Mad Jack Book Talk at Robertsbridge Literary Festival 22 April 2023

 

The Hoares and Stourhead Part 1

Stourhead, Wiltshire was home to an illustrious goldsmith-turned-banking family, the Hoares. Henry I 'the Good' purchased the estate in 1717. It was inherited by his son Henry II 'the Magnificent' in 1725. His daughter and heir Anne married her first cousin Sir Richard Hoare, of Barn Elms. Their son Richard Colt Hoare built the house's fabulous library and picture gallery.  Sir Richard's second wife was Frances Acland (3rd cousin twice removed of Mad Jack Fuller). Her 1st cousin once removed, Sir John Palmer Acland, married Mad Jack's sister Elizabeth Fuller. Their grandson Sir Henry Hugh Arthur Hoare gave Stourhead to the National Trust in 1946. The 1000 ha (2500 acre) site with its manmade lake, is liberally sprinkled with follies, monuments, ornate bridges and other curious structures. 

The Obelisk,  topped by a golden sun. 

St Peter's Pump was built at Bristol in 1474 to help provide the city with water. It was purchased and relocated by Henry 'the Magnificent' in 1768. 

Also salvaged from Bristol, is this ornate medieval cross brought to Stourhead in pieces by six wagons in 1764. 

Fuller's Sugar Loaf Folly

Many unanswered questions remain: Did Mad Jack Fuller win his bet? Who did he wager with and what was at stake? How was the site chosen? Legend has it the Sugar Loaf Folly was built overnight. Is this true? I've been trying to read the artist's signature on the bottom left. The initials A D can be seen followed by????

Brightling Church Postcard 1904

 

Postcards were a quick, inexpensive way of communication back in the days before everyone had a telephone. Sent from Etchingham on 8 June 1904, the message reads 'Much better shall be in by the 10-8 at T. W. hope all are well Gr.' I trust Mrs Francis of Windmill Street was glad to see them arrive by train. Mad Jack Fuller's pyramid mausoleum is seen to the left of Brightling Church.

Broadway Tower

Part of the buzz I get from researching is making connections, most of all between John 'Mad Jack' Fuller and seemingly different things. Barbara, Countess of Coventry wondered if the beacon on Middle Hill, Broadway could be seen from her house, Spring Hill, in Worcester 35km (22 miles) away. The construction of Broadway Tower, designed by James Wyatt and built in 1794, confirmed this to be true. 'Mad Jack' allegedly had the Sugar Loaf folly built at Dallington to win a bet that the spire of the village church could be seen from his home at Rose Hill. He had an obelisk, known as the Brightling Needle, erected on the hill where Brightling Beacon has been traditionally lit. In 1779, diarist Fanny Burney wrote about the coquettish Peggy Pitches flirting with the young Captain Fuller at the card table. Four years later, Peggy married Lord Deerhurst George William Coventry, the 7th Earl of Coventry, stepson of the aforementioned Barbara.

We visited Broadway tower on a rainy day when, unfortunately, water started leaking into this magnificently furnished folly. Thankfully, property owner Annette Will was on hand to quickly get the situation under control.

Nore Folly, Swindon

Following Countess Newburgh's tradition, we took a picnic lunch to Nore Folly near Slindon. The views from its hillside site were spectacular. Built for her al fresco parties in 1814, this flint structure is also known as Slindon Folly. 

Wern Manor, Dolbenmaen, Gwynedd, Wales

This folly temple is situated in the 15-acre gardens & woods of Wern Manor, one of the most delightful airbnbs we've ever stayed at. Hosts Paul and Marie-Ann have worked tirelessly to restore the property to its former glory. In 1892, the house was remodeled in the Jacobethan Arts & Crafts style for Richard Geaves the manager of Llechwedd Slate Quarry (Blaenau Ffestiniog). He was the uncle of architect Clough Williams-Ellis whose masterwork is Portmeirion village. https://www.wernmanor.co.uk/index.php

Wellington Clock Tower, Swanage, Dorset

In 1854 when the Wellington Clock Tower was originally erected at the southern end of London Bridge it had four clock faces and housed a small telegraph office. It was relocated to Swanage, Dorset in 1868 when local building contractor George Burt disassembled it, transported it as ship's ballast and gave it to his friend Thomas Docwra, another builder, as a gift. For obscure reasons, the original spire was removed in 1904 and replaced by an ogee-shaped copper cupola. The tower now stands on private property.

Cranmore Tower, Somerset

Located on the highest point of the Mendip Way, Cranmore Tower is about 45m (148 ft) tall. Built by Thomas Henry Wyatt for John Moore Paget of Cranmore Hall between 1862 and 1864, it is now on private land and closed to visitors. Unsurprisingly it was used by the Home Guard and Royal Corps of Signals during the Second World War. 

St Audries Park

In 1835, Mad Jack Fuller's nephew and heir Sir Peregrine Palmer Fuller Palmer Acland purchased St Audries, East Quantoxhead, Somerset. It became home to his daughter Isabella and her husband Sir Alexander Bateman Periam Fuller Acland Hood when they married in 1849. Over the years the house was much improved and expanded. It remained in the family until their grandson sold it in 1925. It is now a wedding venue.

Watchet Barometer Gift of Sir A A Hood

Like Mad Jack Fuller, Sir Alexander Bateman Perriam Fuller Acland Hood was a generous benefactor to his community. His wife, Lady Isabella Harriet was the only surviving child of Mad Jack's nephew Sir Peregrine Palmer Fuller Palmer Acland. As well as family ties, Hood shared Mad Jack's interest in saving lives at sea and scientific instruments. In 1862, Sir A A Hood gifted the town of Watchet, Somerset an Admiral FitzRoy's Storm Barometer made by Negretti & Zambra. Robert FitzRoy, for whom the instrument is named, captained the Beagle of Charles Darwin fame. In 2012, the barometer was restored by the Watchet Conservation Society. It continues in daily use and can be viewed in its original position, set into the wall of a cottage at the west end of The Esplanade (where it meets the corner of Swain and Market Streets).

The Mad Jack Walking Tour

 

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. 

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

Publisher : Otherwise; 22 October 2020​

Distributor: York Publishing Services, York, UK

Order your copy here. Worldwide delivery is available. 

Fuller Biography in Progress

A few years ago, I purchased these two original pen and ink sketches made by Paul Sharp in about 1963.  They were made in preparation for a drawing that appeared in the Follies volume of the National Benzole Books series published in 1963. The final drawing and text appear below. 

Paul Sharp was born in Sowerby Bridge, West Yorkshire in 1912.  He studied at the Royal College of Art, between 1946 and 1949. He died in 1998. "His distinctive, well-ordered graphic style developed into a personal trademark, his work always demonstrating a formal sense of proportion, careful use of white space and preference for sans serif typefaces. His style illustrates the continuing impact of Bauhaus on mid-twentieth century British design." Source: sulisfineart.com

Excursion: On the Trail of Mad Jack Fuller

NOT AFFILIATED WITH THIS BLOG OR ITS AUTHOR

Roadmark Travel 

Friday 2 August 2019 

Overview

John “Mad Jack” Fuller was an eccentric Georgian squire who built a number of follies in some of the highest and most attractive countryside in the South of England. Your guide for this fascinating day out will be Mark, who will introduce you to the life and times of this larger-than-life character, who became known as the “Squire of Brightling”. Our tour will take you to some of Fuller’s follies, including the Sugar Loaf and Brightling Needle, and ends at Brightling Church. Mad Jack lies buried in the churchyard in a bizarre 25-feet tall pyramid he had built 24 years before he died! There will be stops for refreshment (cost not included). To get the most out of the tour, a small amount of walking will be required so we recommend walking shoes.

Pick-up Points

LOCATION

TIME

Horsham (D&B)

08:10

Horsham (Station)

08:15

Horsham (Library)

08:20

Hop Oast (Park & Ride)

08:30

Southwater

08:35

Ashington

08:50

Storrington

09:00

Washington

09:10

Steyning

09:25

FOR BOOKINGS CALL 01903 741233

Bodiam Castle: Four Reports - Seminal Texts Made Accessible

Playwrite, performer and heritage interpreter Lance Woodman works at and has a keen interest in Bodiam Castle. He has gathered long out of print texts and, "offers them side-by-side in a modern typescript with introductions that set them in context.

Included are:

• A Graphical and Historical Sketch of Bodyam Castle by William Cotton, 1831.
• Bodiam and its Lords, by Mark Antony Lower, 1871.
• Mediaeval Military Architecture in England, Vol. 1., by George Thomas Clark, 1884.
• Bodiam Castle, Sussex: A Historical & Descriptive Survey, by George Nathaniel Curzon, 1926.

The texts themselves are well worth reading, but Woodman's insights, passion for the subject and view of the big picture that makes this compendium a standout. 

Available at lulu.com.

Brightling Church Bells: What's in a Name?

Source: The Bell News and Ringers Record Vol III, 5/4/1884 - 28/3/1885, p 103

Fuller wished to celebrate the victories of the Duke of Wellington by gifting this peal of bells to home Brightling church. They are still rung regularly by the dedicated bellringers of the village.

The Battle of Salamanca was fought on 22 July 1812 in Spain; The Battle of the Pyrenees lasted from 25 July to 2 August 1813 on the Spain/France border, and Wellington's decisive victory over Napoleon took place at Waterloo in Belgium on the 18th of June 1815. 

Some of the spellings given here vary from those of the places where Wellington's battles occurred. Tallavera = Battle of Talavera, Spain (27-28 July 1809); Vittoria = Battle of Vitoria, Spain (21 June 1813);  and Orthes = Battle of Orthez, France (27 Feb 1814). I have not seen the actual inscriptions on the bells so I cannot confirm which spellings were used there. 

The 1979 Brightling Church Guide, written by Diana Boyd, mistakenly gives the name "Trattoria" instead of  "Tallavera".

Stephen Lloyd MP Continues Fuller's Philanthropy

In 1822, two years before the RNLI was founded, Fuller funded the first lifeboat at Eastbourne. The "Samaritan" or "Rose" as she was variously called, performed her first service on 21 February 1833 rescuing 29 people from the "Isabella" a West Indiaman that, when en route to Madiera and Demerara, got caught in a storm off the Sussex shore.

Fast forward to 2019 and MP for Eastbourne Stephen Lloyd presents the lifeboat station with a cheque to help continue the operation that Fuller started.

'Donation to Eastbourne RNLI:

Good to swing around to the Eastbourne RNLI Station today and drop off a £200 cheque. Whenever I get paid for speeches or interviews I ensure the cheques are made out to local charities - and you can’t get much better than our own, much loved lifeboat service!

They reminded me that last year was there busiest ever with 174 call-outs for the inshore and out-shore boats. That’s one busy Station.......

Thank you Mark (coxswain) Carl (ops manager) - and all your dedicated crew and colleagues for the work you do. You are a credit to our town, and the RNLI.

That’s it. Have a good Sunday folks. It’s a glorious sunny day in Eastbourne; a bit nippy perhaps, but ideal for a stroll along our beautiful seafront.'

Stephen Lloyd MP's Facebook Post, Sunday 20 January 2019.

Christmas at Rose Hill, Brightling

BRIGHTLING - JOHN MEAKIN

Christmas 1815

Christmas 1820

Christmas 1823

Christmas 1828

Christmas 1832