Author Archives: Leigh Hatts

A rare portrait of Floss Gibson, the adopted daughter of Sir Percy and Lady Shelley of Shelley Park, is to be auctioned at Bonham’s in Knightsbridge later this month. Florence, or Floss, was a niece of Lady Shelley and grew … Continue reading →

The Guardian today, Saturday 1 November, carries the obituary of Bishop Donald Arden who was born in Boscombe. As Archbishop of Central Africa he had a huge influence on the Anglican Church in Africa where many diocesan boundaries across several countries were carved out … Continue reading →

Rosemary Tonks was “far from being a recluse,” said Neil Astley speaking at the launch of the book about the disappeared poet. He said that myths about Rosemary’s whereabouts during her lost years included suggestions that she was in Cuba or … Continue reading →

Published today is a most significant and unexpected literary book. Bedouin of the London Evening is the collected poems of Rosemary Tonks. The introduction, written by Neil Astley, telling the unknown story of her lost years is as important as … Continue reading →

Two works by John Singer Sargent painted in Bournemouth are to be included in a major exhibition next year at the National Portrait Gallery. The bearded Sargent visited Robert Louis Stevenson’s Westbourne house at least twice. He painted the author … Continue reading →

Chris Bryant’s just-published two volume Parliament: The Biography is an impressive and thorough work. So it is interesting to read the passage in volume 2 about Winston Churchill becoming prime minister. It is well-known that he was called to the … Continue reading →

This Sunday 7 September is the 200th anniversary of architect William Butterfield’s birth. This will be a special day for the congregation in  St Augustin’s Church at Cemetery Junction. St Augustin’s was his last church and designed as a favour for … Continue reading →

Former Royal Botanic Gardens director Sir Ghillean Prance is appearing on Tonight’s Antiques Roadshow with the diaries of his ancestor Frederick Gibbs. Frederick Gibbs was tutor to the Prince of Wales who became Edward VII. In 1856 the Prince was … Continue reading →

In the final episode of Jeremy Paxman’s Britain’s Great War programme he visited Talbot Heath School. This was to recall how the girls in 1918 had been warned that the men they might have married had been killed. The record … Continue reading →

Malmesbury House at Salisbury is featured on the front page of The Daily Telegraph Property supplement. The house is in the cathedral close and next to St Ann’s Gate. Until 2006 it was the home of John Cordle who had been … Continue reading →