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Image Licensing : Furzupland, Kenwyn, Cornwall. Early 1900s
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Furzupland, Kenwyn, Cornwall. Early 1900s
A young girl with a skipping rope is at the top of the steps, a lady holding a card or paper is on the right and a gentleman in a trilby is on the left. A gentleman with a white beard and wearing a cap can be seen looking out of a first floor window. The local story of this house is that it was built for an eccentric rich man. At the time when it was built, a well used thoroughfare ran beside the house and the man thought that someone might break in during the night and steal his money. So he had it built like a castle without stairs. At night he would climb up to the first floor using a rope ladder, pull the ladder up and sleep with a blunderbuss gun beside him. On the 1871 census an Edward George Spry, aged 36, lived there. He is described as a Bachelor of Arts, Landowner, Fund Holder and owner of stock in railways, mines etc. He was also part owner of the Red Lion Hotel in Boscawen Street, Truro. His housekeeper was Mary Verran. He and his housekeeper still lived there in 1881. Mr Spry died in 1887 leaving £ 11, 000 (about £ 1 million today). The house is listed on the 1891 and 1901 censuses but with no occupants. Albert Sidney Labouchere-Sparling lived in the house between 1903 and 1906. In 1911, Josiah Clark (formerly of Tregavethan) lived there with his wife Olivia. It is possible that the people in the photograph are members of the Clark family. Furzuplands was home to the Brown family in the late 1950s. The property was later bought by architect Paul Bunyan and his wife, Laurence, who completely refurbished the interior. Photographer: Probably Arthur Philp. Royal Cornwall Museum is the UK's Greatest Museum For Cornish Life & Culture. © From the collection of the RIC
TRURI : KWNvr.2
Media ID 15183482
Filename: TRURI-KWNvr-2.tiff
Size: 8188 x 6088 (15.3MB)
Date: 3rd July 2018
Source: Royal Cornwall Museum
County: Cornwall
Location Name: 50.269262, -5.063344
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This print captures a glimpse into the past at Furzupland, Kenwyn, Cornwall in the early 1900s. At the top of the steps stands a young girl, her skipping rope twirling through the air with youthful exuberance. To the right, a lady holds a card or paper in her hands while on the left, a gentleman donning a trilby hat observes his surroundings. Peering out from a first-floor window is an elderly gentleman with a white beard and cap. Local lore surrounds this unique house, believed to have been built for an eccentric wealthy man. Fearing theft during the night, he constructed it like a castle without stairs. Instead, he would ascend using a rope ladder and sleep with his trusty blunderbuss gun by his side. The historical records reveal that Edward George Spry resided here in 1871 until his passing in 1887. A man of many titles - Bachelor of Arts, Landowner, Fund Holder - Mr. Spry left behind considerable wealth amounting to £11,000 (equivalent to approximately £1 million today). The house remained unoccupied according to census data from 1891 and 1901. In later years, Albert Sidney Labouchere-Sparling called this place home between 1903 and 1906 before Josiah Clark and his wife Olivia moved in around 1911. It is plausible that members of their family are captured within this photograph. Over time, Furzuplands witnessed various occupants until it was eventually acquired by architect Paul Bunyan and Laurence Bunyan who meticulously refurbished its interior. This remarkable image was likely captured by photographer Arthur Philp as part of their personal collection rather than for commercial use.
