Edward Lear, the Owl & the Pussy-Cat & Wiltown Place

Edward Lear (1812-1888) was an illustrator, author and poet, famous for his nonsense poems.

In 1871, he published Nonsense Songs, Stories, Botany and Alphabets. Included in this collection was the nonsense song, ‘The Owl and the Pussycat’, which begins:

The Owl and the Pussy-cat went to sea
In a beautiful pea-green boat,
They took some honey, and plenty of money,
Wrapped up in a five-pound note.
The Owl looked up to the stars above,
And sang to a small guitar,
“O lovely Pussy! O Pussy, my love,
What a beautiful Pussy you are,
You are,
You are!
What a beautiful Pussy you are!

In the following article which was first published in SDNQ, vol. 31 (March 1981), pp.119-20, G.R. Willey discusses the carvings of an owl, a pussy-cat and a piggiwig on a barn at Wiltown, Curry Rivel and their possible connection with Edward Lear:

An Unusual Monument to Edward Lear at Wiltown Place
In SDNQ, vol. 21, p.95 (December 1935), reference was made to a figure of Father Time on a barn at Wiltown, Curry Rivel.[1] The explanation was then offered that such figures were used in the recruitment of harvesters. It was removed in 1935. After a prolonged period in storage, the wrought iron figure (approx.. 35 in. high and 17 in. wide) has now been repainted flesh-tint with a dark brown band over one shoulder and at the waist and restored (1976) to its original location.[2]

The building, a handsome stone barn of blue lias, part of the farm associated with Wiltown Place, has several interesting features in its own right. Parts of the lower section to a height of 7ft are of an earlier construction. Extensive rebuilding to the present size, incorporating a Victorian postal box and a delicate Hamstone pointed arch for pigeon access, was carried out in 1888 by Charles Fry,[3] the then owner-occupier of Wiltown Place. The weathercock, a replica of that at Drayton Church, is a recent addition. It was commissioned (1906) by Frederick Lumsden Hunt for Hillards House, Curry Rivel, where it remained until its present relocation in 1977.[4] The wall adjoining the north end of the building encloses the old Curry Rivel pound. Immediately across the road are the remains of what was the drinking pool.

It is, however, the stone carvings that attract the greatest interest. Set in the south facing wall are two figures, an owl and a pussy cat. Their companion from the famous nonsense poem by Edward Lear, the piggiwig with a ring in the end of its nose is located on the north wall along with the commemorative plaque ‘C FRY (1825-1901)’.

Though there is no obvious connection with the Fry family, Lear did have distant relatives in the village since his nephew C.H. (Charles) Street had married a Sophie Dabinett of Curry Rivel.[5] In fact Lear, amongst his many travels, made several jaunts to the South-West, especially during the summers of 1849-1853 and could well have paused at Curry Rivel to visit kith and kin. Equally tantalising is the fact that the elaborate renovation of the barn took place the same year that Lear died (29^th January 1888 at San Remo). Perhaps a mere caprice on the part of Fry, the building, nevertheless, provides an intriguing memorial.

G. R. Willey of Warwick.

Footnotes:
[1] SDNQ, vol. 21, part 179 (December 1935), p. 95: Preb. G.W. Saunders writes ‘FATHER TIME. Attached to a wall facing the road at Wiltown in Curry Rivel was a figure of Father Time holding a scythe in his right hand and an hour glass in his left. For years it has been the target for stone throwing and has now been placed under cover. It is some three feet high. A local farmer said that these figures represented the gathering of the harvest and were displayed at harvest time to signify if harvesters were needed or not on the farm. The figure was originally attached to the wall by a central bolt so that it would rotate, and by the uprightness or inversion of the figure passers by were notified if hands were required or not. Can any reader verify this, or illustrate it from other localities?’
[2] Mrs. M. Glover, who was given custody of the figure, asserts that it was made by her great grandfather and village benefactor, Robert Sewers (1806-1873) of Townsend House.
[3] Master builder and craftsman; clerk of works during the rebuilding of the town (1861) and donor of the beautifully carved wooden pulpit to the church.
[4] I am indebted to Mr W.D. Hunt for this and other information relating to Wiltown Place.
[5] Evidently Lear had been especially fond of his nephew (his sister Sarah married Charles Street of Arundel). On hearing of his death (1887) Lear writes: ‘I am in great distress. My dear, good nephew Charles Street having died quite suddenly’ (see Lady Strachey, Later Letters of Edward Lear to Chichester Fortescue (Lord Carlingford), 1911).

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