Bewick Society trip to Wycliffe.
Thomas Bewick began work on his planned "History of Birds" (sic) by visiting the private museum of the recently deceased Marmaduke Tunstall of Wycliffe Hall in July-September 1791. On the 8th May 2010 a band of Bewick enthusiasts visited the area to retrace the engraver's steps. We were able to identify the houses at which Bewick had his board and lodging and the church he attended.
"At the beginning of this undertaking I made up my mind to copy nothing from the works of others, but to stick to nature as closely as I could ; and for this purpose, being invited by Mr. Constable, the then owner of Wycliffe, I visited the extensive museum there, collected by the late Marmaduke Tunstal, Esq., to make drawings of the birds."
"I lodged in the house of John Goundry, the person who preserved the birds for Mr. Tunstal; and boarded at his father's, George Goundry, the old miller there."
"Whilst I remained at Wycliffe, I frequently dined with the Rev. Thomas Zouch, the rector of the parish. He watched my going out of church on the Sundays, where I attended, accompanied by old Goundry, to invite me to dine with him. On these occasions he often made the character of his late neighbour, Mr. Tunstal, and of George Goundry, the subject of his conversation, and dwelt with great pleasure on the excellence of both. Mr. Tunstal was a Roman Catholic, and had a chapel in his own house ; Mr. Zouch was a Church of England minister; and George Goundry was a Deist ; and yet these three uncommonly good men, as neighbours, lived in constant charity and good will towards each other. One might dwell long with pleasure on such singularly good characters. I wish the world was better stocked with them."
Thomas Bewick, A Memoir Chapter 13
You can view a set of photographs of the trip on the Bewick Society page on Flickr, click here.
The Bewick Society
The aim of the Bewick Society is to promote an interest in the life and work of Thomas Bewick and related subjects, especially with regard to wood-engraving. The Society publishes a journal called the Cherryburn Times, normally twice a year. This provides a forum for the activities of the Society and keeps members informed about the latest research into the life and work of Bewick and his apprentices. Members publish articles about their own special interests where relevant to the Society. The Society also arranges visits to special collections, some of which are not normally open to the general public. It encourages the development of facilities for conservation and display of Bewick related materials, including wood-engraving as practised by those following in Bewick’s footsteps.
Cherryburn Cottage
Membership of the Society also gives free admission to the museum at Cherryburn, where Thomas Bewick was born, now in the care of the National Trust.
More information can be found on this page at the National Trust website.