‘Le Bel Anglais’ – a colourful character
The Beautiful Englishman, by Chris Stephens, is a new publication from Bristol Books which paints a fascinating portrait of a Somerset-based Georgian socialite.
The Beautiful Englishman, by Chris Stephens, is a new publication from Bristol Books which paints a fascinating portrait of a Somerset-based Georgian socialite.
Described by Marie Antoinette as ‘le bel Anglais’ after she met him at Versailles, the extravagant Reverend Doctor Thomas Sedgwick Whalley was a playwright, poet, cleric, horticulturist, traveller and bon vivant.
Among his social circle were such influential figures as the polymath Dr Erasmus Darwin, the politician and anti-slavery campaigner William Wilberforce, and playwright, poet and philanthropist Hannah More.
Whalley lived from 1746 until 1828, and enjoyed an affluent life, as the first two of his three marriages were to wealthy women.
Drawing from source material including Whalley’s own journals - edited and published by his nephew - as well as his personal correspondence with Anna Seward, Mrs Thrale Piozzi and the actress Sarah Siddons, readers are given an intimate snapshot of Whalley’s life, loves and travels.
During his early life at Wells, Thomas formed a strong bond with his elder sister Elizabeth. After her early death, he dedicated his life to bringing up her nine-year-old daughter, Frances, who would later be known as the ‘Queen of Bath’ before being hurriedly married.
From his early Grand Tour to literary soirees at Royal Crescent, Bath - as described by Fanny Burney - and lazy summers at Mendip Lodge, the ‘maison de plaisance’ he had built above Langford, Thomas enjoyed a lavish lifestyle until his death in France, where he had gone to rescue Frances from penury.
Author Chris Stephens is an emeritus Professor of the University of Bristol and received an OBE in 1999 for his services to dental education. When he retired from academic dentistry in 2002, he was able to devote more time undertaking charitable work for the Woodland Trust and the Dry Stone Walling Association.
His interest in local history was fired after being asked to organise the rebuilding of the dry stone walls in the Trust’s Dolebury Warren Wood which is where he discovered the ruins of Mendip Lodge and set about researching its history and that of its builder, Thomas Sedgwick Whalley.
Chris was able to channel all his acquired knowledge into bringing Whalley to life on screen, portraying him in the recently-released Redcliffe Films production, Hannah More.
A little bit of Bristol on board new HMS Prince of Wales
Britain’s newest aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales will soon be sailing to the East coast of America and on board will be the story of “The Matthew of Bristol” courtesy of Bristol Books.
Britain’s newest aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales will soon be sailing to the East coast of America and on board will be the story of “The Matthew of Bristol” courtesy of Bristol Books.
Bristol Books directors Clive Burlton and Martin Powell attended a ceremony on board the aircraft carrier as guests of Captain Darren Houston to mark the affiliation of the ship with Bristol and Liverpool.
A “Bristol suite” is being created on board to mark the link with the city. Clive handed over copies of the book about the tiny ship that discovered North America in 1497 and the replica that made the same voyage in 1997 and can still be seen in Bristol’s Harbour today.
The HMS Prince of Wales is 280 metres long and bigger than any ship previously built for the Royal Navy.
In return for the books Clive Burlton was presented with a special Prince of Wales medal commemorating the ship.
Said Clive: “The books will be available for those on board to read about Bristol’s maritime heritage. The ceremony was held in Liverpool where HMS Prince of Wales had called in after under-going its first sea trials. It is certainly impressive.”
New book on Bristol’s most knocked-about suburb!
It is a wonder that there is any community at all in Bristol’s Hotwells as the district has seen more major changes over the centuries than any other.
It is a wonder that there is any community at all in Bristol’s Hotwells as the district has seen more major changes over the centuries than any other.
Now, a new book by local resident Sue Stops tells the story of this remarkable area and the resilience of the community spirit, which is still alive and well and manifests itself in an annual pantomime every year.
“Hotwells – Spa to Pantomime”, published by Bristol Books, tells the story of this fascinating area next to the River Avon created in the 17th Century by rich merchants keen to take advantage of the natural hot springs to provide a spa that would rival fashionable Bath and Cheltenham.
That saw a massive building boom in the area but Hotwells has never been able to rest peacefully as it has been at the forefront of important changes that have enabled Bristol to thrive as a port and as a modern city.
Sue Stops says: “The community of Hotwells and Cliftonwood has learnt to cope with some extraordinary changes. Imagine in the early 1800s having to cope with 1,000 men digging the massive pit that would become Cumberland Basin, or the distress of the community in the 1960s when the road system over the basin involved destroying the heart of Hotwells to enable cars to become more important than people.
“The book was almost finished when news arrived that plans are afoot for more changes around the Cumberland Basin. Among the streets knocked down when the ‘Flyover’ was built, was Western Square. One can only hope this is the inspiration for the name Western Harbour.”
As well as a canter through the history of the area the book chronicles the remarkable story of how the community rolled up its sleeves in the late 1970s and renovated the derelict Hope Chapel, turning it into a thriving and vibrant Community Arts Centre.
For 20 years, Hope Centre hosted an extraordinary array of bands, performers and touring theatre companies. From puppetry to poetry and from writing to music workshops, the range of creative activities on offer for young and old was amazing. Hope Centre reverted to a place of worship in the late 1990s, but the annual pantomime lives on and the book celebrates its 40th anniversary this year.
The book will be launched at this year’s pantomime “The Mardyke Mermaid” which runs from March 11 to 14 and which is written, performed and produced by local people from this remarkably resilient community.
“Hotwells-Spa to Pantomime” is on sale at Hope Chapel every night of the pantomime, where a book can be bought from Sue Stops for £10 cash. Alternatively, give Sue a call on 0117 939 7999 to order a copy or you can pop into a range of local book and gift shops or buy online Here
M Shed guide in award shortlist
The M Shed Souvenir Guide produced by Bristol Books for the city’s stunning museum alongside the historic harbour has been shortlisted for a national award.
The M Shed Souvenir Guide produced by Bristol Books for the city’s stunning museum alongside the historic harbour has been shortlisted for a national award.
The guide is one of four finalists in the Best Guide Book category of the Cultural Enterprises Awards 2020 held by the Association of Cultural Enterprises.
The winner will be announced at the Gala Dinner of the Cultural Enterprises Conference and Trade Show in Harrogate, Yorkshire in March.
The judges comments were that the guide is “a well thought-out user journey with clever use of pull out sections”. Bristol Books also produced the guide to art at the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery.
The award nominated guide book is available from the M Shed gift shop or online on the Online Bristol Museums Shop
Bristol Books in China!
The biography of Louise Brown, the world’s first IVF baby, published by Bristol Books has now been published in Mandarin for Chinese readers.
The biography of Louise Brown, the world’s first IVF baby, published by Bristol Books has now been published in Mandarin for Chinese readers.
Bristol Books first published the story in a hardback book in 2015. It tells how Lesley and John Brown from Bristol became the first people in the world to have a “test tube baby” and the impact that event and the worldwide publicity had on the family and Louise.
Written first-person as Louise by Martin Powell in association with the family the book was updated in 2018 as a softback special 40th anniversary edition to mark Louise’s 40th birthday.
Now “My Life As The World’s First Test Tube Baby” has been updated further and published by the Chinese Society of Reproductive Medicine to inform those working in the state-run fertility clinics in China about the history of the technique and how it affected the family involved.
Martin Powell said: “I never imagined for one moment when I was writing the story that it would end up being published in Mandarin. I went to Chongqing with Louise last year and saw first hand the amazing work now being done in China to help people with fertility problems.
“Louise and her family are proud of their Bristol roots. The IVF technique perfected by Robert Edwards and Patrick Steptoe was one of the great scientific breakthroughs of the 20th century and changed forever the way people can be conceived. There are now around 10 million people born through IVF in the world.”
