24 Comments

This was amazing. Sad that the Collector was described as a hoarder. I feel that one can never have too many books. Would that paper also have described the eccentric owner of Snowshill as a "hoarder"? He also had so much stuff in his main house that he had to move out to a small cottage in the grounds. The house is now a National Trust property (do visit it if you haven't, you would LOVE it).

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/gloucestershire-cotswolds/snowshill-manor-and-garden

Expand full comment

Snowshill is pretty depressing - random collections of stuff without any scheme or discrimination, all funded from inherited profits of slavery...

Expand full comment

I was unaware of the connection to slavery when I visited. That is very saddening.

Expand full comment
Jun 2, 2023Liked by Tom Cox

I love this piece and it’s photos more than I can say. It’s something when a writer can bring you into a time and place so that you can see it (I think I’d have seen the house and it’s surroundings in my minds eye just this way even without photos) and feel it. What a life the Collector seems to have had. I hope he was happy tucked in with his books. I wish your house there had worked out for you. It seemed magical...and who doesn’t need to live with a walled garden?

Expand full comment

Tom this was so emotional and filled with the magic of your writings. A true eulogy to a gentleman and his home

Expand full comment
Jun 2, 2023Liked by Tom Cox

This fits so beautifully with the previous post about loving your stuff.

Expand full comment

What a wonderful essay, so atmospheric, tender and sympathetic to spirit of place and to the Collector. I would like to have known him. You have made him alive and real, though, so thank you. I like how you talked to him, very imaginative.

Expand full comment
Jun 18, 2023Liked by Tom Cox

We loved him, my daughters and I. He had a gift with children, an unusual wonderful gift of being able to be in a child's shoes and to see the wonders of the world as a child. My daughters, now grown up with their own children have never forgotten the magic of those days at the Manor and how his presence touched and enriched our lives in beautiful NH.............

Expand full comment

What a beautiful tribute. I don't know this house or its former residents, but I feel as touched by their story as if I did ❤️❤️❤️

(And swearwords for those who reduced the man to a 'hoarder'. Grrrr.)

Expand full comment

I really loved this one, thanks Tom.

Expand full comment

This is lovely. All those abandoned books, that abandoned home, you rescuing an abandoned garden, and the old man in the tweed jacket. More of this please.

Expand full comment

I saw this house advertised when it went up for sale. I live in Totnes and knew about it before it went on the market. Wonder what's happened to it now...

Expand full comment

Every time I try to deal with the 1000’s of old books my parents left I get distracted by one , start reading and give up the task. The last distraction was Richard Holmes Footsteps in which he describes stalking Shelley. Fabulous! Yet another book I can’t discard…

Expand full comment
Jun 3, 2023Liked by Tom Cox

What a magical topic. I loved this piece.

Expand full comment
Jun 3, 2023Liked by Tom Cox

Thankyou Tom that was beautiful.

Expand full comment

Hello I really enjoy all your writing but I really really like this piece and I hope it is the beginning of a whole book. Thank you

Expand full comment

yes I was thinking there was potential for a novel in this too.

Expand full comment

This beautiful house sold at auction for nearly double the estimate of £425000. I hope whoever bought it will renovate it beautifully and spend a long and happy time living in it.

Expand full comment

What a beautiful story of a love for books. A labor of love. Thank you for bringing this story in the front with your gentle care. It's the history of people that bring hope. Loved this story.

Expand full comment