoonist was born in Paris and livesin New York and London. He has writtenfor the Financial Times, New YorkObserver and Vanity Fair among others.
In 1979, Anthony was awarded a NewYork Emmy for writing and narrating thedocumentary The Affluent Immigrants.
The softly spoken Anthony isconsidered to be a champion party-goerwhile his work often features socialcommentary – he turns regularly toManhattan society for his subject matter.Anthony helped Florence with hersketching by adding a cartoon to hercolouring book. Florence returned in kindby giving Anthony a sticker – which sheput on his forehead.
www.anthonyhadenguest.com
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: British American writer, reporter and cartoonist Anthony Haden-Guest with sticker on his head; young Florence with Anthony; gilder – the Hon Rupert Coke;an example of Rupert’s amazing work at Holkham Hall.
