A deserving cause - The Brooking Collection

[Gareth Hughes]

[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-engla...ot the world (I'm not given to exaggeration).

 

[robgil]

[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-15652628

The exceptional collection of architectural detail amassed by Charles Brooking over the last 50 years is looking for a new home. It is by far the most important such collection in the country, if not the world (I'm not given to exaggeration).

Fixed.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-15652628

 

[Gareth Hughes]

Thanks Rob

"A sea of plastic is enveloping the British Isles and I want to preserve the social nuances and subtle changes that went into building types ."
He said such historical references were being "obliterated as people buy older houses, younger couples in their 40s and 30s come in and rip everything out and I arrive in my car and retrieve what I can and photograph everything in-situ."
At three, he became fascinated by house numbers made from Bakelite, an early plastic, and was enchanted by their shapes and differences.
He asked for a sash window for his seventh birthday but was annoyed when the one he received was not in full working order.
his parents did not initially support his hobby and his father, a financial director for food processor-maker Kenwood, referred to his growing collection as "eccentric rubbish".
Mr Brooking said he was persuaded to "give up that silly interest in old buildings" for the more conventional hobby of fossil collecting and his sash window and other objects were burnt in a Bonfire Night blaze in 1962.
"It isn't some nerd's collection of ironmongery sash pulley windows for the sake of it - it is a useful resource.
"It has given me great pleasure but I want to leave it in order so it can go on being useful and a tool for teaching.
"That's what it's all about."

 

[JoceAndChris]

I really wouldn't mind having it all here! But maybe Ms Beeney ought to give up half her 97 rooms.

What a sweet, astonishing thing to do. I love that the collecting bug just couldn't be beaten out of him.