Enjoy a walk, drive or cycle ride around the Sussex village of Brightling to see the intriguing follies built by John 'Mad Jack' Fuller. Download a pdf of the map and guide here.
Monday, August 30, 2021
Thursday, January 28, 2021
Mad Jack, the many lives of John Fuller, squire of Brightling
In a country and era renowned for its colourful characters, John 'Mad Jack' Fuller stands out as the archetypical eccentric English Georgian squire. Born in 1757 to a family of wealthy landowners, Fuller carved his own niche in the annals of Sussex history.
'Mad Jack is best known for his follies in the village of Brightling, Sussex and apocryphal tales about his eccentricity. His lengthy political career has been eclipsed by one scandalous incident, during which he spent two nights in custody.'
During his lifetime, Fuller took on many roles including that of soldier, absentee planter & slave owner, politician and philanthropist. He was a patron of the arts and sciences who promoted the works of such greats as JMW Turner and Michael Faraday.
'Looking back, one wonders what it was about his behaviour that others saw fit to brand as ‘mad’. Why, after a lifetime of contributing to society, is John Fuller most remembered as the folly-building eccentric squire? When and why the ‘Mad Jack’ sobriquet was first applied to Fuller is unclear, but to determine whether it was ever really warranted, we need to take a closer look at the man and his life – and examine his true legacy.'
- Richly illustrated with contemporary artwork and bespoke watercolours.
- Fully indexed.
- Comprehensive endnotes.
- Black ribbon marker.
Hardcover : 288 pages
ISBN-13 : 978-1999922238
Order your copy here. Worldwide delivery is available.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
