Gervase Jackson-Stops
Encyclopedia
Gervase Frank Ashworth Jackson-Stops OBE
(b. 26 April 1947 d.2 July 1995, London) was an architectural historian and journalist. He died of an AIDS
-related illness.
and later won an exhibition
to Christ Church, Oxford
and here he was amused that his tutor put down on his list as required reading Burke's Peerage
. His grandfather, Herbert Jackson-Stops, founded an eponymous and up-market estate agency.
He trained with a Museums Association
Studentship at the Victoria and Albert Museum
from 1969–71 and as a Research Assistant at the National Trust
from 1972–75.
. It was the first time that Government funds, rather than the traditional family endowment, were used to save an historic house.
He was also the curator of various exhibitions including "The Treasure Houses of Britain", held at the National Gallery of Art
, Washington, DC in 1985–86. He also contributed numerous scholarly architectural articles to Country Life
magazine between 1973 and 1995. He was awarded an OBE in 1987 and he kept his OBE insignia pinned to a bronze bust of Diana in his home.
Jackson-Stops developed a unique home in The Menagerie
, a Grade II listed building at Horton
, Northamptonshire
, part of the estate buildings for the now demolished Horton House and seat of the Earl of Halifax
. The building is a one-storey building with corner pavilions and a raised central area. The surrounding windows are by Gibbs. The work has most recently been attributed to Thomas Wright
who undertook work for Lord Halifax in the 1730s.
The saving of this unusual building was Jackson-Stops's own private achievement; when he first heard of the property in 1972, he found an architectural dream; here he restored one of the finest English Rococo
plasterwork rooms, complete with Father Time, the Four Winds, and above the cornice 12 large-scale medallions of the Zodiac.
Later on in the 4.5 acres (1.8 ha) gardens he added two further follies and, with his friend Ian Kirby, he created a romantic English garden which incorporated both a formal period-design an exciting modern planting.
This house was for him his own country house in miniature, and in the manor of the country house there he gave a succession of parties, often with operas, in the best traditions of the fête champêtre
and it was only a week or so before he died that he gave what would be his final party to celebrate the opening of his "shell grotto" with its suggestions of the underworld.
A paint colour, "Gervase Yellow", has been developed by the paint manufacturers Farrow & Ball
in Jackson-Stops' memory.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(b. 26 April 1947 d.2 July 1995, London) was an architectural historian and journalist. He died of an AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
-related illness.
Education
He was educated at HarrowHarrow School
Harrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...
and later won an exhibition
Exhibition (scholarship)
-United Kingdom and Ireland:At the universities of Dublin, Oxford and Cambridge, and at Westminster School, Eton College and Winchester College, and various other UK educational establishments, an exhibition is a financial award or grant to an individual student, normally on grounds of merit. The...
to Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
and here he was amused that his tutor put down on his list as required reading Burke's Peerage
Burke's Peerage
Burke's Peerage publishes authoritative, in-depth historical guides to the royal and titled families of the United Kingdom, such as Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, and of many other countries. Founded in 1826 by British genealogist John Burke Esq., and continued by his son, Sir John...
. His grandfather, Herbert Jackson-Stops, founded an eponymous and up-market estate agency.
He trained with a Museums Association
Museums Association
The Museums Association is a professional organisation based in London for museum professionals and museums in the United Kingdom.The association is the oldest museum association in the world and was started in 1889 by a small group of museums to protect the interests of museums and galleries...
Studentship at the Victoria and Albert Museum
Victoria and Albert Museum
The Victoria and Albert Museum , set in the Brompton district of The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London, England, is the world's largest museum of decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 4.5 million objects...
from 1969–71 and as a Research Assistant at 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...
from 1972–75.
National Trust
He was the Architectural Adviser to the National Trust for over 20 years, earning enormous respect as result of which he broke fresh ground when he fought for the rescue of the decaying Northamptonshire manor-house at Canons AshbyCanons Ashby House
Canons Ashby House is an Elizabethan manor house located in Canons Ashby, Daventry, Northamptonshire, England. It has been owned by the National Trust since 1981, although "The Tower" is in the care of the Landmark Trust and available for holiday lets....
. It was the first time that Government funds, rather than the traditional family endowment, were used to save an historic house.
He was also the curator of various exhibitions including "The Treasure Houses of Britain", held at the National Gallery of Art
National Gallery of Art
The National Gallery of Art and its Sculpture Garden is a national art museum, located on the National Mall between 3rd and 9th Streets at Constitution Avenue NW, in Washington, DC...
, Washington, DC in 1985–86. He also contributed numerous scholarly architectural articles to Country Life
Country Life (magazine)
Country Life is a British weekly magazine, based in London at 110 Southwark Street, and owned by IPC Media, a Time Warner subsidiary.- Topics :The magazine covers the pleasures and joys of rural life, as well as the concerns of rural people...
magazine between 1973 and 1995. He was awarded an OBE in 1987 and he kept his OBE insignia pinned to a bronze bust of Diana in his home.
The Menagerie
Menagerie
A menagerie is/was a form of keeping common and exotic animals in captivity that preceded the modern zoological garden. The term was first used in seventeenth century France in reference to the management of household or domestic stock. Later, it came to be used primarily in reference to...
, a Grade II listed building at Horton
Horton, Northamptonshire
Horton is named from the Old English meaning "muddy farmstead" and lies in the English county of Northamptonshire. It was originally an estate village, serving the now demolished Horton House and it is close to its neighbouring village Hackleton...
, Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,...
, part of the estate buildings for the now demolished Horton House and seat of the Earl of Halifax
Earl of Halifax
Earl of Halifax is a title that has been created four times in British history, once in the Peerage of England, twice in the Peerage of Great Britain and once in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. The name of the peerage refers to Halifax, West Yorkshire....
. The building is a one-storey building with corner pavilions and a raised central area. The surrounding windows are by Gibbs. The work has most recently been attributed to Thomas Wright
Thomas Wright (astronomer)
Thomas Wright was an English astronomer, mathematician, instrument maker, architect and garden designer. He was the first to describe the shape of the Milky Way and speculate that faint nebulae were distant galaxies....
who undertook work for Lord Halifax in the 1730s.
The saving of this unusual building was Jackson-Stops's own private achievement; when he first heard of the property in 1972, he found an architectural dream; here he restored one of the finest English Rococo
Rococo
Rococo , also referred to as "Late Baroque", is an 18th-century style which developed as Baroque artists gave up their symmetry and became increasingly ornate, florid, and playful...
plasterwork rooms, complete with Father Time, the Four Winds, and above the cornice 12 large-scale medallions of the Zodiac.
Later on in the 4.5 acres (1.8 ha) gardens he added two further follies and, with his friend Ian Kirby, he created a romantic English garden which incorporated both a formal period-design an exciting modern planting.
This house was for him his own country house in miniature, and in the manor of the country house there he gave a succession of parties, often with operas, in the best traditions of the fête champêtre
Fête champêtre
A Fête champêtre was a popular form of entertainment in the 18th century, taking the form of a garden party. This form of entertainment was particularly popular at the French court where at Versailles areas of the park were landscaped with follies, pavilions and temples to accommodate such...
and it was only a week or so before he died that he gave what would be his final party to celebrate the opening of his "shell grotto" with its suggestions of the underworld.
A paint colour, "Gervase Yellow", has been developed by the paint manufacturers Farrow & Ball
Farrow & Ball
Farrow & Ball is a British manufacturer of paints, largely based upon historic colour palettes. The company was started in the 1930s in Wimborne Minster, Dorset. They have worked with the National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty of the UK, in formulating near to exact...
in Jackson-Stops' memory.