With thanks to Elliott and Thompson for the review copy.
I read very few non-fiction books these days, but this was a book that ticked a number of boxes for me. I do like books about key literary figures, and I enjoy visiting large houses (usually National Trust) so a book about a literary family and the house they lived in appealed at once. I am also a sucker for lots of glossy colour pictures – and this book certainly has a nice collection.
The Sitwell family have lived at Renishaw Hall in Derbyshire since 1625 – and this book is very much the story of the family who lived at that house. ‘The Cavalier’ George Sitwell born in 1601 came to build Renishaw Hall from money saved before he came of age. The family he started at Renishaw was a fascinating collection of people, gentlemen squires, a Jacobite, a Sheffield attorney, spendthrifts and a ghost who apparently steals kisses from pretty girls, and then there is a legion of wives and children. Desmond Seward gives us a brief history of each of these, naturally given the distance of time, what is known now about these men is limited, but Seward does an excellent job of bringing to life the times in which they lived, and exploring their impact upon the house and grounds of Renishaw Hall. These stories are really delightful, taking the reader on a glorious journey across the history of England.
(On Sir Sitwell Sitwell – owner of Renishaw 1793 -1811)
“Although he died in the first year of the Regency, often his behaviour was that of a classic Regency Buck. The Sporting Magazine for November 1798 reports a characteristic exploit – how, with his harriers, he hunted down and killed a ‘Royal Bengal Tiger’ that had escaped from a circus at Sheffield, some hounds losing their lives. He was much admired for his stud, whose horses won many trophies. Yet at the same time he possessed impeccable taste in architecture and pictures. Above all, he was determined to cut a figure in the world”
The real creator of the Renishaw Hall of today however was another George Sitwell, Sir George Sitwell, father to Osbert, Edith and Sacheverell Sitwell; rivals to the Bloomsbury group. Sir George’s interest in Italian art inspired the Baroque revival of Renishaw. The life of Sir George and his wife Lady Ida is compellingly told. It’s a story of an unhappy marriage, parental disharmony, imprisonment for fraud and one over-riding obsession. Desperate that his wife and children shouldn’t waste money and endanger the estate as has happened in previous generations, Sir George had a difficult relationship with his children who later portrayed him cruelly as a fool. Sir George was also a great gardener again inspired by what he had seen in Italy, Sir George proved himself to be a fine landscape gardener.
Sir Osbert Sitwell took over Renishaw in 1925, for many years Osbert lived at Renishaw with his sister Edith. The three Sitwell siblings – often referred to as simply the trio – were a colourful, eccentric bunch, at Renishaw they were able to play glamorous hosts to many artistic and literary figures – a different environment completely to that of the country cottages, and the rooms of a tiny publishing firm favoured by the Bloomsbury group. By the 1950’s and 1960’s the Sitwells had become leading literary figures publishing many works of biography, art history and poetry between them. The Sitwells were famous, known to people the world over who had never read a word they had written.
In 1965 – the son of Sacheverell Sitwell, Reresby Sitwell took on the mantel of Renishaw, and together with his wife Penelope carried on the great work that Sir George had started at Renishaw. Today Reresby’s daughter Alexandra Hayward and her husband carry on the work of those previous generations. In its history the fortunes of Renishaw Hall have risen, fallen and risen again, it is testament to the work of some of them that this beautiful house full of Italian art and furniture and its gardens survive in the exceptional state that it does. In 2015 Renishaw’s garden was named as HHA/Christies garden of the year. There were times in the previous four hundred years – when it looked as if Renishaw wouldn’t survive at all.
I have not had the opportunity to visit Renishaw Hall yet – but now I feel as if I already know the house, and I long to walk through the rooms and gardens and soak up the atmosphere of a truly remarkable family.
I’m also a sucker for lots of gorgeous pictures. This book sounds lovely!
It is, and there are some lovely colour plates that complement the beauty of the house.
Lovely review Ali, and the book sounds great. Funnily enough I have been pondering the Sitwells recently, wondering if I should read more by/about them!
I can’t decide if I want to read anything by them, Osberts autobiography appears to have been filled with exaggerated spite that I’m not sure how accurate an account it would be.
Fascinating account of an eccentric English family. Tennis haw is now on my to be visited list. Thanks, Ali.
I think it would be a lovely place to visit. Such a history.
I confess never having read anything by the Sitwells but the story of their family home sounds interesting. One day when I get to spend some time in Derbyshire, this will be on my list of places to visit.
I suppose many of these old houses have wonderful fascinating histories but this book so brings Renishaw to life that I feel I know it already.
It’s incredible to think that this family has lived in the same huge house for 400 years – sounds like an interesting book! Have you read any of their books?
No I haven’t not sure I want to or not.
I read a bit of nonfiction and this has appeal. I just watched The Syndicate 3, and the programme brought up the issue of how one maintains these old houses which leak money.
Absolutely, it’s amazing how these old houses keep going really, I suppose without visitors they wouldn’t.
Have you seen the sculpture of Osbert Sitwell that is on show in the Barber at the University? The exhibition is on until the 27th and entry is free. I think you’d find it interesting.
No, haven’t seen that, thanks for telling me about it.
Interesting. What little I know about the Sitwells has come from reading about their contemporaries, and while I’m not sure I need to know much more, meeting them while reading about a house sounds lovely.
I know what you mean, I don’t think I need to know more about them for now.
It is so amazing that one family and house can be documented going back to the 17th c. I love family tales and generational sagas – this sounds like a great nonfiction version.
It is, a fascinating history.
Sounds great! What an interesting family and another interesting review! I’ve read some of Osbert’s fiction and enjoyed it. And I am interested in Edith, but must admit I’ve only read a few of her poems. Why don’t I have time to read all that I want to read? This book is unlikely to come my way, but at least I can go read the Sitwells!
It’s funny how their work has somehow never appealed.
Definitely going to look for a copy of this. The Sitwells are as fascinating as the house. Thank you!
The house looks gorgeous and the history of it very interesting I really hope I manage to visit one day.