In Journal No. 39 (March 2011) I reported on the rediscovery in the Essex Society for Archaeology and History office of a Victorian Gentleman’s scrapbook. The work contains several drawings of local churches which in some cases pre-date their Victorian rebuilding. I stated that the compiler was unknown, other than the initials CKP.
Two members have advised me that CKP is C.K. Probert of Newport (1820-1887). Probert was an early member of the Society, an antiquary and collector. The Society's printed library catalogue of 1923 lists MS items described as the Probert Collection ('Chas K Probert, Newport, Essex Nov 24 1883 written on the inner cover'). These were rough notes about 48 churches (the few listed in the catalogue were all in NW Essex, but Gt Chrishall is not mentioned). The catalogue indicates that they formed the basis of 12 MS volumes which were bequeathed to the British Museum in 1889. His papers may be consulted at the British Library and College of Arms (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/nra/searches/subjectView.asp?ID=P23530).
The scrapbook dates from the second half of the 1850s through to 1885, and begins by concentrating on parishes in the north west of the county. Of particular interest are the sketches of churches made before the Victorian restorers appeared on the scene. For example, Bobbingworth shows the timber bell tower prior to restoration in 1841, and St Mary’s, High Ongar with a belfry and tall and slender spire before much rebuilding in 1858. .
James Bettley, a member of the Society (known to many as the author of the updated Buildings of England; Essex book) wrote: “Apart from the Suckling/Buckler cuttings, I thought it the single most useful source on 19th century church restoration in Essex that I have come across – the sketches and photos of churches before they were restored provide very valuable evidence. I was surprised to find, when I compared some of the photos of Radwinter, that the very photos in the scrapbook were used to illustrate A Deuce of an Uproar, where they are credited to Probert – so someone knew of this resource and used it in the 1980s”.
It is intended that the book be transferred to the Essex Record Office for safe keeping and allow it to be used by the public.
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