Page 30 - Real Rochdale Issue 13 Spring 2022
P. 30
Collection of British literary treasures from Littleborough’s
Honresfeld library saved by national libraries charity
“It has been a great privilege The NHMF’s grant of
to represent the family who £4 million is the largest it
have been careful custodians has ever awarded towards
of these remarkable treasures the acquisition of literary
ever since they were collected manuscripts since its
in the late 19th century.” foundation in 1980.
r Gabriel Heaton, Sotheby’s English NL, and its consortium of libraries and
Literature & Historical Manuscripts writers’ houses, are profoundly grateful to
DSpecialist, said: “This is a collection like Ftheir lead donor Sir Leonard Blavatnik who
no other that has come to market in recent match-funded the sum raised by FNL and the
decades. It preserves the original words of consortium institutions, donating half the
some of our greatest writers, from Robert purchase price. In recognition of his great
Burns finding his poetic voice, to Jane Austen generosity, the collection will henceforth be
anticipating a proposal at a ball, to powerful known as the Blavatnik Honresfeld Library. It is
romantic verses by Emily Brontë. an extraordinary donation, the largest ever given
to the UK by an individual for a literary treasure.
“It has been a great privilege to represent the
family who have been careful custodians of This acquisition has also been made possible
these remarkable treasures ever since they Emily Brontë and Anne Brontë, Autograph manuscript birthday notes, with sketches by Emily, 1841 thanks to the vital and generous support of
were collected in the late 19th century. We the National Heritage Memorial Fund (NHMF).
were amazed and delighted at the incredible The NHMF’s grant of £4 million is the largest
ambition of the FNL’s plan to acquire the whole it has ever awarded towards the acquisition
library, and they deserve every credit for of literary manuscripts since its foundation
bringing their campaign to a successful in 1980.
conclusion. Their success is a testament to
what can be achieved by the collaboration of Success would also not have been possible
public institutions and private collectors.” without the hugely generous support of each
of the consortium institutions and of very
The family of the original collectors, who had many funders including The Prince of Wales
been the custodians of the library prior to the Charitable Foundation; The Murray Family;
acquisition, said: “We are delighted that the Camelot Group; The Foyle Foundation; The
library is to remain in the UK and as the David Cock Foundation; The T. S. Eliot
property of the nation with many of the books Foundation; Hugh and Catherine Stevenson;
and manuscripts returning to their birthplaces Berkeley Foundation; British Library
for all to see and enjoy.” Collections Trust; American Trust for the
British Library; B. H. Breslauer Fund of the
American Trust for the British Library; The
Ardeola Trust; The Vogel-Denebeim Family,
and the Penchant Foundation.
Robert Burns, First Commonplace Book
REAL ROCHDALE - SPRING 2022 30 Photos: Tristan Fewings for Getty courtesy of FNL 31 REAL ROCHDALE - SPRING 2022
