- our first stop was Burghley (pronounce 'burly') House, near Stamford, UK: this lavish country house was built by Queen Elizabeth I's treasurer, and has been used as a set for the recent re-make of 'Pride and Prejudice'
- When I asked how the Cecils made their money, a guide informed me their estate largely came from church lands that were doled out after Henry VIII dissolved them. Rental income from the tenant farmers then went to Lord Burghley (ie Mr.Cecil, Earl of Exeter) rather than the church. Sobering to consider how Father Jean de Brebeuf might have used some of that wealth as a missionary among Native Americans had it been available, instead of wealthy Englishers gilding their fireplaces with silver. (Not that I think the Reformation was a bad idea!)
- unfortunately photography was not allowed inside either Burghley House or the John Bunyan Museum, so I can't share images with you. However the paintings on the walls and especially the ceilings were fascinating and skilfully done; particularly meaningful to those with a better knowledge of mythology than me.
- we only had time in Bedford for a quick stop at the John Bunyan Museum; he wrote the 2nd-most-widely-distributed English-language book to the Bible (Pilgrim's Progress) while in a dark prison here. Bunyan's conditions formed a stark contrast to the opulence we had just witnessed at fashionable Burghley House. But now, Bunyan's work is recognized around the world - especially precious in places where Christians are persecuted for their faith, as he (a Non-conformist) was
- Rutland Water is a huge (3,100 acre) man-made lake: a very pelasant place to stop for a breath of fresh air and to stretch our legs. The sailboats were obviously enjoying the conditions, too
- At Melton Mowbray we were unable to find a restaurant serving the town's famous pork pies (having arrived after the main shoppe closed), but we did savour 'Stilton Chicken' - a dish in which the meat and potatoes were bathed in a sauce made with the town's renowned Stilton Cheese. MM! stands for Melton Mowbray
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Burghley House and Bunyan's Prison
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3 comments:
Great pity you didn't make sure you partook of the world famous - and now protected - Melton Mowbray pie. Like the Arbroath 'Smokey', Cheddar cheese, Devonshire Cream, Dorset Cider and genuine 'Kippers', these delicacies are never forgotten - for good or bad!
I'm so pleased Yvonne appears to be back to her old self.
It is, perhaps, a pity; that we tend to judge our forebears by today's perceived wisdom. Lord Burleigh might well be seen as an idle wastrel who did nothing for his (great sums of) money. In individual cases this might be true - although history shows far less than many would have us think. A huge percentage of the 'rich', were religiously inclined and a huge number were Quakers. This 'Sect' fill the history books with their names as being sincere 'improvers' and providers of work by which the ordinary people could earn money - much in excess of their wages working on the land. Nothing was, perhaps, perfect but; many - if not most - of the large number of noted philanthropists did much to alieve the conditions then in existence. That their housing and factories appear heartless places today, doesn't alter the fact that their intentions were genuinely good and their worth considerable. The many huge housing estates, and appartment buildings STILL bearing the name of Peabody and the names of his many excellent companions, like Cadbury, and others like Hershey in the USA, are testament to the fact that many of the 'idle rich' were far from being so 'idle'. That their ideas appear, perhaps, a little off centre in some cases doesn't alter their beneficial effect on Society as a whole. The number of influential schools, universities and colleges, founded by these (largely) Quakers, also is commendably large.
It is all too easy to condemn the best of intentions when judging the intentions and actions a century or two later.
I do regret that I do not have a full list of the noted philanthropists to which I make reference, but their names and deeds ARE THERE in History and Sociology books.
Of course occasionally and maybe quite a lot, it is true that wastrels were found amongst the rich - as in all stratas of society. In my view the number of thse wastrels, who did nothing or little to help their fellow beings, was not huge and certainly doesn't warrant the blanket condemnation that so often seems to follow them.
We mustn't forget the Fry family, and, of course, William Wilberforce all of who contributed largely the the social good of the citizens of the UK. There were so many others.
I should,perhaps, add - merely to denote my 'interest' - that in among the many fine schools and other learning establishments founded by 'rich' philanthropists Edward Latymer looms large.
Edward Latymer founded by perpetual bequest my own school in 1624. He bequeathed money to ensure that 12 poor boys of the Parish have an education. His bequest still provides some funds to the Latymer Foundation and the school still thrives. I might not be in among the best of students of the school but I challenge anyone to say, with any justification, that he school isn't in the top 5% of educational establishments in the whole of the United Kingdom.
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