Sir Charles Barry (1795-1860)
Charles Barry is described by M. H. Port as ‘Britain’s leading architect’ of the first half of the nineteenth century.
From an early age Barry exhibited an enthusiasm and aptitude for drawing. Aged ...
The Clearances
During the early nineteenth century James Loch, the chief agent of the Leveson-Gower family attempted to improve the economy of the family’s highland estates in Sutherland from the bare subsistence ...
The Improvement Policy on the Sutherland Estate in Scotland, By Annie Lynne McCausland
Worship Industry or Starve: The Scottish Highlands are world renowned for their natural beauty, legendary history, and unique culture. However, centuries ago, they were seen as alien, desolate, archaic, ...
Wolverhampton & The Leveson Family
During the thirteenth century the Leveson family lived in Willenhall, near Wolverhampton. During the late 1290s Richard Leveson married a lady called Margery who was the heiress of Henry, son of Clement ...
Trentham Gardens: ‘The Beauty Spot of the Midlands’ in the Early Twentieth Century
As a result of sewage contamination in the River Trent, Trentham Hall had become uninhabitable by the early twentieth century. After the fourth Duke of Sutherland, Cromartie Sutherland-Leveson-Gower (1851–1913), ...
William J. Tomlinson
The Dukes of Sutherland received many letters concerning the provision of facilities for local communities on their estates. A notable letter amongst these was written to George Granville Sutherland-Leveson-Gower ...
Thomas Telford and Improvements to the Canals: James Loch’s Response
The letter above was written by James Loch in response to Bradshaw’s letter of the 25th. The letter reveals Loch’s concern over Bradshaw’s opposition to the railways. As Professor Eric Richards writes, ...
George Stephenson: Success at the Rainhill Trials and Competing Railway Interests, 1829
As well as the competition which new railways would bring to the canals, as an investor in the Liverpool and Manchester Railway Company, the Marquis of Stafford faced competition from other railway companies ...
The Ondine
Buying the Ondine, 1847
In 1847 the second Duke of Sutherland George Granville Sutherland-Leveson-Gower (1786-1861) purchased a ‘Schooner Yacht’ called the Ondine from Mr. W. B. Ponsonby. The Sutherland ...
The Duke of Sutherland’s Bicycle
The 1890s witnessed a huge enthusiasm for the bicycle in England. Many cycle companies were established manufacturing bicycles for men and women and, in some cases, unisex bicycles. The bicycle was extremely ...
George Stephenson and the Development of Railway Schemes in 1824
Mr. Fenton wrote to James Loch with information about the railways at the end of August 1824. Fenton writes that the Prospectus for ‘the Birmingham Railway…is not yet published’. He adds that the reason ...
The Catania
The Catania was Cromartie Sutherland-Leveson-Gower (1851-1913), the fourth Duke of Sutherland’s yacht in the mid 1890s before he purchased his new yacht in 1899.
The Sutherland Papers contain correspondence ...
Motorcar Correspondence
William Watson was responsible for managing Cromartie Sutherland-Leveson-Gower (1851-1913), the fourth Duke of Sutherland's motorcars. Based at Lilleshall House, Shropshire, Watson oversaw the Duke’s ...
Developing the Railways and Accommodating the Canals: William Huskisson & James Loch
The letter featured above was written by James Loch to William Huskisson, a politician and close associate of the Leveson-Gower family. Huskisson was extremely influential in the development of the railways ...
James Brindley Canal Plans
The Leveson-Gower family were instrumental in the development of navigable waterways in Britain. In the middle of the nineteenth century Granville Leveson-Gower, Marquis of Stafford (1721-1803)invested ...
Incomes Tax and Riots in Leek, 1797
On 10th September 1797 Granville Leveson-Gower (1721-1803), the Marquis of Stafford, received a letter from the Duke of Portland, reporting that there had been riots in Leek against taxation.
In 1797 ...
Trentham Gardens
The Sutherland Papers contain an enormous wealth of documents relating to Trentham Gardens. Accounts, correspondence, maps, plans and advertisements provide a fascinating insight into this famous local ...
Researching the Battle of Hopton Heath, by John Sutton
John Sutton lectured in history for thirty years at Anglia Ruskin University (1972-2002). Specialising in the history of the Civil War, in 1983-1984 John wrote and presented a series of six television ...