Pictured above is Creech Grange Arch in Dorset and that, the Flâneuse feels she must confess at once, is almost all you will hear about follies this week, for she has been busy gallivanting in search of gazebos and grottoes. But if you are a folly fan who is also something of a cruciverbalist then read on.
Regular readers will know that the Flâneuse loves a tangent and can’t resist throwing in the odd random, but fascinating (hopefully), fact. In July 2022 she wrote about an article in an 1898 issue of Pearson’s magazine in which Edward le Martin-Breton wrote a rather dismissive article about follies. For example, Creech Grange Arch, aka Bond’s Folly, which was erected as an eye-catcher in the middle of the eighteenth century, was described as ‘a piece of useless architecture’.
Pearson’s, as the Flâneuse mentioned at the time, has a rather special claim to fame – in 1922 it is said to have featured the first ever crossword, then called a ‘word square’, to appear in a British publication. This reference was spotted by Yves Cunow, a French crossword compiler and historian, who was researching for a new book: Un Siècle de Mots Croisés. He contacted the Flâneuse, who was happy to pass on what she knew of this now forgotten title.
With his research complete, Yves has now generously shared the pages from Pearson’s featuring that very first ‘word square’ and the solution from the subsequent issue, so you can give it a go. Sadly there is no prize motor-car on offer. Bon courage!
Before you check your answers here’s one of the few follies that Mr le Martin-Breton actually liked: Conygar Tower at Dunster in Somerset. He described it as ‘sufficiently picturesque enough to escape the censure that has been given to so many similar erections’.
And here is the solution, plus a new puzzle if you require ‘an hour’s most interesting entertainment’.
For the article on follies in Pearson’s see https://thefollyflaneuse.com/famous-follies-a-nineteenth-century-view/
For more on the new book by Yves Cunow and Yves Dupuis see https://boutique.lemonde.fr/mots-croises/3238-un-siecle-de-mots-croises.html
After that diversion the focus will return to follies and landscape ornament next week. Thank you for reading.
Pennie Denton says:
I couldn’t believe that Bond’s Folly, Creech got such a brief mention. However, for those who may be more interested in this folly than in crosswords, the follyflaneuse wrote about my favourite folly on 11 November 2022!
Editor says:
Hello Pennie. Thank you for pointing this out, I should have added a link to the earlier post for people who wanted to know more about Creech Grange Arch/Bond’s Folly. I did state that this was a diversion from follies, but normal service will be resumed next week!
TOM GARDNER says:
WHEW ! NEXT PLEASE. (RETURN TO FORMER – FORMAT).
CROSS-WORD … ‘ENGAGEMENTS’ – WERE NEVER MY THING; I JUST HAPPEN TO BE …
MORE VISUAL, THAN CEREBRAL.
HOWEVER, HAVING BEEN A BUTLER TO SOME OF THE RICHEST AMERICAN FAMILIES, I HAD MY SHARE OF EXPOSURE TO: ‘STRUCTURES’ OF MERIT.
FOR FUN – SIMPLY GOOGLE: NEW YORK SOCIAL DIARY (THEN) MAR A LAGO
(THE ARTICLES SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES)
‘BEAUTY IS IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER’ … *** USE BOTH HANDS! ***
TOM GARDNER (THE ONCE UPON A TIME BUTLER)
Editor says:
Hello Tom. I did give fair warning in my opening paragraph that it was an unusual post. But things will be full on folly again next week.
Kate Dyson says:
Hello. If you are looking into a few grottoes, the late photographer, Nic Barlow did a good book on them. His own garden, Stancombe Park, Gloucestershire boasts both a folly and a grotto – well worth a visit if you have never been there. I wrote about the folly garden in the first issue of The World of Interiors. This accompanied Nic’s excellent pictures. Happy hunting. Kate
Editor says:
Hello Kate. I knew Nic and his mum a little and have visited Stancombe a few times. Wonderful garden and great folly stories. I’m always on the lookout for material so thanks for the suggestion.
Garance Rawinsky says:
I’m always happy to go off on a tangent, and who knows where we might end up. The occasional Entortilation sounds like fun too…
Editor says:
Good evening Garance and thank you. Ah yes. I had to reach for the dictionary for that one! Not sure entortilation will be entering my vocabulary.