Katherine J. Scott

On Mortar and Mothers

Posted on September 12, 2018 by Katherine J. Scott

I’ve been doing a lot of reading about mortar. You know, that goopy stuff that goes between bricks or stones and holds them all together? Mortar.

You’ve never given it much thought, have you? Neither had I until I began learning a lot about stonemasonry to write a book about a stonemason. Turns out, there’s quite a bit to know about mortar.

These days there are two main types of mortar: lime mortar and Portland cement. Lime mortar has been around since ancient days, used by the Egyptians in the pyramids at Giza and by the Romans and Greeks. Portland cement was first developed in the 19^th century and became widely used in the later part of that century and early in the 20^th. Nowadays, mortars are usually made from a mixture of the two.

The process of making traditional lime mortar is an arduous and time consuming one. First limestone is heated at a high temperature to remove the carbon dioxide, leaving calcium oxide or quicklime. This is then mixed with water, stirred or beaten, and left to age for several months after which it forms a soft putty which can be mixed with sand or another aggregate to form the mortar. Rushing the process causes weak or inferior mortar.

Lime mortar and Portland cement differ in their strength and permeability. Portland cement is stronger and can be used with heavy modern concrete building. Lime mortar is more porous or permeable, allowing older buildings to breath and release moisture.

One phrase I read repeatedly was that mortar is the sacrificial element of the masonry process. Mortar should be weaker than the masonry units it holds together. This is so that when stresses occur, any damage is taken by the mortar, which is easier to repair or replace than the stone or brick. Mortar is the piece designed to break or crack when stressed to protect the stone and to absorb any unwanted moisture, thus protecting the stone or brick from moisture damage. If the mortar is stronger than the stone or brick that surrounds it, any breakage or stress will affect the stones rather than the glue.

I would submit that as mothers, we are the mortar of the family. We absorb the stresses, the tears and tears of family life and thus allow the rest of the family units to hold their shape. Whether your kids are preschoolers or teenagers, they look to you to comfort their hurts and offer guidance when they’re out of their depths. They push and pull at the restraints you may put on them, but I believe they are happy to know you provide structure and boundaries. When the storms of life come, I can comfort myself knowing that I am acting as the mortar for my family. What mother would not choose to bear the cracks for her children? It’s not always pleasant to absorb the hits, but to see your kids succeed, stand strong, victorious and beautiful will be worth it.

Those old buildings that are still standing after hundreds of years? It’s because of their mortar. The lime mortar that was used has absorbed all the stress and damage to the building and allowed the stones themselves to remain unharmed. Those families that seem to have withstood the external pressures of life with grace and dignity, who remain together despite tragedy? I bet they have a great mother acting as the mortar, the glue keeping them all together. Like mortar, mothers get stronger by withstanding the heat of fires, by being subjected to stirrings, beatings (psychological and unfortunately sometimes physical), and time. Our strength holds the family together and often takes the damage so that others might be spared.

Here's to mothers and mortar everywhere! We’re the glue that keeps everything and everyone together.

Posted in Architecture/stonemasonry, Family | 1 Comment

Stately house, part III: Hardwick

Posted on March 28, 2018 by Katherine J. Scott

Inspired by a recent cnn.com article about how to fund a British stately home or manor house in modern times, I thought I would write about how my three favorite houses have handled this. For Wollaton, see here for Longleat, see here. Finally, I look at Hardwick Hall.

Hardwick Hall

Oh, Hardwick, how I love thee. Hardwick Hall, more glass than wall, was built by one of the most fascinating and successful women of the Elizabethan period, Bess of Hardwick, the Countess of Shrewsbury. Bess famously married and was widowed four times, each time becoming richer than the last. She, along with her last husband George Talbot, the 6^th Earl of Shrewsbury, played jailor/host to Mary Queen of Scots from February 1569 until Mary’s death in 1587.

Hardwick Hall represents the pinnacle of a building career that lasted decades and included Old Hardwick Hall and Chatsworth, along with buildings at Bolsover, Sheffield, Tutbury and Worksop. My friend Robert Smythson provided the plans for the building, but the idea of Hardwick was probably swirling in Bess’s active mind for years, waiting for the right moment when she finally had freedom and control over her fortune.

Bess, Builder of Hardwick

Bess rose from relative obscurity to become one of the best known and richest women in England. Her six children were the beginning of her legacy, which continues today through the lined of the Dukes of Devonshire, Somerset, and Norfolk, as well as the Earl of Pembroke. Her granddaughter Arbella, the daughter of Bess’s daughter Elizabeth and Charles Stuart, had a significant claim to the throne following Queen Elizabeth I, but was ultimately pushed aside in favor of King James I.

Upon Bess’s death, Hardwick was left to her second and favorite son William, while her eldest son Henry inherited Chatsworth. Several generations later, Chatsworth became the principal residence for the Cavendish family. This meant that Hardwick Hall remained largely unoccupied since the 17^th century and remains mostly unaltered or updated. The interior of Hardwick Hall remains one of the best examples of Elizabethan architecture and style.

Care of Hardwick Hall was taken over by the National Trust in 1959, and since then the Trust has worked to maintain and conserve the treasures both within and without this beautiful house, while keeping it open for visitors. The National Trust is a non-profit, charity organization tasked with the job of “keeping places special for ever, for everyone.” The National Trust manages and maintains over 500 houses, buildings, gardens, and areas of interest and natural beauty across Great Britain.

Old Hardwick Hall

Interestingly, Hardwick Hall was built just steps from Bess’s childhood home of Old Hardwick Hall. Over the years, Bess added on and modified this building until she abandoned it in favor of starting afresh with the new Hall. Old Hardwick Hall is owned and managed by English Heritage, another charity which oversees many historical sites in Britain. Chatsworth, the current residence of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, is still privately owned by Bess’s descendants and is also open for public viewing.

One of my favorite views

Summary:

This series has looked at three different houses, all with different solutions to the same problem: that of affording the upkeep of a great estate in today’s economy. In two cases, Wollaton and Hardwick, the families chose a different house for their primary residence and gave others to charities or local government to rid themselves of the burden. Only Longleat remains in private family ownership. But all three are open to visitors who want to explore the past and share their history. If you get the chance to visit any of these, or any one of the many historical homes open in Great Britain, I urge you to take it. Whether you, like me, go to see the houses themselves, or the art and tapestries they contain, or the formal gardens surrounding them, I think you will agree that they are a beautiful piece of history.

Posted in England, Hardwick Hall, Robert Smythson, Travel | Comments Off

Stately house, part II: Longleat

Posted on March 22, 2018 by Katherine J. Scott

Longleat was built by the ambitious Sir John Thynne. He began converting an existing priory in 1540 and did not stop tinkering with the building until his death in 1580. The building that stands today is actually considered the fourth Longleat, replacing an earlier building that caught fire in April of 1567. In 1568, a stonemason named Robert Smythson joined the workforce at Longleat and, although probably not responsible for the final design of the building, he learned all the skills and vision he would need to continue his career at Wollaton, Hardwick, and other locations.

The story of Sir John Thynne and the building of Longleat is a story in itself, and one that I am hoping to tell in fictional form. For now, let’s concern ourselves with the current state of Longleat and how it affords to maintain itself. Longleat has been continuously owned by the Thynne family since its construction and almost continuously occupied by the family.

The Thynne family has been successful; the original Sir John rising from a steward of Lord Protector Edward Seymour, 1^st Duke Somerset, and surviving Somerset’s disgrace and eventual execution for treason. Throughout the following generations, the family has risen with a succession of titles, first the 1st Baronet of Kempsford, quickly followed by 1^st Viscount Weymouth, to Marquess of Bath.

Currently, Longleat is home to Alexander, 7^th Marquess of Bath, his son Ceawlin, current Viscount Weymouth, and grandson John. In the last few generations, the family has taken steps to ensure there will be Thynne’s at Longleat for years to come.

In 1946, Henry Thynne became the 6^th Marquess of Bath, inheriting the Longleat estate along with £700,000 death duties or inheritance taxes. Over the next few years he struggled to maintain the house and estate which cost more to run than it earned. He decided to fix up the house and then open it to the public. In April 1949, Longleat became the first privately-owned stately home to admit the public on a regular basis. Rooms were converted to a gift shop and café, and members of the family acted as tour guides and parking attendants. By the end of the first year, over 135,000 people had paid to visit the house.

Later, the animals were added. In the mid 1960s, the 6^th Marquess of Bath began conversations with an animal trainer named Jimmy Chipperfield. In 1966, the Safari Park at Longleat opened, which has grown and increased over the past fifty years. Longleat is now a popular tourist destination complete with train and boat rides, multiple animal exhibits, one of the largest hedge mazes in the world, and many other attractions.

The Lions of Longleat

Interestingly, Sir John’s family crest includes a red lion with a knot in his tail. Sir John was knighted on September 10, 1547, following the Battle of Pinkie, by Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset. The lion is the symbol of Scotland, whom the English defeated in the Battle of Pinkie, and Sir John adopted the symbol of a defeated lion for his crest. So, lions have long been associated with the Thynnes of Longleat.

I think the original Sir John Thynne would have approved of these changes. Surprised certainly, but I think he would have approved. Above all else, Sir John was a survivor and a man who would do what was required to keep his house. That his descendants have found a way for Longleat to not only survive, but thrive, I think would have pleased him.

Longleat's hedge maze

If you find yourself in Wiltshire, take some time to visit Longleat. Whether you lose yourself in the maze, watching the lemurs, or touring the house itself, you will enjoy yourself. I know I did.

Some of Longleat's current residents

References:

Thynne family tree https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Thynne_family_tree

Longleat: The Story of an English Country House, by David Burnett, 2009 The Dovecote Press

Posted in England, Longleat, Robert Smythson, Travel | Comments Off

Stately house, part I: Wollaton Hall

Posted on March 13, 2018 by Katherine J. Scott

Inspired by a recent cnn.com article about how to fund a British stately home or manor house in modern times, I thought I would write about how this has been handled by my three favorite houses. First up: Wollaton Hall.

Wollaton Hall, Nottingham

Wollaton Hall was built in Nottingham between 1580 and 1588 for Sir Francis Willoughby. The building was designed and built by master mason Robert Smythson, who remained in the Willoughby family employ for the rest of his life, settling in Wollaton Village and eventually acting as the bailiff for Sir Francis and his heirs.

The Willoughby's no longer live at Wollaton and have not done so since 1881. The descendents of the original Sir Francis Willoughby now live in Birdsall House in North Yorkshire.

In fact, Wollaton Hall has not been used as a private residence for much of it's 430 year history. Upon completion of the new Hall and until his death, Sir Francis remained living at Wollaton Old Hall, using the new building only for special occassions. His heir and son-in-law preferred the family residence at Middleton. Another Sir Francis Willoughby, the great-great grandson of the builder decided to live at Wollaton upon receiving the title and inheritance, only to die two years later.

Much of what we know of the early history of Wollaton can be traced to the writings of this Sir Francis's sister, Cassandra Willoughby, later the Duchess of Chandros. She lived at Wollaton from 1686 until 1713 and spent her time transcribing documents and writing a family history.

Cassandra and Francis's brother Thomas inherited the estate after Francis' death and was elevated to Baron Middleton in 1711 or 1712. Eventually, in 1781, Thomas's grandson, Henry, inherited the title of 5th Baron Middleton from his Uncle. Henry's parents were Thomas Willoughby, younger son of the 1st Baron Middleton and Elizabeth Sotheby of Birdsall Manor in Yorkshire (yes, connected to those Sothebys). At this point, the Willoughby holdings consisted of Wollaton Hall, Middleton Hall, in Staffordshire, and Birdsall House.

By 1881, Birdsall was the preferred residence for the Willoughby family and Wollaton Hall remained vacant. In the 1920s, facing heavy death duties, or inheritance taxes, the 10th Baron agreed to sell the Wollaton estate to Nottingham Corporation. The sale became final under the auspices of the 11th Baron for the sum of 200,000 pounds. The following year the Corporation sold off part of the estate to housing developments, keeping the Hall and immediate grounds for public use.

Wollaton Hall, now the Nottingham Natural History Museum

In 1926 Wollaton Hall reopened its doors as a National History Museum and has remained that ever since. Parts of the building can be toured as a historical building, along side the natural history exhibits. Builder Sir Francis's great grandson was a well known naturalist, and I think he would have been pleased with this turn of events. The original Sir Francis? I'm not so sure.

Elizabethan Great Hall ceiling with dinosaur

When we visited, we shared the space with a special exhibit of the Dinosaurs from China. What would the original builder, that proud and eccentric man, have thought of the huge skeletons of ancient beasts standing in his Great Hall?

The Willoughby family retains ownership and residence in Birdsall House, which, like others in the original CNN.com article is available for private hire for weddings and other events. Middleton Hall was sold in the 1920s as well, first to a private owner and later to a corporation. It is currently owned by a charitable trust. Middleton Hall has it's own rich history and is open for visitors and events.

In summary, the Willoughby family is associated with three great houses. Only one of them is still lived in and privately owned. All three are open to the public in some manner, whether for private event hire or a general visit. Stay tuned for the story of Longleat and Hardwick.

References:

Wollaton Hall and the Willoughby Family, by Pamela Marshall, Nottingham Civic Society, 1999

The Middleton Collection at the University of Nottingham,

Wollaton website

Birdsall House website

Middleton Hall website

Posted in England, Robert Smythson, Wollaton Hall | 1 Comment

Story Magic

Posted on October 16, 2017 by Katherine J. Scott

Several months ago, I sat in a writing workshop put on by the wonderful Writer’s League of Texas, and the instructor had us do some quick writing using the skills we were learning about. I wrote about a mailman who fell in love with a woman to whom he delivered mail. At first he admired her from afar. Then he began reading her mail to learn more about her. Then he began sending her mail. There was a boyfriend involved, the mailman grew jealous, the writing exercise ended before I found the ending. There were a lot of descriptions of her clothing, all of it yellow. I don’t know why.

I thought no more about these people until last week when I was browsing the stacks of the local library and came across this book: The Peculiar Life of a Lonely Postman, by Denis Theriault, translated by Liedewy Hawke. The back of the book told me it was a story of a mailman who reads people’s mail and falls in love with one of the people whose letter’s he delivers. I was intrigued. I was hooked. I checked it out.

What followed was a lovely story about a man’s obsession with a woman through the poetry she writes and sends to one of the people on the postman’s route. In an effort to continue his relationship with the woman, he takes greater and greater risks, makes wild choices and sees his life unravel because of them. It is a fun story with a poignant and thought-provoking ending. It is a far better than the one I began to write in that workshop, and I am grateful that fate brought it to me.

So, the idea so similar to mine. What’s that all about? Elizabeth Gilbert writes about it in Big Magic. Gilbert tells of a story idea that leapt from her mind to that of Ann Patchett when the two met and exchanged a kiss. She continues to say that instead of assuming or accusing Patchett of stealing her idea, she believes “that ideas are alive, that ideas do seek the most available human collaborator, that ideas do have a conscious will, that ideas do move from soul to soul” looking for a conduit to expression.

Now, I’m not saying that I had the same idea as Theriault, because his book existed prior to my writing exercise, but I do believe there is some magic out there that gets books into our hands the moment we most need them, at the time when they will have their biggest impact. I believe in synchronicity in the stacks. I love the idea of ideas having lives of their own, of their searching for someone to bring them into being, a partnership as it were.

What is this story trying to tell me? I don’t know. Yet. That’s the magic of words, stories, and reading. They sit with you and continue to work on your soul, teaching you long after you’ve closed the pages. Perhaps it was a call to interact with more poetry, or to go back and look at old writing exercises. Perhaps it was a call to discover a new writer. I think it may have been a call to be more daring in my writing, to take more risks, to make worse things happen to my characters. What’s the worst that could happen? Okay, let that happen. Then what? Push the boundaries of what’s possible.

Next time you close a book, ask yourself what it shared with you and why. And if you’re looking for a good, short read, try The Peculiar Life of a Lonely Postman.

Posted in Book Review, Creativity, Reading, Writing | Comments Off