Frank Crisp / Friar Parkl

[servi]

Hi, since today I'm a member of this forum and I found some very interesting threads here!! I posted this because I am looking for other people who are interested in Friar Park and/or Frank Crisp. I have been collecting items related to these topics for several years. For example, I recently found an 1907 autographed letter by Sir Frank on Friar Park writing paper (see pic). I wonder if there are any other collectors out there who are interested in swapping photocopies of books, articles, Friar Park postcards etc. and in exchanging information. The scarce information found in Beatles books or wikipedia is far from complete and there is much more to be told about Sir Frank ! Maybe this could lead to a future book or website on this topic. So if anyone is fascinated by Sir Frank or Friar Park please respond.

http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/4039/img5071q.jpg (http://img208.imageshack.us/i/img5071q.jpg/)

[FPSHOT]

This is fascinating.

Welcome to BeatleLinks.

Friar Park has been discussed in many ways here and I give you some Links which you may find interesting.

http://www.beatlelinks.net/forums/showthread.php?t=38718&highlight=Friar+Park

http://www.beatlelinks.net/forums/showthread.php?t=38992&highlight=Friar+Park

http://www.beatlelinks.net/forums/showthread.php?t=38942&highlight=Friar+Park

http://www.beatlelinks.net/forums/showthread.php?t=29490&highlight=Friar+Park

http://www.beatlelinks.net/forums/showthread.php?t=36860&highlight=Friar+Park

http://www.beatlelinks.net/forums/showthread.php?t=34127&highlight=Friar+Park

http://www.beatlelinks.net/forums/showthread.php?t=31879&highlight=Friar+Park

[BeatleNut9]

INTERESTING! :D

[Hari's Chick]

I'm very interested in Sir Frank and all things from George's Friar Park through the ages. Thanks for posting! Btw, can someone type out what the letter says? I cannot read Sir Frank's script?

[servi]

The letter is a bit hard to read, the handwriting of Sir Frank is poor. It goes something like this: "My dear Davis, I was surprised. I have been living in terror (or town ?) of (?you) and if (??) and last night (??) (??) "I wonder what our cynical friend Davis will say". So many thanks for your congratulations, which from a mind and personality as yourself are (??) (??)" - signed Frank Crisp".
Interestingly the letter is dated 10 nov 1907 if I'm correct. Sir Frank was knighted on 9 nov 1907, so perhaps that's why he mentions the congratulations. The writing paper is really nice, it has the words "Friar Park" and "Henley-on-thames" embossed.
Lately I have been doing some research on Sir Frank's career as a lawyer (of the Ashurst Morris Crisp company which today is Ashurst) and as member of the Royal Linnean Society of which he was the Treasurer and as member of the Microscopical Society. There is much more to tell about this man than what can be found in Beatles books or on forums. I would really be interested in swapping photocopies/files of Sir Franks books, articles on him and early Friar Park images. I have a large collection of old postcards of Friar Park (either as real postcards or as JPEG images). Especially I'm still looking for a photocopy of the Friar Park visitor's guide.
In 1890 a cartoon of Sir Frank appeared in Vanity Fair's column "Men of the day". Here is an early proof print of that cartoon, which can also be seen on wikipedia.
http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/6849/frankcrispvforiginalpri.jpg (http://img8.imageshack.us/i/frankcrispvforiginalpri.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

[beatlebangs1964]

November 10, 1907 was a Sunsday.

A bit of a McCartney link there - the Messrs. Crisp and McCartney have been knighted.

[campfire]

Hello.

I have been trying for years to get copies of books on Friar Park. Does anyone have any? Amazon lists the following, but they are never available:

Guide for the use of visitors to Friar Park, Henley-on-Thames by Frank Crisp (1914)

Illustrations of some mediaeval gardens: And of a few Tudor, Elizabethan, and Stuart Gardens, in which some of the characteristics of mediaeval gardens ... of visitors to Friar Park, Henley-on-Thames) by Frank Crisp (1914)

I know that Martin Scorsese is Producing a documentary on George Harrison at this time, and hopefully he'll be able to film inside Friar Park. If not, does anyone know of any film or video footage that is available?

I am presently producing a documentary on another subject, but would love to incorporate the footage to showcase Friar Park's historical and architectural significance.

[servi]

Hi Campfire,
The Friar Park guide is extremely hard to find, as is the auction catalogue for the sale after Sir Frank died. Part 2 of the visitor's guide (about the gardens) is available as photocopy from the British library (see their online catalogue), but is not so interesting. Unfortunately volume 1 (about the house) is not in their collection. I ordered a copy of the book Medieval gardens this week, which I still have to receive. Let you know if it is any interesting. I don't know about film/video on Friar Park, but there is a book that has 4 pictures of Friar Park inside (it's called Henley in old pictures or something like that). Could send JPG of this if interested...
Here is winter pic of FP:
http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/736/7ad91.jpg (http://img80.imageshack.us/i/7ad91.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

[FPSHOT]

Awesome....

[servi]

Here is the link for the British Library (for ordering a photocopy part 2 of the Friar Park guide if interested). If you click on "Request" you can order. It is not cheap though...
https://catalogue.bl.uk/F/YYXTB5BD2GI9XDUTNVMU5HBLVRMUH25GMAH8USCD5M7QCIVEMF-40674?func=omts-pre-derived&doc_number=011289978&852_occur=000000001&format=full
FPSHOT you seem to like them, so here is another 2 pics. I noticed you are from the Netherlands as well. Ik woon in Zuid-Limburg, Beatles fans sinds 1986...
http://img714.imageshack.us/img714/9141/friarparkh1924.jpg (http://img714.imageshack.us/i/friarparkh1924.jpg/)
http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/473/japanesegarden.jpg (http://img718.imageshack.us/i/japanesegarden.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

[servi]

Hello.

I have been trying for years to get copies of books on Friar Park. Does anyone have any? Amazon lists the following, but they are never available:

Illustrations of some mediaeval gardens: And of a few Tudor, Elizabethan, and Stuart Gardens, in which some of the characteristics of mediaeval gardens ... of visitors to Friar Park, Henley-on-Thames) by Frank Crisp (1914)


Just bought a copy of "Mediaeval Gardens" (2 volumes). It is quite interesting, but it does not contain any information on Friar Park's gardens, only drawings and paintings of the Middle Ages. It was published posthumously in 1924 by Sir Frank's daughter Catherine and compiled from her father's notes and book collection.

[FPSHOT]

FPSHOT you seem to like them, so here is another 2 pics. I noticed you are from the Netherlands as well. Ik woon in Zuid-Limburg, Beatles fans sinds 1986...


I love all the stories and pictures about Friar Park. "Somewhere" I have some more info but need to take time to find it :teeth1:

Nice to have another Dutch here, there are a few more, my girlfriend taxgirl and my dear friends Legs and wim1958 :wave1:

[misfittoy]

I love Friar Park and have for 20 years, but alas I have collected nothing but dreams. I am fascinated by all of this you guys are posting.