We visited the Radnorshire Museum in Llandod (Llandrindod Wells) a couple of days ago, and whilst it was a little heavy in Geological deposits downstairs, upstairs was a corner of magic for me - Keith was ahead of me and called out, "Oh, you'll like this!" and he was right :)
First of all, the most beautiful writing box, which was presented to Kilvert when he left Clyro (a village just across the river from Hay-on-Wye) where he had been Curate, on 5th August 1872. The wood it was made from looked to be Coromandel (it was such a lovely dark and golden grain) and apparently it had no less than 5 hidden compartments - one is generally the rule, usually under the pen dish at one end. It was a leaving gift from his Vicar, the Rev. Lister Venables and his (2nd, MUCH younger wife - she was 25 years his junior) Mrs Agnes Minna Venables. They lived at Lysdinam, Newbridge-on-Wye (about 6 miles up the road from Builth) when he retired. I believe the gardens are open to the public, but will have to check out if that is still the case in these Times of Covid.
I was a prat as I didn't stand back and take a photo of the desk, just this wordage. I couldn't resist a sly touch of the desk. Apparently they have his chair too, but can't display it as kids would be climbing all over it.
Clyro Church, as painted by one of Kilvert's sisters, Thersie, on 25 may 1865 (the picture below cut the date off, so I have dated it as per her other works.) Her name in full was the same as her mother's, and very unusual, Thermusis. It comes from the Bible (of course) and was the name of the Egyptian pharoah's daughter who looked after Moses after he had been found in the bullrushes. Her father was believed to be either Seti I or Rameses II.
The venerable Rev. Richard Lister Venables (1809 - 1894) who was a graduate of Emmanuel College, Cambridge. His father was Vicar of Nantmel, Llanyre and Clyro. He became Vicar of Clyro in 1847 and retired to Llysdinam (Newbridge-on-Wye) in 1872. He was Chairman of Radnorshire Quarter Sessions. I have to say, he looks quite fierce and doesn't look like he has a smile in him!
A watercolour painting of St Mary's Church, Monnington on Wye, which was painted by Sir George Cornewall of Moccas Court (in the Golden Valley beyond Hay) as a gift for Kilvert's sister Thersie, after she was widowed and left Monnington on Wye in 1889, where her husband, the Rev. William Robins Smith, was Rector for 15 years.
More of Thersie's watercolours, Hay Castle above, and Bettws Church below.
Sorry, I cut the end off this page so you will just have to work out the endings.
I hope you can read this, or at least get the gist.
I spoke to the very helpful lady in charge, and said how wonderful it was that they had this collection, and she said she had something very special which they couldn't display but I would find interesting, and took me to a locked room, and inside was, wait for it, Kilvert's loo! Very decorative with a pattern in a deep blue, and still connected to the sort of stirrup pump arrangement which, ahem, emptied it!
I shall go back and peruse this collection again and take some more photos. So, Ragged Robin, I can see you will have to have a trip further afield when you are next in Herefordshire! (There is parking at the back of the Museum, so check it out).
HERE is a link to the conservation of this collection in an old Kilvert Society Journal.
