19.2 Holy Trinity and Penn Mead Flatlets
Over lunch in The Crown public house with Christopher, I was able to
explain my interest in Robert and Emily and what had happened to their sons
—to whose memory of course the Trust’s flatlets were originally dedicated.
Christopher in turn told me that he remembered Robert but hardly knew
him personally, that the Trustees were completely unaware of his scientific
importance. From the outset, Christopher has always been enthusiastic to
engage with the Le Rossignol story. He has a deep love of the village and its
history and he has been a fount of knowledge, indeed this author’s ‘eyes and
ears’ in all ‘matters Penn’. Through Christopher I have been able to learn of
so many aspects of life in Penn and so it was on this first meeting when he
provided me with a collection of material from the Trust’s Archives that he
felt might help me understand the historical circumstances of the Trust and
the Le Rossignol involvement. And through Christopher over our lunch that
day, I was first told about the local legend that was the Rev. Oscar Muspratt.
But pub lunches, like all good things, soon come to an end, and expertly led
by Christopher it was time to explore Penn.
Plate 19.1 What was once the site of Robert and Emily’s ‘St Helier’ transforming into
‘Clarendon House’. Photograph courtesy of Mr. Christopher White
19 February 2012
503
Over lunch in The Crown public house with Christopher, I was able to
explain my interest in Robert and Emily and what had happened to their sons
—to whose memory of course the Trust’s flatlets were originally dedicated.
Christopher in turn told me that he remembered Robert but hardly knew
him personally, that the Trustees were completely unaware of his scientific
importance. From the outset, Christopher has always been enthusiastic to
engage with the Le Rossignol story. He has a deep love of the village and its
history and he has been a fount of knowledge, indeed this author’s ‘eyes and
ears’ in all ‘matters Penn’. Through Christopher I have been able to learn of
so many aspects of life in Penn and so it was on this first meeting when he
provided me with a collection of material from the Trust’s Archives that he
felt might help me understand the historical circumstances of the Trust and
the Le Rossignol involvement. And through Christopher over our lunch that
day, I was first told about the local legend that was the Rev. Oscar Muspratt.
But pub lunches, like all good things, soon come to an end, and expertly led
by Christopher it was time to explore Penn.
Plate 19.1 What was once the site of Robert and Emily’s ‘St Helier’ transforming into
‘Clarendon House’. Photograph courtesy of Mr. Christopher White
19 February 2012
503