Comments on: The Observatory, Haigh Hall, Wigan, Lancashire

By: Grace Ellis

Grace Ellis — Wed, 15 Jul 2020 10:41:05 +0000

Dear Alan really found your comments interesting and your photographs amazing
a much overused word- but in this case well deserved
Grace

By: Alan Davies

Alan Davies — Wed, 15 Jul 2020 10:05:06 +0000

In reply to Editor. Yes it’s just like jet when polished, amazing material

By: Editor

Editor — Wed, 15 Jul 2020 09:04:01 +0000

In reply to Alan Davies. Hello Alan and thanks for this really interesting comment. Good luck with your research. As you have a garage full of the stuff (and I didn't dare rub the bits in Wigan Museum!), can you confirm that you really could rub cannel coal against a lady's dress with no dire consequences? I didn't know about the seam in the US, fascinating stuff. I will enjoy looking at your photos. Thanks again.

By: Alan Davies

Alan Davies — Tue, 14 Jul 2020 23:58:55 +0000

Very interesting site, well designed as well. I’m a lifelong explorer of Haigh and the hall’s grounds. I’m gathering all my research for a book on Haigh Cannel. I have large amounts of it part filling my garage if anybody wants any!
In my Flickr Haigh album amongst natural history shots are historical images and Cannel related items. https://flickr.com/photos/28709338@N04/sets/72157650113112086
Cannel is formed from lake deposits, pond weed for example. One or two small bungalow type houses have been built from it in the US, there’s even a town there called Cannelton. Indians carved it into pendants at Ohio 3000 years ago.
Wigan Museum has an example of Town’s Henry VIII busts, bit of a production line!
Alan Davies
pitheadbaths@aol.com

By: Editor

Editor — Wed, 10 Jun 2020 14:19:16 +0000

In reply to Grace Ellis. Thanks Grace, I haven't seen this article so will look out for it. I have not visited the folly for many years but hope to revisit once we are all safely out and about again.

By: Grace Ellis

Grace Ellis — Wed, 10 Jun 2020 14:13:00 +0000

Dear Editor ,was just reading the June copy of Garden Illustrated
on page 35 there is mention of Slindon or Nore Folly in Sussex
Its been restored by NT – so Im sure it is on your radar But I thought I would mention it anyway Thanks for your recent email
Grace

By: Editor

Editor — Sun, 07 Jun 2020 11:56:33 +0000

In reply to Garance. Thanks Garance. It was new to me too, it's good to keep learning!

By: Garance

Garance — Sun, 07 Jun 2020 11:06:17 +0000

You really are educating us Ms Flaneuse. Cannel coal is a new sculpting material to me … and I find Town’s bust of Henry VIII most attractive. Made even more eye catching by the emerald neck piece he sports.

I love the idea of ladies in their finery sitting on coal and coming away unsullied – by the materials of the summerhouse, if not their follies in that space!

By: Editor

Editor — Sat, 06 Jun 2020 15:27:40 +0000

In reply to Susan Kellerman. Thanks for commenting Susan. The double portrait is fascinating and full of detail, as you say. There are birds on the crest but I couldn't say with any certainty if that is what the one perched on the chair represents. It is interesting that the accoutrements and outfits change in the two portraits of Sir Roger and Lady B; sadly I have not discovered why. The formal gardens were recorded by Knyff and Kip, easily found online. I have found no other evidence of buildings made of cannel coal. Possibly the Bradshaighs, who owned the seam, were the only people who had the means to use it so liberally.

By: Susan Kellerman

Susan Kellerman — Sat, 06 Jun 2020 12:57:43 +0000

This is a very interesting post. The Haytley painting is full of fascinating detail: what book is Lady B holding? What is the bird sitting on the chair? Is it significant, ie was it a family pet, did it feature on the family coat of arms, or is it symbolic? Lots of detail of formal garden layout. And note the rainbow, whose ‘end’ lies just beyond the folly on the hill.
As for the cannel coal, is there any evidence of any other use as a building material? Was it found in other parts of the country, or anywhere abroad? If it could be found anywhere else in Europe, might it also have been used in garden structures? In a park in Slovakia, in an area with a long tradition of iron ore mining, a late C18 garden temple was built with corrugated iron, and garden statues were also made from cast iron.