Henry Lytton Cobbold

Along with many charities, the Knebworth House Education and Preservation Trust has suffered in the last few month the ravages of the investment market, and ongoing costs are eating into its capital – but there is one piece of good news to cheer these worrisome times.  KHEPT has been awarded its first grant in many years – by the Country House Foundation – as part funding for replacing the crumbling balustrade around the north and east sides of Knebworth House.  Thus over the next few months expect to see a noticeable change to the front view of the House – initially a stripping away of the greenery (pretty much all that’s holding the wall up at the moment), and subsequently a smart new and repaired balustrade.  It’s a very small part of the repairs needed at Knebworth House, but in these times we must be thankful for all and any progress.

Henry Lytton Cobbold
www.knebworthhouse.com

Those who didn’t make it to Doyle Dykes’ wonderful concert in St Martins in December may be interested to know that three tracks on his new album – his first in five years – are inspired by our village.  The album entitled “Bridging The Gap” (www.doylestore.com) contains the compositions, “At Swangleys Farm”, “On The Great North Road” and “Knebworth Dream”.  “Knebworth Dream” is, as far as I know, the first piece of music to be written about Knebworth House since the Scottish composer Sir James Oswald wrote “Knebworth Jig” in the 1760s!  It’s a beautiful album and – if you’ll accept a biased review – highly recommended.

Happy New Year!

Henry Lytton Cobbold
www.knebworthhouse.com

This issue, traditionally, is when I promote our perennial Christmas Carol readings in the Banqueting Hall.  This year, however, all three nights have sold out, over a month in advance – a great tribute to Colin Greenslade, on the 10^th anniversary of his Christmas visits as Charles Dickens.  There’ll be room for everyone, however, at our Christmas Craft Fair in the Park on Saturday 6^th and Sunday 7^th, the perfect place to find unusual and fun presents for all the family.  Then, look out on television over Christmas for the Jonathan Creek Christmas Special, which was filmed at Knebworth House this summer – we play the home of a celebrity hypnotist.  On behalf of Martha, myself and all the team here, a very happy Christmas to all,

Henry Lytton Cobbold
www.knebworthhouse.com

It is 25 years to the month that a film producer named Geoffrey Reeve came to Knebworth House to make a film called “The Shooting Party”. Of all the films that have used the House as a location, this one has a particular resonance because almost the whole film was shot here and every room was used for its original purpose (film companies have a tendency to turn dining rooms and drawing rooms into bedrooms – actual bedrooms, they say, are too small to fit the crew into!).  “The Shooting Party” is a beautiful film and the Special Edition DVD makes a good Christmas present for anyone who is fond of the House, Gardens and Woods.

It is therefore a happy coincidence that, for the whole of this month, we have played host to a film producer called Tom Reeve – Geoffrey Reeve’s son.  Tom has been making a film called “Blind Man’s Bluff”, a mystery starring Tom Conti and Daryl Hannah.   Again almost the whole film has been shot here and, again, the film company are using the House “as a house”… where blind writer, Conti, lives in seclusion, until mysterious American girl, Hannah, turns up, supposedly to take dictation of his book, but actually to- well, you’ll have to wait until you find this DVD under the tree next Christmas!

Henry Lytton Cobbold
www.knebworthhouse.com

I return victorious, the debate won.  The good people of Lytton, British Columbia, sided with the “Toff” over the “Prof”!  Bribing the audience with Bulwer Lytton bookmarks from the Knebworth House Gift Shop prior to the vote might have had something to do with it, but my American challenger was always going to be at a disadvantage in British Columbia!

What I had not appreciated until this trip was how crucial a role Edward Bulwer Lytton played in the keeping Western Canada out of the hands of the Americans.  If Governor James Wallace (interestingly as “black” as Barack Obama) can be said to have mothered British Columbia into existence, Edward Bulwer Lytton was, definitively, the state’s father – providing the “y” chromosome, by pushing the Bill for its creation through the British Parliament at absolutely the crucial moment in the summer of 1858.  If Palmerston’s Whig Government had not lost power briefly that year, or indeed if Bulwer Lytton’s Tory predecessor as Secretary for the Colonies had not left the job after three months, it is almost certain that the Pacific Coast between Washington State and Alaska would now be part of the United States.

Thus I was very pleased to find a statue of Bulwer Lytton on the State Building in Victoria.  And also very touched by the warm reception I received from the people of Lytton, a small town at the western foot of the Rockies, perched over the meeting of two great rivers, the Fraser and the Thompson.  Here Bulwer Lytton is remembered as he should be, as a fine politician and statesman, not simply as namesake to some scurrilous Yankie competition!

Henry Lytton Cobbold
www.knebworthhouse.com

If things go to plan, I shall be in Canada when you read this, defending the name and reputation of my great-great-great-grandfather – and figurehead of Knebworth House – Edward Bulwer Lytton, in a public debate with Professor Scott Rice of San Jose University, the founder of the “Bulwer-Lytton Contest” for “wretched writing”!  I have accepted an invitation to visit the town of Lytton in British Columbia, which is celebrating its 150^th Anniversary.  Bulwer Lytton was Secretary for the Colonies when British Columbia was created in 1858, thus he has a town named after him.

The Mayor of Lytton has lured me with the promise that the event is a celebration of the town’s history and therefore a celebration of Bulwer Lytton – and yet the centrepiece of the festivities has been titled, “Toff and Proff duke it out at ‘The Great Edward Bulwer Lytton Debate’ – gloves off for a no-holds barred literary slamfest with his famous forebear’s tormenters from San Jose University”.  What have I let myself in for?!…

Henry Lytton Cobbold
www.knebworthhouse.com

I have enjoyed the unlikely double bill for August on the Forthcoming Attractions board as you leave Knebworth Park – Led Zeppelin and Noddy.  Unfortunately this year it is not the band itself (next year is the 30^th anniversary of Led Zeppelin’s historic Knebworth Park concerts, so who knows?).  Closer reading of the sign reveals that Knebworth House is hosting a memorabilia exhibition dedicated to the band to celebrate its 40^th anniversary.  The exhibition has been put together by a group of dedicated fans and will be on display in the Library of Knebworth House throughout August as part of the regular House tour.

It is, however, the real Noddy.  On tour in 2008 – and coming to Knebworth Park on the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd of August.  So something for the toddlers and the codgers this month!  Of course, Led Zeppelin are youngsters compared to Noddy – so come on gentlemen, if he’s still on the road, shouldn’t you be also?

Henry Lytton Cobbold
www.knebworthhouse.com.

Throughout the month of July Knebworth House Gardens plays host to the first of our two special summer exhibitions. The word “Zimbabwe” translates into English as “great stone house” and Zimsculpt is an exhibition of great Zimbabwean stone sculptures. One of the sculptors describes himself as “a journalist in a different way” and immediately striking is how the work represents some of the more positive elements of life in this troubled country – babies being carried on backs, water pots, people returning from the fields, birds and wildlife.

There will be daily workshops by one or two of the artists, and visitors will have the opportunity to meet and talk with them. There is no additional charge to view the exhibition, which will be open daily until July 31st (except 5th July) as part of Knebworth Park and Gardens regular opening schedule.

From all at Knebworth House special thanks to Carole Bantick for all the hard work she has put in over many years to make this magazine the fine publication that it is.

Henry Lytton Cobbold
www.knebworthhouse.com

You may have read in the press that the colourful Icelandic singer Bjork is playing in the Park on July 5^th – she is, but not at a traditional Knebworth Park concert, only as part of our annual Renaissance Dance Festival, which entertains a few thousand people at the north end of the Park.   Last year the event was much enjoyed by those who attended, and ran smoothly (except for the rain) – and, like last year, we do not anticipate that it will effect Knebworth Village in any way.

If you prefer your musical entertainment a little less avant-garde, may I recommend the breathtaking talent of concert pianist Ingrid Jacoby, who is performing in the Banqueting Hall on the last night of the Village Festival, Sunday June 29^th.  I have been fortunate to see Ingrid play a few times, both solo and with the Royal Philharmonic, and she is a rare artist whose performance blends technical brilliance with extreme sweetness and beauty.  I can’t promise, however, that Ingrid will be dressed as a swan!

Henry Lytton Cobbold
www.knebworthhouse.com

Many will be aware that for some years we have been working with Knebworth Park Cricket Club to try and find a long term home for the Club.  Since the 1800s we have gifted the Club a peppercorn rent on its main pitch, which from the 1920s has been directly in front of Knebworth House.   We enjoy being the Club’s neighbour, but the unique backdrop of Knebworth House is too precious for our struggling finances to offer on a peppercorn rent indefinitely, and the Club has now grown to a size where it would benefit from having more space than this site allows.

The search for a new site is proving particularly difficult.  Although the Parish Plan tells us that the community wants more facilities, particularly for young people, it seems the community doesn’t want the activity and traffic that goes with them.  For over a year we’ve been exploring with Old Knebworth residents whether Jubilee Park – the field opposite the Lytton Arms – might be suitable.  There have been a number of drafts of possible layouts, but it has become clear that there is not sufficient support in this location for what the Club is trying to achieve and so we have dropped this idea.

And so the search goes on.  We will continue to support the Club in seeking to secure its future and we hope that our neighbours and the local authorities will do the same.  It will be a tragedy for the community if the Club cannot find a future in Knebworth.

Henry Lytton Cobbold
www.knebworthhouse.com