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SIR EDMUND BECKETT : 1886 HANDWRITTEN MANUSCRIPT LETTER REGARDING THE FAMED ARCHITECT'S SPEECH ON LUNACY

12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall. On offer ALS Edmund Beckett, 1st Baron Grimthorpe (1816-1905), known previously as Sir Edmund Beckett, 5th Baronet and Edmund Beckett Denison. He was a lawyer, amateur horologist, and architect. In 1851 he designed the mechanism for the clock of the Palace of Westminster, responsible for the chimes of Big Ben. He was also responsible for rebuilding the west front, roof, and transept windows of St Albans Cathedral at his own expense. Although the building had been in need of repair, popular opinion at the time held that he had changed the cathedral's character, even inspiring the creation and temporary popularity of the verb "to grimthorpe", meaning to carry out unsympathetic restorations of ancient buildings. Part of Beckett's additions included statues of the four evangelists around the western door; the statue of St Matthew has Beckett's face. He later turned his attentions to St Peter's and then to St Michael's Church, both in the same city. In 1868 he worked with W H Crossland to design St Chad's Church, Far Headingley in Leeds. ALS. 2-1/3 pages, 1886. "I am glad my lunacy speech gave satisfaction to those who could understand it. When I went into the House yesterday I was told the case was hopeless, but it evidently is not..." Slight mount. trace show thru on last page. English. Book Condition: Very Good

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