January 2013 Bulletin
How tall was Sir Joseph?
George Fussey, curator of Eton Museum, has a cut out of Darwin in his display and he wishes to have one of Banks. He needs to know how tall it should be. Our President assures us he was 6’2” Will George find a sheet large enough to accommodate Sir Joseph and will Darwin have to look up to him?
Banks on a coffee pot
A freind of the Banks Society has discovered a coffee pot on display in a Boulton and Watt exhibition in the Power House Museum in Sydney. The caption says-This coffeepot belonged to Joseph Banks, the botanist who sailed to Australia with Captain Cook. Banks met Boulton and Watt at a meetings of the Lunar Society. The portraits on the pot show Sarah and Joseph Banks. Dipali Chandra Secretary of the current Lunar society told us that he was uncertain if Banks was a member or merely a visiting guest. Our President believes that he was but there is much research to do on this subject.There is another question. It would have been unusual for a young man to be shown with his sister, even though they were close, it is much more likely to be his wife, Dorothea. Has anyone any ideas to answer all the unanswered questions?
270th. Birthday Party
The cake is ordered so come and have a slice. We are celebrating SirJoseph’s birthday on the nearest Saturday to February 13th.to allow more members and friends to attend. This year we are also celebrating the launch of the archive room at the Sir Joseph Banks Centre with Horncastle Civic Society.Their archive and some of ours will be on display. Join the party on February 16th. 2-30p.m.to cut the cake at 3-0p.m.
Greetings from Australia
Jon Hillman, who visited us last summer, sent a Christmas greetings along with press cuttings which show Mrs. Catherine Wilson delivering our greetings to the campaigners for a museum and residents of Bankstown, Sydney, during her stay down under in November. Jon also gave assurance that the plans are going ahead so Bankstowners will soon know much more of their namesake.
Sir Joseph Banks Centre, Bridge St. Horncastle, LN9 5HZ Tel.01507 526065
www.joseph-banks.org.uk Charity No.1127728
November 2012 Bulletin
Christmas Shopping
Bring your friends along to the Sir Joseph Banks Centre Bridge Street Horncastle for a private shopping evening on December 11th next between 6-30 and 8-30p.m. The various rooms are overflowing with goodies and included in them will be the new addition of framed prints of the pen drawings that appeared in “Joseph Banks – Rooted in Lincolnshire”. These are being marketed at £8-50 and will make most acceptable Christmas presents.
There will be mince pies and mulled wine and the opportunity to see the garden lit up for the first time.
Talks on Sir Joseph
The Trustees are booked to give talks on Banks to local organisations. If you are or know a programme secretary desperate to engage speakers why not contact the secretary, Paul Scott (paul.scott@joseph-banks.org.uk or tel 01507 527530) to see if some one is free to join you.
Revesby Abbey
About 50 members and friends assembled at the Red Lion, Revesby on November 3rd. for a talk by David Start on the abbey after which, in heavy rain, he led a tour of the site of the medieval abbey and the parish church. The talk included the medieval abbey and a discussion on the location of the later house, also called Revesby Abbey, in which Sir Joseph lived. Our President, David Robinson, joined in the discussion. We know what it looked like since both J.C.Nattes and B.Howlett drew it- but where was it exactly? The two Davids are researching it. We thank Mr. Gavin Wiggins-Davies for allowing us to visit and to joining and adding to the quality of the day.
The demise of the great house.
The Lincoln, Rutland and Stamford Mercury on 31st. March 1843 advertised an auction of the contents of Banks Revesby Abbey. The item includes a long list with furniture, paintings, curtains, etc.
The following year on 19th. July there was another advertisement for the sale of “the materials of the aforesaid Ancient Edifice” at the Red Lion, Revesby. This included lead, timber, cornices and all kinds of fittings. The lots must have been reasonably small since there would be a discount if the bill came to over £5-00.
