Sir John and Horse Racing
In addition to these blood sports, Sir John was also involved in the organisation of horse racing. A letter written to Sir John by William Manners, the son of John, the third Duke of Rutland, discusses ...
Sir John Leveson-Gower 2nd Baron Gower of Stittenham and first Earl Gower (1694-1754)
Sir John Leveson-Gower was born on 9th August 1694, the eldest son of Sir John Leveson-Gower (1675-1709), the first Baron Gower, and his wife Lady Katherine Manners (1675-1722). Sir John inherited extensive ...
Sir John Leveson-Gower and Mrs. Doncastle the Housekeeper
Mrs. Doncastle was Sir John’s housekeeper at Leicester House in Middlesex. A number of letters in Sir John’s papers demonstrate that Sir John and Mrs Doncastle shared a close relationship, Mrs. Doncastle ...
Sir John Leveson-Gower and the Navigation of the Waterways: The Disadvantages of the Canals
Sir John Leveson-Gower was a prominent social and political figure in the House of Lords. Notable amongst his papers are two letters relating to Parliamentary Bills concerning the development of navigable ...
Sir John Leveson-Gower at Home: Building a Library at Trentham
Amongst Sir John’s personal papers is a document entitled ‘An Estimate for the workmanship of the Carcase of a building design’d for a Library and Servants Room for the Right Honourable Lord Gower at ...
Sir John Leveson-Gower, a Sporting Fellow: Cock Fighting in the Early Eighteenth Century
Sir John was also involved in cock fighting. A letter from the 3rd Duke of Rutland, dated 2nd July 1722 refers to ‘our Cocking’. Sir John and Rutland were active participants in cock fighting, organising ...
Sir John Leveson-Gower, a Sporting Fellow: Fox Hunting and Horse Racing in the Early Eighteenth Century
Many of Sir John’s personal papers refer to his leisure activities. Letters and bills of expenses suggest that Sir John was a keen sportsman, involved in fox hunting, cock fighting and horse racing.
Sir ...
Sir John Leveson-Gower, a Sporting Fellow: Hunting Parties
Amongst Sir John’s papers are a number of accounts relating to his personal and household expenses on fox-hunting. Much of Sir John’s correspondence refers to fox hunting, his letters from Henry Vernon ...
Sir John Leveson-Gower, Estate Owner: Letters from George Cookes
Many letters in Sir John’s papers relate to the management of the Leveson-Gower estates. Sir John’s papers include correspondence from various agents working on his Staffordshire and Shropshire estates, ...
Sir John Leveson-Gower, Estate Owner: Letters from Reverend George Plaxton (1647/8-1720), Chief Estate Agent
Sir John also received regular correspondence from Reverend George Plaxton, the Chief Agent on the Leveson-Gower estates. These letters refer again to estate business. However, unlike George Cookes’s ...
Sir John Leveson-Gower, Estate Owner: Problems with a Drunken Tenant
Sir John’s responsibilities as an estate owner extended beyond the management of land and overseeing of leases. As Sir John’s letters from agents George Cookes and George Plaxton suggest, the financial ...
Sir John Leveson-Gower, Estate Owner: Problems with Tenants and Deer on Lilleshall Park
Sir John’s papers include letters which he received directly from tenants on his estates in Staffordshire and Shropshire, often sent when they felt they had been unfairly treated.
A letter dated May ...