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Papers from Henrietta Somervell, Montrose, Angus, Scotland
551 660
Description Papers from Henrietta Somervell, Montrose, Angus, Scotland
Date c. 1850 to 1966
Collection Papers from Henrietta Somervell, Montrose, Angus, Scotland
Catalogue Number 551 660
Category All Other
Scope and Content The collection comprises an NMRS Survey of a Private Collection of photograph albums and original photographic material showing country houses, including Strowan House, Perth and Kinross, Gartsherrie House, North Lanarkshire, Scalpay, Western Isles, Sorn, and Ballochmyle, East Ayrshire, throughout Scotland, c.1860-1910. Further material includes an annotated post card album of unknown provenance which comprises 170 post cards of buildings in Scotland and England and a collection of published manuscript material relating to the historic homes of the Somervell family.
Archive History The collection comprises two accessions. The first is a collection of photographs lent by Miss Henrietta Somerville for copying by RCAHMS as a Survey of a private Collection and accessioned as Acc No 2003/315. Originally catalogued as collection 551 712 'A collection of albums of photographs of country houses'. This was merged into collection 551 600 'Miss Henrietta Somervell' when accession 2004/82 was catalogued into SAS. The second accession, Acc 2004/82, was a gift of original material comprising photographs of the Stirling, Colt and Somervell family homes, a postcard album of buildings in Scotland and England, and miscellaneous related publications. this material was rehoused and catalogued in 2023.
System of Arrangement The collection is arranged firstly by type of material and then by site where appropriate.
Related Material See also the 'Papers of the Family of Graham of Airth' held in the National Library of Scotland (Acc.12290) and the 'Research papers for "History and Genealogy of the Colts of that Ilk and Gartsherrie" (1887) by George Frederick Russell Colt' also held in the National Library of Scotland (Acc.12527). Both accessions were donated to the library by Henrietta Somervell in 2004 and 2005 respectively.
Access Conditions Open, but note that access may be subject to provisions outlined in the Data Protection Act and conservation requirements. Please contact the archive to confirm access in advance of a visit.
Administrative History Following the death of her father, David R Somervell (1912-c.2002), Henrietta Somervell has dedicated herself to his memory and the preservation of his extensive collections. In this role, she has donated material collected by David R. Somervell to a number of Scottish archives and heritage institutions including RCAHMS and the National Library of Scotland. David R Somervell was the son of Ann Colt and Henry Somervell. However, following the death of his father in a tragic incident in Paraguay, David was raised in Rydock, Shropshire by his cousin Mary 'May' Olive Stirling. Related to the Stirling family through his grandmother Henrietta Stirling, wife of Graham Somervell, David Somervell is a direct descendant of Jane Stirling (1804-1859), student and friend of Frederick Chopin. The collection includes a number of items relating to the Stirling family and their family home of Strowan House. The collection also includes a number of images of Gartsherrie House, the seat of the Colt family who they were closely related to through his mother Ann Colt, Killochan Castle, the ancestral seat of the Somervell family, and Sorn Castle, home of the Somervell family until 1907 when it was Sold by David's uncle James Somervell (1845-1924). Henrietta notes David as the principal collector within the family in a profile of David written for Christie's Auction House. David pursued his interest in antiques and collecting both in the accumulation of a family collection but also in running a small antiques business prior to the war. Additionally, David held a passionate interest in historic houses and renovated a number of buildings during his lifetime, including Holly House in Montrose shortly before his death. His interest in country and period houses contributed to the extensive collection of photographs of country houses which Henrietta kindly provided to RCAHMS for copying as a survey of private collections in 2003.
Finding Aids A handlist of the material gifted to RCAHMS in 2004 is held by that archive.
Accruals No further accruals are expected.
Accession Number 2003/315, 2004/82
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/collection/2021643
