Talk:Piercefield House

Sir John Soane or George Vaughan Maddox

There is an interesting divergence of opinion between John Newman's Guide and Cadw as to the architect of the main block. Newman follows, what I had always understood to be the tradition, of ascribing the block to Soane. Cadw states, without equivocation, that the architect was Maddox, in Soane's style. I'll reflect this in an amendment in the body of the article but it will be very interesting if others have alternative sources. KJP1 (talk) 07:49, 31 August 2017 (UTC)

Thinking about this, it's surely not possible. Maddox was born in 1802, and the date for the house is c.1790s. Is Cadw saying the house was actually built much later - surely impossible as the Bonomi wings would then predate the main building - or is it mixing George Vaughan up with one of his ancestors (father?), whom we know were also architects? KJP1 (talk) 10:36, 31 August 2017 (UTC)

Pinged an enquiry off to Cadw. KJP1 (talk) 10:54, 31 August 2017 (UTC)

SAVE campaign

I've taken out the, very large, block quotes re. the above, which just reproduce the text from the sources. I've put them here to allow for re-instatement if others disagree.

"A letter sent to the current owners of the building, David and Simon Reuben, said:

“This major example of British architecture must not be lost to the nation. For this reason we have invited our friends, supporters and those with an interest in the house to join us at a gathering outside the house.... You acquired the site when you became the owners of Northern Racing. At that time Piercefield House was on the market and you continued to allow offers to come forward. It is our understanding that a number of potential buyers came forward, but that you ignored their offers. In particular we know that an interested party in 2010, was ready, willing and able to restore it. He worked closely with an architect on a rescue plan for the building. However his offer was ignored. Unfortunately since then the buildings and land have been withdrawn from the market. Not only this, the main house has been separated from the land and parcelled off into an off-shore company. By separating the house from the land on which it stands you are alienating potential buyers and complicating the rescue of the house. Since you acquired ownership of the site seven years ago you have conducted some emergency stabilisation work to the house. These repairs are temporary holding measures: they are fast deteriorating and will soon need to be maintained, or replaced. Whilst effective in the short term the only real solution for the house is to find a sustainable solution. As a national charity that campaigns for the country’s heritage we ask you – what are your future plans for Piercefield House? As the owners of a listed building you have a responsibility to either care for it or to allow someone else to do so. We take note of the extensive educational and philanthropic work of the Reuben Foundation and ask you to respond to this appeal from leading charities, trusts, bodies and individuals involved in the care of Britain’s architectural heritage."

Clementine Cecil, Director of SAVE, said:

"As the owners of a listed building the Reuben Brothers have a responsibility to either care for it or to allow someone else to do so. It is of utmost importance for the future of this remarkable and beloved building, that all offers made on the house are taken seriously in order to safeguard its future for the nation."

References

Sources

• Survey
• The Cold Bath
• 18th/19th century accounts
• Bonomi memoir

Slavery

• [1]
• [2]
• [3]

Green Gathering

The Green Gathering is a substantial music and cultural festival that has been held at Piercefield regularly for several years (before the pandemic) - not a one-off event. A mention of it should be reinstated in the article, I think. Ghmyrtle (talk) 09:43, 19 December 2021 (UTC)

No problem at all. Do we have a cite? Unfortunately, the reference originally in was no longer working, giving a 404 error. KJP1 (talk) 09:52, 19 December 2021 (UTC)

p.s. Back in - finding a cite was easy. Should have looked. KJP1 (talk) 09:57, 19 December 2021 (UTC)

Lord Nelson

The section beginning, “It is rumoured…” (always a bad sign) makes a claim that Nelson visited the house. None of the sources available to me mention this and it is uncited. While it is, of course, possible, as Nelson did tour the Wye Valley, it has the ring of “Good Queen Bess slept here”. Propose removing it unless a source can be found. KJP1 (talk) 14:34, 19 December 2021 (UTC)

There is a brief mention here, p.576 - but it doesn't seem to be significant. Ghmyrtle (talk) 09:00, 20 December 2021 (UTC)