Book Review by Valerie Bonham
© WLHG
This book was originally to have been published by the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead as Volume 6 in their series of Historical Records Publications. Gordon Cullingham’s earlier work The Royal Windsor Tapestry Manufactory 1876-1890 was published by the Borough in 1979 as Volume 4 in the same series. The manuscript for the present book was lodged with the Borough printer who went bankrupt before the book saw light of day; the recession subsequently precluded the Borough from continuing the series. Many hours had been spent in research and many thousands of miles travelled in the search for Old Windsor stained glass, and so the author decided to privately publish his work in a limited edition of 250 copies.
The story of how a piece of red glass found in a garden at Old Windsor led to the re-discovery of the work of a forgotten group of French craftsmen is indeed fascinating. The author was already well versed in the history of the tapestry works nearby, and this small discovery widened his quest. Thus the full extent of artistic activity at Old Windsor soon became apparent. And what an enormous amount of work was done there in such a short time. Local churches were high on the list of course, from the humble St. Agnes, Spital to the grand rose window, now hidden above a false ceiling, in the chapel at Beaumont College. But there was plenty of work further afield too: several examples in Southampton are given, and even one in Dublin. Work was not confined to churches, and there are many examples of craftsmanship in the great houses built by wealthy Victorian businessmen and landowners.
There is always the danger with this type of research that something else of major importance will turn up as soon as the book is published. It is a never-ending quest, rather like doing a jig-saw puzzle which continually grows as more pieces are added! I’am sure Gordon was right to assemble his notes and go ahead with publication, and the amount of material and the extent of his research is impressive. It is a tribute not only to the expertise of those stained glass artists, but also to his own enthusiasm for the subject.
The handlist of examples is very useful and clearly laid out. The historical sections and technical detail make fascinating reading. There are plenty of illustrations though they vary in quality. The coloured ones at the end of the book are especially good. If I have any quibbles at all it is about the use of staples in the binding: not a good idea. But apart from that it is a good piece of specialised research which needed recording, and all who value both the history of Windsor and of Victorian art should be immensely grateful to Gordon Cullingham for having done so.
Limited edition of 250 copies. £10. Paperback. 41pp + colour plates.
Valerie Bonham
Windsor Local History Group 