Issue 36 2023 - Journal - Page 70
Collating the Hussey papers is part of a major project that
has been ongoing at Scotney Castle to catalogue all the
documents and other collections since the house came
into the care of the National Trust in 2007.
“Possibly, Lutyens was using this drawing to decide where
best wreaths could be placed so that they could be seen
during the commemorations in July 1919 to mark the end
of the First World War. How exactly Christopher Hussey
acquired the drawing needs more research but, as editor
of Country Life, he was well-aware of Lutyens’ work as an
architect of many country houses. It is likely that the
drawing came to Scotney as part of the research Hussey
was undertaking into his 1950 biography of Lutyens.”
Jerzy continued: “We have more research to do to
discover how and why the sketch came to be at Scotney
and will share more with our visitors when the house
re-opens in the spring and we can display it. But one
thing is for certain, as one of Lutyens’ most important
commissions, this little sketch of the first Cenotaph is a
remarkable find. It is a real piece of history.”
During this time, several other notable discoveries have
included a metal trunk full of memorabilia discovered in
the attic, amassed by Brigadier General Arthur Hussey
during his time in action during the First World War, and
a vast collection of ancient coins spanning 25 centuries,
gathered by Edmund Hussey III and his son in the 19th
century, found in the back of a drawer.
For more information on Scotney Castle visit
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/scotney-castle
Below, Lutyens' sketch of the cenotaph, 1919, credit National Trust.
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