The Royal Oak Foundation Fall 2015 Newsletter

Fall 2015

THE ROYAL OAK Americans in Alliance with the National Trust of England, Wales and Northern Ireland

The London Issue Your guide to London-area properties Page 7 New fellowship supports heritage conservation Page 2

The Duke of Wellington on his home, his family, and their legacy Page 5

FOUNDATION

01 | FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Dear Members, Supporters and Friends, We write today as a team, and that teamwork is at the heart of our successful season of transition. As we continue our search for a new Executive Director and settle into our new office in midtown Manhattan, the entire Royal Oak team – staff, board, volunteers and supporters – has brought several exciting projects forward, and we are grateful to everyone for keeping our shared mission at heart.

The National Trust remains paramount to this mission, and so it is with great pleasure that we share the news of an important milestone: we have now granted over $10,000,000 in support of the Trust’s preservation efforts over the course of the Foundation’s history.

Your support has made essential work possible at some of the most special places in the world, and for that we can all be proud.

We continue our efforts to celebrate and support these special places this fall. One key component of that mission is the Timeless Design Gala, hosted at New York City’s Metropolitan Club on October 27th (page 3). The Gala proceeds will benefit Royal Oak and our Scholarship Fund, as well as the National Trust. We are so pleased that Lisa White, Chairman of the National Trust Arts Panel, is attending this event to help us remind supporters about the importance of this year’s National Trust Furniture Research Project.

We invite you to read National Trust Curator of Furniture Christopher Rowell’s article on the importance of the Research Project, and how it will cement the long-term health of a world-class collection (page 4). Please make sure you mark your calendar for White’s lecture (page 6).

Royal Oak Scholars are particularly busy this season, as we mark both Horan Prize and Attingham Fellowships (page 12). Scholarship support has grown to include a new endeavor: The Nigel Seeley Fellowship Fund.

Established by a contribution from Royal Oak member Katherine Singley, the fund will provide training and educational opportunities for professionals with a range of specialties in conservation and preservation (page 2).

THE ROYAL OAK FOUNDATION

We also welcome a new board collaboration, the Technology Committee, which launched this summer. The committee will enhance Royal Oak’s digital offerings and improve your online experience with us.

Membership Services Associate

Fall brings with it a new lecture season, and our programs team is currently crisscrossing the country to host another engaging set of speakers. We encourage you to read The Duke of Wellington’s reflections on his family history and homes in advance of his lectures in New York City and Philadelphia this November (page 5).

Assistant Program Director

There is a special treat for our fall and winter travelers: the most picturesque time to visit London is the end of the year, so we have created a National Trust-themed guide to the capital for your next trip (pages 7-8). Do not miss the many London gems your Royal Oak membership allows you to explore!

Thank you,

20 West 44th Street, Suite 606 New York, New York 10036-6603 212.480.2889; 800.913.6565 www.royal-oak.org

Interim Executive Director and Director of Operations & Finance

Marilyn Fogarty mfogarty@royal-oak.org

Director of Member Services

Winifred E. Cyrus wcyrus@royal-oak.org Jan Lizza jlizza@royal-oak.org Program Director

Jennie L. McCahey jmccahey@royal-oak.org Kristin N. Sarli ksarli@royal-oak.org

Development & Communications Manager

Chelcey Berryhill cberryhill@royal-oak.org

Communications Associate

Sam McCann smccann@royal-oak.org

Program & Development Assistant

Robert Dennis rdennis@royal-oak.org Executive Coordinator & Board Liaison

Jacqueline Bascetta jbascetta@royal-oak.org Foundation Volunteer

Marilyn Fogarty, Interim Executive Director, and Lynne Rickabaugh, Board Chair

Jessie Walker

The Royal Oak Newsletter is published triannually and distributed to active members and contributors. © ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

The Royal Oak Foundation Board of Directors Honorary Chairman

Mrs. Henry J. Heinz, II Chairman

Lynne L. Rickabaugh Vice Chairman

Prof. Susan S. Samuelson

Treasurer

Michael A. Boyd Secretary

Renee Nichols Tucei

Betsy S. Barbanell David Beal Stein Berre Kathleen K. Buoymaster Prof. Sir David Cannadine John Southerton Clark Tracy Williamson Dart Robert C. Daum Barbara Eberlein

Anne Blackwell Ervin Anne Fairfax Dame Helen Ghosh, DCB Pamela K. Hull Valerie M. Humphrey Katherine C. Kanaga Thomas M. Kelly Albert S. Messina Marilyn Ross Miles

Martha Hamilton Morris Eric J. Nilson Tim Parker Erwin A. Rezelman Diana Morgan Senior Elizabeth Duggal Taghipour John L. Warden

The mission of The Royal Oak Foundation is to inspire Americans to learn about, experience and support places of great historic and natural significance in the United Kingdom in partnership with the National Trust of England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Cover Photo: Osterley Park, London. Photo by Rajel Khambhaita 1.800.913.6565 | www.royal-oak.org

NEWS | 02

Introducing The Nigel Seeley Fellowship New Royal Oak fellowship to provide hands-on experience to conservation and preservation professionals

by changes in the open environment.

Twenty years ago he was a driving force behind a philosophical and holistic change in the management of historic properties, in which stabilization of the building environment is equally as important as the treatment of individual objects.”

Knole, Kent will be the site of the first Nigel Seeley fellowship, in the summer of 2016.

Royal Oak is pleased to announce the launch of The Nigel Seeley Fellowship with the National Trust.

professionals’ lives by offering first-hand experience of the National Trust’s world-class techniques, houses, and collections.

Established by Katherine Singley of Decatur, Georgia, the fellowship will provide training and educational opportunities for individuals with a professional interest in the preservation of historic interiors, finishes, and collections. It is named for the National Trust’s Head of Conservation, Dr. Nigel Seeley (1989-2002), under whom Katherine studied.

“For conservators, there is a real need for an award like the Seeley Fellowship, one that is project-driven and involves problem solving and person-to-person interaction,” she said.

“The National Trust for decades has set the bar internationally for the preservation of interiors and collections... Even in the age of electronic access to the information, there is still much to be gained by physically being present on a project and experiencing the Trust properties.”

The fellowship will be awarded to professionals spanning careers from conservators, heritage craftsmen, collection managers, to environmental engineers, lighting specialists, and pest specialists.

Katherine, a conservator herself, believes The Nigel Seeley Fellowship will enrich young

Katherine also expressed her enthusiasm to name the fellowship after Dr. Seeley. “Dr. Seeley regarded historic interiors with their contents and finishes as ‘museums without cases,’ systems of interrelated and complex chemical reactions that could be triggered

The fellowship joins Royal Oak’s established Damaris Horan Fellowship. Both fellowships provide talented Americans the chance to gain hands-on experience through the National Trust’s expertise and renowned educational training. Fellowships will be offered biennially, alternating years between each prize.

The 2016 Seeley Fellowship will kick off with the conservation team at the Sackville family home, Knole, Kent. Members and supporters will remember Royal Oak’s recent grant of $1.25 million to restore the Jacobean Ballroom. While the specific project is still to be defined, the fellow will join Knole’s conservation studio team to assist in one of the many projects to conserve Knole’s historic interiors.

Project details and application announcement will be offered in early 2016 with the expectation that the project will begin later that year.

For more information about applying to or donating to The Nigel Seeley Fellowship, please contact Development and Communications Manager, Chelcey Berryhill at 212.480.2889. ext. 212 or cberryhill@royal-oak.org.

Royal Oak Garden Tour: Great Country Houses and Gardens of Dorset

Photo: © NTPL/Robert Morris; Art Tours

Royal Oak is delighted to announce an exclusive private tour of the great country houses and gardens of Dorset, May 30 - June 3, 2016. The tour includes: • Spectacular private visits to unique properties like Kingston Lacy, Sherborne Castle, St. Giles, Smedmore House and Inwood House.

• Special access, including lunch at St. Giles hosted by the Earl of Shaftesbury; a tour of Smedmore House given by its owner, noted historian Dr. Philip Mansel; and a champagne reception and dinner at Inwood House held by its owner, Count Richard de Pelet.

• Four nights in a Jacobean country house, “Plumber Manor,” which is still owned, and now run as a luxury hotel, by the same family that built it in the early 1600s.

The tour will be priced at approximately $4,875 per person, plus a $500 tax-deductible donation to Royal Oak. The single room supplement will be approximately $215. For more information or to book, contact Chelcey Berryhill, or visit royal-oak.org/travel.

Sherborne Castle, Dorset

Fall 2015

03 | SUPPORT

Royal Oak’s Annual Fund

The Annual Fund makes Royal Oak possible. It is the backbone of our mission, providing foundational support for educational lecture series, substantial conservation and preservation projects, and scholarship opportunities.

Over the years, your contribution to the Annual Fund has made some monumental work possible. The numbers are staggering:

$10,000,000

Amount Royal Oak has given to conserve and preserve National Trust properties, landscapes and coastline, thanks to the support of our members and donors

55,000+ Collection of furniture cared for across the National Trust’s 350+ historic buildings

423

Royal Oak’s Timeless Design Gala is an annual celebration of the best of the design community. Join us this October 27th for this very special occasion.

Timeless Design Gala 2015

Join The Royal Oak Foundation on October 27th at The Metropolitan Club in New York City for the 18th Annual Timeless Design Gala. We are pleased to present The Kips Bay Decorator Show House, America’s iconic show house, with the Timeless Design Award; and Dr. Susan Weber, Founder and Director of Bard Graduate Center, with the Heritage Award.

HONORARY GALA CHAIR

Lectures and Tours in the last 5 years

Mrs. Henry J. Heinz, II

GALA CO-CHAIRS

Tracy Williamson Dart & Charlotte Moss

10

165

Scholars supported by Royal Oak

Grateful staff members! Your Annual Fund gift makes all our work possible.

With your support of the Annual Fund, we can take these numbers to even greater heights. We can tell new stories, preserve the UK’s rich history and expand our already robust Royal Oak family.

Donate online at royal-oak.org/donate or call Robert Dennis at 212.480.2889 ext. 201. To learn more about our work, read our Annual Report at royal-oak.org/about-us 1.800.913.6565 | www.royal-oak.org

Alex Papachristidis Melinda Papp Diana Quasha Suzanne Rheinstein Lynne & Mark Rickabaugh James Rixner Markham Roberts Todd Alexander Romano Margaret Russell Gary Searle Michael Simon Britton Smith Lady Henrietta Spencer-Churchill Sara Story Bunny Williams Vicente Wolf

Corporate Partners Royal Oak thanks the following sponsors for their generous support of our Timeless Design Gala.

Photos courtesy of: ©National Trust Images/David Kirkham; Cheryl Hageman; Kristy Leibowitz

Honorary Committee

Jeffrey Bilhuber Mario Buatta Paula Caravelli Ellie Cullman Jamie Drake James Druckman Patrick Gallagher Susan Zises Green Alexa Hampton Ashley Hicks Anthony Ingrao Philip Hewat-Jaboor Thomas Jayne Cathy Kincaid Richard Keith Langham David Mlinaric Amanda Nisbet

SUPPORT | 04

National Trust Furniture: A World Class Resource Christopher Rowell | National Trust Curator of Furniture

Left: Royal Oak’s Appeal for Furniture is cataloguing treasures at places like the Saloon at Saltram, Devon, designed

by Robert Adam and furnished by Thomas Chippendale.

Above: Dr. Wolf Burchard (right) with Prince Ernst-August of Hanover at The Queen’s Gallery, London, during The First Georgians exhibition.

The National Trust’s Curator of Furniture on the importance of Royal Oak’s support and the exciting new opportunities presented by our 2015 National Trust Appeal

Photos courtesy of ©National Trust Images/John Hammond; Christopher Rowell

I would like to begin with a vote of thanks.

The Royal Oak Foundation’s generous support of the National Trust’s Furniture Research and Publication Project has already been crucial.

I am very grateful to the numerous donors and I hope others will come forward to make this project a resounding success.

150 National Trust houses contain some 55,000 pieces or sets of furniture and 19,000 picture frames. It is a collection on the grandest scale, exceptional for remaining in its historic context. It is world-class and deserves to be better known. International in scope, there are considerable holdings of foreign furniture. Waddesdon Manor alone is a shrine to the arts of the French ancien régime. Britishmade furniture is naturally predominant, in settings at Nostell Priory, Yorkshire, and Saltram, Devon, designed and furnished by Robert Adam and Thomas Chippendale.

In 2018, in anticipation of the 300th Anniversary of Chippendale’s birth, we shall revise the Chippendale entries in the Trust’s online database. This database, which is free to all, was designed in partnership with the Royal Collection Trust, with 830,000 objects already online. Entries will be improved in order to make National Trust Collections online one of the world’s prime sources for furniture studies.

I am writing a book, Furniture in National Trust Houses, which will be published for the

National Trust and the Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art by Yale University Press in 2019. This will be a lavishly illustrated survey, including in-depth descriptions of outstanding pieces, a Gazetteer of 150 collections, a review of picture frames and a comprehensive bibliography.

The book is well underway and research has thrown up numerous lines of enquiry.

I am therefore delighted to announce the appointment of Dr. Wolf Burchard as the National Trust’s Mellon/Royal Oak Furniture Research Curator for a three-year period beginning on September 1, 2015. He was Curatorial Assistant at the Royal Collection Trust (2009-14) and has just received his Ph.D. from the Courtauld Institute of Art, University of London. Wolf has a broad knowledge of European art, speaks four languages and publishes and lectures widely.

With Wolf’s help, research will be undertaken in archives, both at home and abroad. Here are three examples: Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire, contains some of the finest pieces of sixteenth-century cabinet furniture in existence. Study and technical analysis will be undertaken initially for the forthcoming book, Hardwick Hall: A Great Old Castle of Romance, published by Yale University Press, for which I am writing a chapter on the furniture with Simon Swynfen Jervis.

At Nostell Priory, Yorkshire, we will study the least known of the architectural ‘Boulle’ marquetry cabinets (c.1675) made in the circle of Louis XIV’s royal craftsmen. We hope that further research will reveal its origins.

Funds are needed for paint analysis and to clean and restore this magnificent object of almost royal quality.

At Knole, Kent (already in receipt of generous funding from Royal Oak), we shall be researching the seventeenth-century and later collections, contributing to the major display project that is underway there and – funds permitting – conserving and re-presenting outstanding furniture.

Exhibitions of furniture at National Trust houses are also part of the plan, both during and after conservation. There are many discoveries and improvements to be made.

Every donation to the Furniture Research and Publication Appeal ensures that they are made manifest not only to visitors to National Trust houses but also to a world-wide audience.

Unlock the National Trust’s Furniture Collection Support the work of Christopher, Wolf and the rest of the National Trust team. Donate at royal-oak.org/support/ntappeal Fall 2015

05 | LEARN

The Bicentenary of Waterloo: The Duke of Wellington on the battle, his home and his family The Duke of Wellington

Stratfield Saye House, Hampshire, the First Duke of Wellington’s residence, is still home to his descendants.

Royal Oak board member and renowned historian Prof. Sir David Cannadine spoke to The Duke of Wellington before his East coast lectures this Fall. On the agenda: childhood memories of Waterloo, the first Duke’s homes and the legendary moment at the heart of his family history. Hear about these topics and more when the Duke lectures this November.

Duke: I first visited the battlefield of Waterloo when I was a child. Some years later while at Oxford University, I worked in a racing stable nearby and rode out on the battlefield every day. The place has, therefore, been familiar to me all my life.

Over the years I have taken most of the members of my family to visit the battlefield. It is a very significant event in my family’s history but more importantly in the history of Britain and of Western Europe.

DC: As a historian yourself, and being so connected to the battle’s history, is there an aspect of it that you think is not given enough attention?

Duke: Waterloo was an allied victory.

British troops only represented less than a third of the soldiers in the allied Army. The Duke of Wellington was able to take his stand on the ridge just south of Waterloo 1.800.913.6565 | www.royal-oak.org

because he was confident that he would be joined in the afternoon by the army of the King of Prussia. The Prussians arrived in the early evening and at that moment Wellington was able to order the advance and the victory was complete. Over two hundred French cannons were captured and Napoleon was forced to abdicate for the second time. He was sent in exile to St. Helena, where he died six years later.

DC: Can you tell us a bit about the first Duke’s life after the battle, and how he came to acquire Apsley House and Stratfield Saye?

Duke: In the years following Waterloo, the first Duke of Wellington commanded an allied Army of occupation in France. This occupation ended in 1818 and Wellington returned to London and was appointed a Minister in the British government. For the rest of his life he served as a politician both in government and in opposition. He became Prime Minister at the beginning of 1828 and held office for nearly three years.

He served again as Prime Minister in 1834 when for a brief period he occupied all the major Offices of State.

In 1817, he acquired a long lease from his brother of Apsley House in London. Later that year his trustees negotiated the acquisition of the Stratfield Saye estate in Hampshire. In these two houses he accumulated a substantial collection of works of art. He also received many magnificent presents from the grateful sovereigns of Europe.

Most of the best pieces in the collection are now on display in the rooms which are open to the public at Apsley House.

His two main residences are still lived in by his descendants. Both are open to the pubic and the collections of works of art are largely intact.

The Duke of Wellington in front of the iconic painting at Apsley House, London.

Photos courtesy of ©Stratfield Saye Preservation Trust

David Cannadine: What’s it like to grow up in a family where this single moment in history is so personally important?

LEARN | 06

Fall 2015 Drue Heinz Lectures The Royal Oak Foundation’s national program of lectures is made possible by the continued generosity of the Drue Heinz Trust, our lead sponsor for the past 23 years. Lecture start times are listed below. For information about these lectures and other programming, visit our website: www.royal-oak.org/lectures

September 30

6:00pm

Judith Flanders

Boston, MA

Victorian City: Life in Dickens’ London

October 1

6:30pm

Judith Flanders

Philadelphia, PA

Victorian City: Life in Dickens’ London

5

6:00pm

Judith Flanders

New York, NY

Victorian City: Life in Dickens’ London

6

6:30pm

Dr. Michael Shelden

Atlanta, GA

Young Titan: The Making of Winston Churchill

7

6:15pm

Dr. Michael Shelden

Charleston, SC

Young Titan: The Making of Winston Churchill

7

6:30pm

Judith Flanders

Chicago, IL

Victorian City: Life in Dickens’ London

8

7:00pm

Judith Flanders

Washington, DC

Victorian City: Life in Dickens’ London

12

6:30pm

Joanne Norman

Los Angeles, CA

John Jones and His Extraordinary Legacy

13

6:00pm

Dr. Tessa Murdoch

New York, NY

Recusant Country Houses & Collections

13

6:45pm

Joanne Norman

San Diego, CA

John Jones and His Extraordinary Legacy

14

6:30pm

Dr. Tessa Murdoch

Philadelphia, PA

Recusant Country Houses & Collections

15

7:00pm

Joanne Norman

San Francisco, CA

John Jones and His Extraordinary Legacy

19

6:30pm

Lisa White

Philadelphia, PA

Furniture in the National Trust’s Collection

20

6:00pm

Lisa White

New York, NY

Furniture in the National Trust’s Collection

22

6:00pm

Lisa White

Boston, MA

Furniture in the National Trust’s Collection

28

6:00pm

Sonia Purnell

New York, NY

The Life of Clementine Churchill

30

6:30pm

Sonia Purnell

Chicago, IL

The Life of Clementine Churchill

November 2

6:30pm

Sonia Purnell

Philadelphia, PA

The Life of Clementine Churchill

2

7:00pm

Dr. Michael Shelden

Washington, DC

Young Titan: The Making of Winston Churchill

3

6:00pm

Dr. Michael Shelden

Boston, MA

Young Titan: The Making of Winston Churchill

5

6:00pm

Earl of Shaftesbury

New York, NY

A Family Legacy Restored: St. Giles House

9

6:30pm

Earl of Shaftesbury

Philadelphia, PA

A Family Legacy Restored: St. Giles House

10

6:00pm

Tessa Boase

New York, NY

Housekeepers and the English Country House

11

6:30pm

Earl of Shaftesbury

Chicago, IL

A Family Legacy Restored: St. Giles House

12

6:15pm

Tessa Boase

Charleston, SC

Housekeepers and the English Country House

12

6:30 pm

Earl of Shaftesbury

Atlanta, GA

A Family Legacy Restored: St. Giles House

16

7:00pm

Tessa Boase

Los Angeles, CA

Housekeepers and the English Country House

18

6:00pm

Duke of Wellington

New York, NY

The Battle of Waterloo and its Legacy

18

7:00pm

Tessa Boase

San Francisco, CA

Housekeepers and the English Country House

19

6:30pm

Duke of Wellington

Philadelphia, PA

The Battle of Waterloo and its Legacy

19

7:00pm

Tessa Boase

San Diego, CA

Housekeepers and the English Country House

23

6:00pm

Curt DiCamillo

New York, NY

Tartan Tales: Historic Scottish Houses

Fall 2015

Your National Trust Guide to London London is home to some of the most unique properties in the National Trust’s care, from narrow row homes like Carlyle’s House to large, ornate treasure troves, like Ham House. If you have a few days in the capital, make time to visit these properties, cared for by the National Trust and their partners, to get a sense of the rich history underpinning the modern metropolis. All you need is your Oyster Card and Royal Oak Membership!

Freud Museum

Fenton House Originally a 17th-century merchant’s house, Fenton is filled with porcelain, Georgian furniture and 17th-century needlework. The property also includes an orchard which grows 30 different kinds of apples.

Illustrations by Chelcey Berryhill.

Map not to scale. All locations are approximate.

Benjamin Franklin House

Carlyle's House

2 Willow Road Designed and lived in by renowned modern architect Ernö Goldfinger, 2 Willow Road is very much in line with its creator’s other works. The house contains the Goldfingers’ impressive collection of modern art, intriguing personal possessions and innovative furniture.

Osterley Park You can see more of Osterley Park on the cover and on page 11, where it was part of our Heritage Circle study day.

Surrounded by gardens, park and farmland, Osterley is one of the last surviving country estates in London. No trip to London is complete without a visit to this Robert Adam-designed masterpiece.

Strawberry Hill

Ham House 1.800.913.6565 | www.royal-oak.org

This Chelsea row house has a significant literary history: a twist of fate turned Carlyle into a star of the 19th-century literary world. Suddenly this was the place to be. When you pull the bell to enter you will follow in the footsteps of Dickens, Ruskin, Tennyson and many more. The house retains much of its Victorian feel, with original books, furniture, portraits and more.

Museum of Brands, Packaging & Advertising

575 Wandsworth Road

Leighton House Museum

Ham House Combining a remarkable garden with an atmospheric and treasurepacked house, Ham beckons London visitors from the banks of the Thames. Among the unique objects in Ham’s collection are a rare Chinese teapot, said to have been used by the Duchess of Lauderdale herself, and the exotic ivory cabinet. The house is also said to be one of the most haunted in all of England.

Take a look at the back cover to get a sense of 575 Wandsworth Road’s intricacy. The house tells a story of the modern, multinational London: its remarkable interior was crafted by Khadambi Asalache (1935-2006), a Kenyan-born poet, novelist, philosopher of mathematics and British civil servant, who turned his home into a work of art over a period of 20 years. The Trust acquired it in 2010, and you can visit with your Royal Oak membership today.

Just Beyond London

London Partners The National Trust has reciprocal agreements with a number of small heritage sites in London, labeled on this map with the house symbol. Royal Oak members enjoy 50% off admission prices at these properties. Visit the National Trust website and search “London Partners” for more information.

While London has plenty to offer, the countryside is just a train ride away. Check out these historic country houses on your next visit, all within one hour of central London.

Sutton House

Foundling Museum Charles Dickens Museum

Built in 1535 by Sir Ralph Sadleir, a prominent courtier of Henry VIII, Sutton House retains much of its Tudor character to this day. Explore oak-panelled rooms, original carved fireplaces and a charming courtyard in this east London home.

Polesden Lacey The house combines the remarkable gardens and architecture with a breathtaking collection of art and ceramics. Highlights include worldfamous Dutch old masters and sparkling Fabergé objects.

Dr. Johnson's House

Old Operating Theatre, Museum and Herb Garret

Red House William Morris, the founder of the Arts and Crafts movement, left the world a house as unique as his history, one now protected by the National Trust.

Red House was designed by Philip Webb, another crucial figure in the Arts and Crafts movement, and was completed in 1860. Today it showcases many of Morris’ early design and decorative ideas, and is even home to original patterns and furniture by Morris and Webb. Visit in the morning and enjoy a guided tour of the house – but be sure to book ahead!

Key National Trust Property National Trust London Partner

Fan Museum

Chartwell Sir Winston Churchill’s home is a must-see for any Anglophile or history buff. Explore Churchill’s life through his pictures, books and personal mementoes, all of which combine with the house itself to evoke his career and wide-ranging interests. Be sure to visit his studio and take in his talent as a painter.

Danson House

Resources

Red House

Hall Place & Gardens

Royal Oak Membership: With unlimited entry and discounts at properties around London, your Royal Oak membership card is as essential as your passport. Make sure your membership is up to date before you leave: royal-oak.org/join National Trust Apps: The Trust’s apps can help you plan your trip by telling you what properties are nearby, when they are open, and more. Download it today for iOS, Android and Windows Phones.

Knole The site of Royal Oak’s largest-ever grant and the first Nigel Seeley Fellowship (page 2), Knole is a special property to Royal Oak. Visit this sprawling house and its stunning collection.

Fall 2015

09 | EXPERIENCE

Christmas Around London Your guide to London-area holiday celebrations

National Trust Property Celebrations within one hour of London

Learn about even more celebrations at nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/whats-on/events Polesden Lacey – Visitors can see this Surrey property (pictured above) all dressed up for a glamorous 1930s Christmas party, sip mulled wine on the terrace, and enjoy festive sparkle in the house.

The café offers a traditional Christmas roast and the shop is stocked with gifts. December 4-23 Ightham Mote – See the ground floor of the house decorated through the ages. The study is decked out for a 1950s American Christmas while the Great Hall is dressed for a Victorian holiday.

Nov 28 – Jan 5, daily from 11am (closed Dec 24 & 25)

National Trust London Partners

nationaltrust.org.uk (then search “London Partners”) Royal Oak members enjoy 50% off admission prices at the National Trust’s London Partners (more information on pages 7 & 8). For a full, constantly updated list of holiday events visit the property websites.

Strawberry Hill House – This neo-gothic masterpiece offers a feast themed around “Christmas with the Georgians” and family-friendly caroling. December 2-19 Handel House – The house opens its doors for several celebrations of Handel’s seasonal music throughout December. December 6-31

Take your next London adventure with Royal Oak

In the Footsteps of Shakespeare: London, Oxford & Warwickshire May 15th – May 22nd, 2016 2016 marks the 400th anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare. On our tour, we discover the intriguing and absorbing life story of Shakespeare in the places he called home.

From his beginnings in the pretty rural English town of Stratford-upon-Avon to London’s one time entertainment district along the south bank of the River Thames, Shakespeare’s widereaching influence is still felt four centuries on.

$3,050 per person

1.800.913.6565 | www.royal-oak.org

Poets & Literary Classics of Kent June 18th – June 26th, 2016 This informative tour demonstrates how the beautiful landscapes and architecture of Kent have inspired generations of poets, authors and artists. We will enjoy fascinating talks, not only from guest speakers, but also from a descendant of Russian royalty, to enhance our tour experience. Finally, our trip wouldn’t be complete without that most British of pastimes, a visit to a traditional pub.

$3,900 per person

Hidden Gardens & Historic Houses of London August 29th – September 4th, 2016 Behind the hustle and bustle of modern city life, many hidden and little-known gems are nestled amidst the streets of London.

From impressive National Trust properties and quirky homes to tranquil gardens, we uncover the captivating history of the capital of England through this eclectic mix of sites and green spaces, each with a fascinating story to tell.

$3,650 per person

Photos courtesy of ©National Trust Images/Nick Meers; ©National Trust Images/John Hammond

Explore London, the UK and the world with our travel partner Albion.

These trips visit some spectacular London-area properties. Get the full list of tours at royal-oak.org/travel.

SUPPORT | 10

A Lifelong Passion, Made Manifest in a Legacy Gift Ellen (Nell) Evans Whiting | Princeton, New Jersey

Photos courtesy of Ellen Whiting; Botanical art ŠPria Graves, Birkett House Design 2013

As a child in Maine, I was keenly aware of my British heritage because my family, the Libbys, had arrived in the colonies from Cornwall in 1635 on the Hercules.

My ancestor, John Libby, ran a trading post in what became Scarborough, then part of the colony of Massachusetts. After growing up on these stories, I longed to go to the UK for years, and the opportunity came when I was in high school. My parents booked passage to Southampton on The Queen Elizabeth 2’s return leg of her maiden voyage. I can honestly say that stepping onto the pier was coming home.

for members and the choices of projects to support have been carefully arranged and skillfully managed. Staff rarely changes and I developed close relationships with so many other hard- working members of the administration.

The access I have enjoyed through Royal Oak is truly remarkable, too. On my desk are pictures of me with the late Dowager Duchess of Devonshire and HRH Prince Edward. Where else but at Royal Oak lectures could I have had the chance to talk so candidly with them?

The Royal Oak Legacy Circle

Stein Berre & Britton Smith | New York, NY Robert Cefaratti | Washington, DC From there I had to wait until college to spend When the challenge to establish a vibrant leg- Sandra Church | San Francisco, CA my junior year in Abersytwyth, at the Univer- acy society for Royal Oak was announced, I Richard Dilworth | Richmond, VA leapt at the opportunity to participate. Having sity College of Wales, where Christine Edwards | Hoboken, NJ worked in financial services for the high net I studied Celtic literature and tried to learn Ronald Lee Fleming | Cambridge, MA worth market, I specialized in managing priWelsh. I actually lived in a Welsh-speaking Pria Graves | Palo Alto, CA vate foundations. I know very well how cruhall and made lifelong friends. I can even Irene Grigoriadis & Steve Casey | Rancho Santa Fe, CA cial it is to an organization to have a solid, swear a bit in Welsh to this day!

Ian & Madeline Hooper | Canaan, NY robust legion of members who are dedicated to providing ongoing fund- Diana Mackie | Ambler, PA During what became my annual trips to see ing. Giving with a warm hand, seeing how the Gail & David Meltzer | Palm Harbor, FL friends, I often explored and it was future of the Royal Oak becomes more and only natural that I wanted to become a Martha Hamilton & I. Wistar Morris III | Villanova, PA more secure, and knowing that our wonderful Susan & William Samuelson | Belmont, MA supporter of the National Trust. Having programs will continue for the future were the opportunity to do exactly that, and in Sean Sawyer | New York, NY a tax-advantaged way through The Royal Oak ample reasons to make Jessie B. Walker | New York, NY provision in my will for a bequest.

Foundation, has given me access to the fasciPhillis & John Warden | New York, NY nating work that the National Trust does. A George K. Weaver | Elizabethtown, PA There are so many ways in which we can perfew meetings at Royal Oak and a couple of Ellen Whiting | Princeton, NJ petuate the work of Royal Oak and they are all chances to attend the Timeless Design Gala Avice & George Wilson | New Brunswick, NJ so very easy to accomplish. While adding an had me well and truly hooked.

Anonymous | Santa Cruz, CA outright bequest in my will suited my own estate plan currently, there are other ways of I began sponsoring lectures when Damaris Members as of September 2015 Horan was the executive director. For as long providing legacy gifts to Royal Oak. All of as I have been involved with the organization, them are easily done and provide welcome tax The Legacy Circle recognizes those who wish to create a legacy by remembering Royal Oak and advantages. Securing the future of The Royal the professionalism of the staff the National Trust of England, Wales & Northern at Royal Oak has impressed me. The programs Oak Foundation secures our cherished past.

Ireland in their estate plans.

For more information, contact Interim Executive Director Marilyn Fogarty at 212.480.2889 ext. 206 or mfogarty@royal-oak.org.

Or visit the Legacy Circle web page: royal-oak.org/legacycircle

Ellen, traveling to the UK with her parents (left). Through The Royal Oak Foundation, she would go on to foster a lifelong passion for the National Trust and the UK, and even meet HRH Prince Edward at a Royal Oak event (right).

Fall 2015

11 | SUPPORT

Heritage Circle’s First UK Study Day Royal Oak’s Heritage Circle membership program was created for individuals who wish to provide leadership support for the Foundation on an annual basis. The membership offers special behind-thescenes access throughout England, Wales and Northern Ireland, complimentary admission to a select number of our celebrated Drue Heinz Lectures each season, priority registration and an invitation to dine with speakers in an intimate setting.

Heritage Circle membership supports our annual lecture series as well as the Foundation’s mission.

In the evening, Christopher hosted a private dinner at Brooks’s Club for Patronand Guardian-level members. Guests were joined by National Trust’s Senior Director, Simon Murray and National Trust Director of Fundraising, Susan Foster.

Plans are already underway for next year’s Study Day in September. To reserve your spot in advance, contact Chelcey Berryhill.

Thank you to all who made this year’s event a success!

The Royal Oak Foundation hosted its first Heritage Circle UK Study Day in September, focusing on the remarkable interiors of 18th-century Neoclassical architect Robert Adam. Christopher Rowell, the National Trust’s Curator of Furniture, led the tours through Syon Park and the National Trust’s Osterley Park, two of Adam’s most magnificent surviving interiors near London. The day was complimentary to all Heritage Circle members, thanking them for their loyal support as upper-level members of The Royal Oak Foundation.

This special day also reinforced the importance of Royal Oak’s 2015 National Trust Furniture Research and Publication Project Appeal to all of those who attended this unique event.

Top: National Trust Curator of Furniture Christopher Rowell leading the Heritage Circle Study Day through Syon Park.

Second Row, Left: Royal Oak Heritage Circle members enjoy a group lunch and a talk from Osterley Park General Manager Neil Cole. Second Row, Right: The group poses for a photo after dinner at Brooks’s with Simon Murray, National Trust Senior Director. Bottom: Mr. Rowell offers details about a piece in Osterley Park during the guided tour.

Exclusive Heritage Circle Event This November Special Event Complimentary to all Heritage Circle Members Cocktail Reception aboard SeaCall – Friday, November 20th Tentatively scheduled for 6pm. Space is limited.

Join Royal Oak and historian Tessa Boase aboard the exquisite 119-foot mega yacht, SeaCall, for a beautiful sunset cruise around the San Diego harbor this autumn.

Hosted by Heritage Circle members Steve Casey and Irene Grigoriadis, guests will enjoy an intimate evening with the 1.800.913.6565 | www.royal-oak.org

speaker, learning more about her research behind the scandals of Great Britain’s most prominent country homes, while enjoying canapés and cocktails. This event is open to new and current Heritage Circle members. Please contact Chelcey Berryhill to R.S.V.P.

Royal Oak Heritage Circle members are invited to join us for a cruise around San Diego this November aboard the SeaCall.

Photo courtesy of Steve Casey and Irene Grigoriadis; Chelcey Berryhill and Marilyn Fogarty

For more information about the Heritage Circle, please contact Chelcey Berryhill at cberryhill@royal-oak.org or 212.480.2889 ext. 212.

LEARN | 12

A Rite of Passage: Attingham Summer School This July, Royal Oak supported eight scholars participating in the 64th annual Attingham Summer School. The program, often considered a rite of passage for those in the academic community, offers talented professionals access to English country homes, including in-depth study of those protected by the National Trust.

This year’s scholars visited country houses in Sussex, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire. The intensive itinerary covered National Trust properties such as Uppark, Kedleston Hall, Calke Abbey, Standen, Wimpole House and more, giving scholars the opportunity to interact with National Trust staff, and enjoy guided tours of historic homes and collections.

These visits prove enriching to both the scholars and the Trust. At Standen, Mimi Huang, Research Assistant in Asian Art at the St. Louis Art Museum, spotted a fine blue and white Chinese vase in a busy hallway. She asked the curator’s permission to check the mark on the bottom of the vase, and saw immediately that it was made in the reign of the Kangxi Emperor (1661-1722) and suggested that it be displayed in a safer place. The curator promised to do so first thing the next morning.

This sort of exchange typifies the expertise of the Attingham Scholars that Royal Oak supports, and of their importance to our mission of supporting the National Trust and the collections it protects.

Thank you for contributing to this work.

What the Attingham Experience Means

“

Top: Attingham scholars study the ceiling at Wimpole Hall, Cambridgeshire.

Bottom: Mark Purcell, National Trust Curator of Book Collections and a Royal Oak lecturer, engages the scholars in discussion.

Hearing about the houses from different perspectives (current owners, trustees, stewards and collection experts) gave a fuller, richer picture of the English country house and its changing role in society over time.

Aimée L. Keithan The Preservation Society of Newport

”

“

The relationships I formed with both institutions and individuals will undoubtedly inform and facilitate future research and publication endeavors. Without Royal Oak’s support, my future teaching and scholarship would never have benefited from this invaluable experience.

Lydia Brandt The University of South Carolina

”

“

While the weight of centuries’ worth of history is not something that can simply be infused into an American setting...cultural practitioners in this country must work to achieve the same level of beauty and meaning that was achieved with the English country house.

Edgar Garcia Office of the Mayor of Los Angeles

”

Photos courtesy of The American Friends of Attingham; ©National Trust Images/David Noton

Horan Fellow’s Drone Photography Project This August, Horan Fellow Justin Kegley used cutting-edge drone photography to document Lancelot “Capability” Brown landscapes protected by the National Trust. The footage will ultimately be used in conjunction with the 300th anniversary celebration of Brown’s birth in 2016.

Capability Brown is legendary for his work on the English countryside, creating breathtaking scenery at places such as Croome Court, Stowe and more. Justin’s work will enrich the National Trust’s understanding and celebration of these special places by capturing their majesty from new perspectives.

Justin is not only an experienced filmmaker, but has also worked as a land-

scaper; and these overlapping areas of expertise have informed his fellowship engagement. “Both disciplines have helped me to think in terms of threedimensional space being reduced to two-dimensional images: how do I convey that sense of three-dimensional space in a two-dimensional visual medium? That is the current challenge of this video project.”

Justin is tackling this challenge with enthusiasm and is grateful for the support of Royal Oak members. “Only a few months ago, I never would have anticipated such an opportunity for cultural exchange and technological creativity.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for your interest and support!”

Capability Brown’s landscapes are at the heart of this year’s Horan Fellowship.

To support the Royal Oak Scholarship Fund, visit: royal-oak.org/donate.

Fall 2015

13 | EXPERIENCE

“A day away from Chartwell is a day wasted” Special Churchill Centre Opportunity for Royal Oak Members Centre members receive four issues a year of Finest Hour and the monthly Churchill newsletter “Chartwell Bulletin,” as well as discounts for events and books and a variety of other benefits.

Churchill Centre Executive Director Lee Pollock notes that, “Winston Churchill purchased Chartwell, now one of the National Trust’s most visited properties, in 1922 after falling in love with its beautiful setting and breathtaking views. His granddaughter, historian Celia Sandys, remembers him saying: ‘A day away from Chartwell is a day wasted.’”

Sir Winston Churchill’s home at Chartwell, Kent, is a special place for all who are interested in the man’s enduring legacy.

Royal Oak members can now take advantage of a special discounted membership offer from The Churchill Centre, the leading international organization dedicated to preserving the historic legacy of Sir Winston Churchill. The Centre brings together Churchill admirers from across the globe and publishes the award-winning magazine, Finest Hour. It also sponsors local events and hosts the annual International Churchill Conference and the www.winstonchurchill.org website.

Pollock added, “As a Royal Oak member myself, I know how much supporters of both organizations cherish the unique historical legacy of Sir Winston Churchill and the importance of keeping that legacy alive for future generations. The Centre is pleased to co-sponsor Royal Oak’s fall 2015 lecture featuring Sonia Purnell, author of Clementine: The Life of Mrs. Winston Churchill.”

To join The Churchill Centre, go to winstonchurchill.org/support/join and use code Churchill2015 at checkout to receive a 20% discount on all membership categories.

Stourhead Furniture Book a Must-Read, According to The Art Newspaper The National Trust’s Pope Sixtus V Cabinet is the subject of the new book Roman Splendour, English Arcadia: the Pope’s Cabinet at Stourhead. Royal Oak members enjoy special prices on both the book and a subscription to The Art Newspaper, which reviewed Roman Splendour this spring.

Read the review below and learn more about both offers at royal-oak.org/memberbenefits.

It is rare to find a book which is as scholarly The authors examine the English passion for as it is beautiful—yet Roman Splendour, pietre dure, which they reveal as starting not English Arcadia: the Pope’s Cabinet at Stourhead in the 18th, but in the 16th century... The is a triumphant exception. It is dedicated to story of the cabinet is traced from its making the long-neglected story of the cabinet, inlaid in Rome for Cardinal Felice Peretti before his with semi-precious stones and encrusted election as pope in 1585 and its display in the with gilt-bronze mounts and statuary, which Villa Montalto. It was later donated to a Henry Hoare brought back from his Grand Roman convent, whence Henry Hoare Tour in the 1740s. acquired it while on his Grand Tour... Now the cabinet is once again a focus for visitors Conservation work by the National Trust in as “a paradigm and a proxy for that rare class The Pope Sixtus V Cabinet at Stourhead is a breath2006-07 inspired the research for this book, of decorative art icons which can singly comtaking piece of furniture with a unique history. based on meticulous analysis of the object mand attention and dominate a room.” and of archival and literary sources, which The Art Newspaper is a monthly publication and website that provides unrivaled news are published in the appendices. Marvellous service about the art world. It covers all the crucial developments in museums, exhibitions, drawings from Clifton Hepburn reveal the artistic practice conservation, the art market, and the political, cultural and economic architectonic structure of the cabinet, its 125 spheres that shape the international art world. Royal Oak members enjoy a 25% discount drawers and secret compartments. on subscriptions to The Art Newspaper ($86 for 1 year). Use promotional code ROF1314 at checkout or visit www.royal-oak.org/memberbenefits for more information.

1.800.913.6565 | www.royal-oak.org

Photos courtesy of ©NTPL/Robert Morris; ©National Trust Images/James Dobson

Dora Thorton | The Art Newspaper

EXPERIENCE | 14

Membership Benefits & Application Form

• Special access to the National Trust’s through links provided in a triannual Arts, Buildings & Collections Bulletin.

SYP e-Newsletter • Special recognition in the Foundation’s • 30% discount on member’s admission price at Drue Heinz Lectures for member Annual Report and one guest (limited SYP seats; early Steward $2,500 ($2,425 tax-deductible) registration recommended) All the benefits of Benefactor membership, plus: SUPPORTING ANNUAL • Complimentary Student/Young MEMBERSHIPS Professional gift membership (fully tax-deductible) • Admission for two to a total of two Drue Conservator $150 Heinz Lectures each season and advanced Art & Design $250 registration for all lectures (limited Sponsor $500 availability) All the benefits of Dual membership, plus: • Each membership card admits TWO Guardian $5,000 ($4,550 tax-deductible) All the benefits of Steward membership, persons to National Trust sites • Access to Supporting-level members-only plus: • Admission for two to a total of two Drue day tours & programs in the U.S. • Priority registration for Royal Oak’s Heinz Lectures each season, advanced registration, and invitation for dinner with Drue Heinz Lectures in the U.S. a Royal Oak lecturer (limited availability) • Invitation to the Guardian and Patron HERITAGE CIRCLE Dinner in conjunction with the annual ANNUAL MEMBERSHIPS Benefactor $1,000 ($925 tax-deductible) Heritage Circle U.K. Study Day • Invitation to the National Trust’s calendar All the benefits of Supporting of bespoke, invite-only events in the U.K. membership, plus: • Complimentary admission for two to one Patron $10,000 ($9,550 tax-deductible) Drue Heinz Lecture each season and All the benefits of Guardian membership, advanced registration for all lectures plus: (limited availability) • Access to the National Trust’s Special Visits, • Admission for two to a total of three Drue Heinz Lectures each season, advanced Tours and Lectures calendar of events • Invitation to the annual Heritage Circle registration and invitation for dinner with a Royal Oak lecturer (limited availability) U.K. Study Day • VIP personalized curatorial tours of • Annual gift book and a complimentary copy of Apollo magazine’s “National Trust National Trust properties on request (3 months advance notice necessary) Historic Houses & Collections Annual”

BASIC ANNUAL MEMBERSHIPS (fully tax-deductible) Individual $65 • Free entry for one to properties of the National Trust of England, Wales & Northern Ireland • Reciprocal free admission to National Trust for Scotland sites • National Trust Magazine and Royal Oak Newsletter (three issues per year) • National Trust of England, Wales & Northern Ireland Annual Handbook and parking pass • Reduced-price admission to Royal Oak’s Drue Heinz Lectures in the U.S. Dual $95 All the benefits of Individual membership, plus: • Second membership card for additional person living at the same address Family $115 All the benefits of Individual membership, plus: • Two membership cards for two adults living at the same address. Membership cards also cover their children or grandchildren under the age of 21 Student/Young Professional (SYP) $35 Ages 13-29; date of birth and email required.

All the benefits of Individual membership, with the following adjustments: • Provision of all publications in electronic format ONLY (includes National Trust Handbook, National Trust Magazine, Royal Oak Newsletter and Program brochure) MEMBERSHIP

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Fall 2015

Top of the stairs at 575 Wandsworth Road, London, just one of the many properties the National Trust protects in the capital. Read about all you can access in London with your Royal Oak membership in our centerspread, pages 7 and 8 . ŠNational Trust Images/Christian Barnett

20 West 44th Street, Suite 606, New York, NY 10036-6603 | 212.480.2889 or 800.913.6565 | Fax: 212.764.7234

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The Royal Oak Foundation is an American not-for-profit charity 501(c)3 incorporated in the State of New York.

Royal Oak’s latest annual report may be obtained, upon request, from Royal Oak or from the Office of the Attorney General, Charities Bureau, 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271.