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Lydiard portraits saved

Lydiard House is delighted to announce that a group of eleven histori-
cally important paintings have been saved for the people of Swindon
writes Emma Valentine.
The paintings of the St John fam- tion but now their future at Lydiard
ily of Lydiard Park were accepted House is secure. The collection
in lieu of tax by the Minister for the will now remain on display in Swin-
Arts. Estelle Morris, and given to don, giving visitors a huge amount
Swindon Borough Council for per- of pleasure discovering more about
manent display at Lydiard House. the lives of the people connected

Emma, right, with Sarah Finch-Crisp. Keeper of Lydiard House, in
the state bedroom where the portraits of Henry 1st Viscount St John
and his wife Angelica Magdalena 1st Viscountess St John hang
This Government scheme ex- to this historic estate.
ists to save important works of art Lydiard Park is currently the sub-
and other culturally important items ject of a major restoration project
for the nation. to bring back the features of the
The group of paintings is very historic landscape, including the
significant as they portray mem- lost lake, massive dam wall, the
bers of the family who lived at a the ice house and ornamental fruit and
house and directly contributed to flower garden.
the historical development of In early summer Swindon Bor-
Lydiard Park, or those whose lives ough Council will hear the out-
were closely related. The portraits come of its £3 million bid to the
include two huge canvases in the Heritage Lottery Fund to support
state bedroom of Henry 1st Vis- the restoration, in particular the
count St John and his wife Angel- dredging and clearing of the lake.
ica Magdalena 1st Viscountess St The Spring/Summer issue of the
John. both depicted wearing glori- Lydiard Park Project Newsletter is
ous coronation robes. out now. It includes information
The portraits had been on a long about the exciting activities planned
loan from The De Morgan Founda- for the summer. There is to be a big
tea party on 3 July, and on
1 6 July we take a break
from Shakespeare in front
of the house with an open
air performance of The/m-
portance of Being Earnest
on the lawn,
For a copy, please call
Lydiard House on 770401.
www.lydiardpark.org
In the drawing room -
Henrietta St John. daugh-
terofHenry 1st Viscount St
John and Angelica
Magda/ena. To the /eft
above is the portrait of
Henrietta as a young girl
Henrietta was such a
beauty that when he sus-
pected a da/ience with an-
other man, her husband
separatedher from herchi/-
dren and sent her into exile