Benton Fletcher
Encyclopedia
Major George Henry Benton Fletcher (1866-1944) was a collector of early
keyboard instruments such as virginals
, clavichord
s, harpsichord
s and spinnets. He was also involved in social work, and dug as an archaeologist alongside Flinders Petrie.
He originally housed his instrumental collection at Old Devonshire House
in Bloomsbury
. He gave the collection to the National Trust
in 1937 and in 1939 moved most of it out to safety in the Cotswolds
until 1945. What remained at Old Devonshire House was lost when it was bombed in the Blitz
. From 1945 to 1952, the 19 evacuated instruments were housed temporarily at 3 Cheyne Walk
in Chelsea
, before being moved to their present home at Fenton House
in Hampstead
. The Trust maintains a balance between Fletcher's request that the instruments be played (music students can audition to use them, and a CD is available of music played on them) and their long-term preservation.
Fletcher became an Honorary Captain
in the 1st Cadet Battalion, Queen's Royal West Surrey Regiment in 1890. He was later also commissioned a Second Lieutenant
the 3rd (Militia
) Battalion, Sherwood Foresters
, and was promoted Lieutenant
in 1893 and Captain in 1895. He served as adjutant
of the cadet battalion from 1896 to 1903, except for a period of service as a Railway Staff Officer in the Boer War
in 1900. He resigned his commission as a Major
in 1909, but rejoined the battalion as a recruiting officer in 1914 on the outbreak of the First World War. In 1915 he transferred to the General List as a Railway Transport Officer, serving until 1920.
Early music
Early music is generally understood as comprising all music from the earliest times up to the Renaissance. However, today this term has come to include "any music for which a historically appropriate style of performance must be reconstructed on the basis of surviving scores, treatises,...
keyboard instruments such as virginals
Virginals
The virginals or virginal is a keyboard instrument of the harpsichord family...
, clavichord
Clavichord
The clavichord is a European stringed keyboard instrument known from the late Medieval, through the Renaissance, Baroque and Classical eras. Historically, it was widely used as a practice instrument and as an aid to composition, not being loud enough for larger performances. The clavichord produces...
s, harpsichord
Harpsichord
A harpsichord is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It produces sound by plucking a string when a key is pressed.In the narrow sense, "harpsichord" designates only the large wing-shaped instruments in which the strings are perpendicular to the keyboard...
s and spinnets. He was also involved in social work, and dug as an archaeologist alongside Flinders Petrie.
He originally housed his instrumental collection at Old Devonshire House
Old Devonshire House
Old Devonshire House at 48 Boswell Street, Theobalds Road, Bloomsbury, London, was the earlier Cavendish London house, sold by William Cavendish, 3rd Duke of Devonshire, who built Devonshire House in fashionable Piccadilly. It was owned by Benton Fletcher in the 1930s and 1940s, and housed his...
in Bloomsbury
Bloomsbury
-Places:* Bloomsbury is an area in central London.* Bloomsbury , related local government unit* Bloomsbury, New Jersey, New Jersey, USA* Bloomsbury , listed on the NRHP in Maryland...
. He gave the collection to the National Trust
National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
in 1937 and in 1939 moved most of it out to safety in the Cotswolds
Cotswolds
The Cotswolds are a range of hills in west-central England, sometimes called the Heart of England, an area across and long. The area has been designated as the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty...
until 1945. What remained at Old Devonshire House was lost when it was bombed in the Blitz
The Blitz
The Blitz was the sustained strategic bombing of Britain by Nazi Germany between 7 September 1940 and 10 May 1941, during the Second World War. The city of London was bombed by the Luftwaffe for 76 consecutive nights and many towns and cities across the country followed...
. From 1945 to 1952, the 19 evacuated instruments were housed temporarily at 3 Cheyne Walk
Cheyne Walk
Cheyne Walk , is a historic street in Chelsea, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It takes its name from William Lord Cheyne who owned the manor of Chelsea until 1712. Most of the houses were built in the early 18th century. Before the construction in the 19th century of the busy...
in Chelsea
Chelsea, London
Chelsea is an area of West London, England, bounded to the south by the River Thames, where its frontage runs from Chelsea Bridge along the Chelsea Embankment, Cheyne Walk, Lots Road and Chelsea Harbour. Its eastern boundary was once defined by the River Westbourne, which is now in a pipe above...
, before being moved to their present home at Fenton House
Fenton House
Fenton House is a 17th century merchant's house in Hampstead in North London which belongs to the National Trust, bequeathed to them in 1952 by Lady Binning, its last owner and resident. It is a detached house with a walled garden, which is large by London standards, and features roses, an orchard...
in Hampstead
Hampstead
Hampstead is an area of London, England, north-west of Charing Cross. Part of the London Borough of Camden in Inner London, it is known for its intellectual, liberal, artistic, musical and literary associations and for Hampstead Heath, a large, hilly expanse of parkland...
. The Trust maintains a balance between Fletcher's request that the instruments be played (music students can audition to use them, and a CD is available of music played on them) and their long-term preservation.
Fletcher became an Honorary Captain
Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)
Captain is a junior officer rank of the British Army and Royal Marines. It ranks above Lieutenant and below Major and has a NATO ranking code of OF-2. The rank is equivalent to a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy and to a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force...
in the 1st Cadet Battalion, Queen's Royal West Surrey Regiment in 1890. He was later also commissioned a Second Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
the 3rd (Militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
) Battalion, Sherwood Foresters
Sherwood Foresters
The Sherwood Foresters was formed during the Childers Reforms in 1881 from the amalgamation of the 45th Regiment of Foot and the 95th Regiment of Foot...
, and was promoted Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in 1893 and Captain in 1895. He served as adjutant
Adjutant
Adjutant is a military rank or appointment. In some armies, including most English-speaking ones, it is an officer who assists a more senior officer, while in other armies, especially Francophone ones, it is an NCO , normally corresponding roughly to a Staff Sergeant or Warrant Officer.An Adjutant...
of the cadet battalion from 1896 to 1903, except for a period of service as a Railway Staff Officer in the Boer War
Boer War
The Boer Wars were two wars fought between the British Empire and the two independent Boer republics, the Oranje Vrijstaat and the Republiek van Transvaal ....
in 1900. He resigned his commission as a Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
in 1909, but rejoined the battalion as a recruiting officer in 1914 on the outbreak of the First World War. In 1915 he transferred to the General List as a Railway Transport Officer, serving until 1920.
External links
- Catalogue of the collection (including the CD of music played on the instruments)
- Luxor & its Temples - Illustrated by Major Benton Fletcher
- The Story of Naples - Illustrated by Major Benton Fletcher
- 'A Handel Museum', by Benton Fletcher, The Musical TimesThe Musical TimesThe Musical Times is an academic journal of classical music edited and produced in the United Kingdom. It is currently the oldest such journal that is still publishing in the UK, having been published continuously since 1844. It was published as The Musical Times and Singing Class Circular until...
, April 1937, page 357