Photo Gallery
(Click on pictures to enlarge them)
At the Lynn book-signing, with Chris and local writer friends Ann, Judi, Phyl and Norma (Liz was at a wedding!)
Illustrations from my new biography of Mrs Louisa Mary Cresswell:
The Prince's Thorn
Edward VII and the Lady Farmer of
Sandringham
This portrait of Louisa Cresswell was unknown until it was kindly loaned to me by her great-great-grand-daughter Jan Lavelle
New Appleton House, built by the Prince of Wales for the lessees of Appleton farm (Gerard and Louise Cresswell) in 1864. Illustration from the first edition of Louise's book 'Eighteen Years on Sandringham Estate'.
Gorgeous October colours: Sandringham House seen from across the lake, with Queen Alexandra's little summer house visible centre right. 'The Queen's Nest' as it was called, was presented to the dowager Queen in 1913, by her devoted comptroller Sir Dighton Probyn (Photo: Chris Mackie 2007)
Flaming Virginia creeper drapes the trees behind the famous Norwich Gates at Sandringham, a gift to TRH the Prince and Princess of Wales (Bertie and Alix) on their marriage in 1863 (Photo: Chris Mackie 2007)
This is me beside Louise's grave. She died in Abilene, Texas, in July 1916, aged 86. That November her body was brought home, care of Wells Fargo, to lie beside her young husband, their infant daughter, and most of the other Cresswells of King's Lynn, in the quiet country churchyard at North Runcton, Norfolk (Photo: Chris Mackie 2007)
Notes
Owing to the costs involved in reproducing pictures I was unable to
obtain rights to some illustrations I would have liked for the book.
And
some that are in the book can't be reproduced here for the
same reason.
So I'm immensely grateful to Jan Lavelle for allowing me to use
copies of her portrait of great-great-Grandmama Louise, which has
provided a striking cover for my book too. Before this, the only
picture we had of Louise was an old photo held by more distant
members of the family and 'thought to be' the Lady Farmer. Now, the
portrait proves that the photo was not of Louise. Different
physiognomy entirely.
Also, with a historical subject of no great national importance, relevant pictures may not exist. Thank goodness that my husband is such a good photographer and that the Norfolk landscape provides so many beautiful scenes.