Searching for an image of the Egyptian Spring, a garden ornament at Hartwell House in Buckinghamshire, the Folly Flâneuse found a picture postcard from the early years of the 20th century. But instead of the usual cheery message to a friend, the back of the card promised palatable prizes. So why was a folly being used to promote foodstuffs?
(Please indulge this brief diversion – we will return to the garden ornament in due course…)
Food manufacturers Symington’s were innovators in the field of customer promotions. As well as branded giveaways such as books of needles, thimbles and stamp books, the company produced picture postcards and asked shoppers to send them on to their friends.
The friend would then visit the grocer and ask for Symington’s ‘Table Delicacies’ in the hope of finding one of the yellow prize vouchers which were slipped into randomly selected products. The voucher entitled the holder to rewards such as a ‘box of samples’, or the latest cookery book. There were further rewards for those who recruited new customers via the postcard promotion.
The Folly Flâneuse was disappointed to discover that the campaign did not take follies as an overall theme, and the Egyptian Spring was possibly chosen for the marketing campaign because around the turn of the 19th century Symington’s claimed to be one of the first manufacturers to ‘promote the benefits of a healthy diet with their Egyptian food range’. The only other topographical card found to date featured a scene in Ceylon – presumably because Symington’s sold tea. Other cards had a more overt message:
After going off at that tasty tangent, we must get back to the garden ornament that started it all: the Egyptian Springs at Lower Hartwell.
It was commissioned by Dr John Lee (1783-1866) of Hartwell House as a garden ornament over a natural spring, and built in around 1850-1851 to a design by Joseph Bonomi junior (1796-1878)
Lee had a museum of Egyptian antiquities in the house and he had the well decorated with hieroglyphics, including a cartouche with characters that spell out (Queen) Victoria:
The building also had a Greek inscription, taken from Pindar’s First Pythian Ode, which translated as ‘Water, of all the elements is the best’. Early accounts of the Egyptian Springs suggest that this quotation was chosen because Lee was an advocate of temperance.
An account of 1912 states that inside the building there were carved lists of ‘celebrated men who were temperance reformers’. The author surmised that it was these unpopular temperance principles that led to the neglect of the temple after Lee’s death in 1866. By 1903, when the postcard below was sent, the building was looking pretty shabby.
By 1981 the building was described as looking ‘like a well-vandalized bus shelter’. Happily it was restored that same decade after Richard Broyd’s Historic House Hotels group rescued Hartwell House and turned it into a hotel. The spring and other garden features were restored under the supervision of architect Eric Throssel.
To end on a sweet note: Barbara Jones called the Egyptian Springs a ‘trifling curiosity’.
Although no longer in family ownership, Symington’s are still manufacturing today, so in return for this 21st century promotion the Folly Flâneuse awaits her box of ‘table delicacies’.
Hartwell House was given to the National Trust in 2008. The grounds are open to hotel guests only, but the Egyptian Springs can be found by continuing along the lane past the hotel entrance https://www.hartwell-house.com/
Please scroll down to the foot of the page to share any thoughts or comments. Thank you for reading.
David Winpenny says:
W H Smyth who drew the image of Hartwell House was the father of Charles Piazzi Smyth, scientist and ‘pyramidiot’ who is buried beneath his own pyramid at Sharow near Ripon. Egyptianism gets everywhere!
Editor says:
Hello David. Thanks for that extra information – I wonder if Smyth junior ever visited the collection at Hartwell?
Nic Orchard says:
Chiddingstone Castle has the ‘Egyptian Maze’, which is a fascinating concept. It does get everywhere! I presume the Grand Tour was indirectly responsible for many of these additions.
Editor says:
Good morning Nic. I didn’t know about the maze – another addition to the ‘to do’ list!
Julia Abel Smith says:
Thank you FF – I have visited Hartwell a few times but had no idea about the Egyptian Springs.
Here’s hoping you are thoroughly indulged with delicacies of all kinds!
Editor says:
Good morning Julia. Sadly the chances of Symington’s marketing team seeing this post are probably quite slim! Do go and find the Egyptian Springs next time you are anywhere near Hartwell, it’s such a pretty spot.
Gand says:
Well that proved to be a recipe for a rather tasty blog.
Lifting the spirits on a damp June day in Wales.
Editor says:
Hello Gand. I hope you have lots of’ table delicacies’ to enjoy when kept indoors by the rain.
archaeogail says:
Absolutely fascinating! I love it when research leads in such unexpected and interesting directions! Such a pity that access to the wider grounds is limited despite the NT connection.
Editor says:
Hello Gail. You are right, it is great fun to be diverted off down different paths. I never imagined that soup powders would become an area of interest! Hartwell House does have a programme of talks and teas which are open to non-residents, but you can’t just turn up and explore I’m afraid.
John St B Hooper says:
What a feast of information you have gathered about Symingtons, Who would have thought Egypt associated with such delicacies. I am glad to know the company is still in business but where would one find their products today? I remember with much delight their Table Creams, strawberry and maple and walnut were my favourites.
Editor says:
Hello John. I don’t remember Symington’s table creams – I think we were an Angel Delight household. The company originated in Market Harborough and there are lovely displays in the museum there if you are ever in the area. Two brothers started businesses there – one in groceries and the other in corsetry and liberty bodices. Sadly I couldn’t find any folly links in that trade!
AnnMarie says:
Fascinating, as ever, especially with the interesting side story…thank you.
Editor says:
Thanks Ann Marie. It is always fun to find such unusual stories about follies and landscape buildings.
TOM GARDNER says:
GREETINGS FROM: ‘THE BIG APPLE’ {NYC}, 29 JUN 24
I MUST SAY, WHAT AN ENRICHING PLEASURE (VIA) YOUR LAST OFFERING. AS IT HAPPENS, A FEW YEARS AGO, ON OUR PBS TV CHANNEL, THERE WAS THIS WONDERFUL ‘SERIES’ …
SYMINGTON’S, WHICH DEALT WITH THE ENTIRE ‘STORY’ OF THAT WONDERFUL STORE.
THE PRESENT -‘SPECIES OF – PLANET ‘EARTH’, SEEM TO HAVE LOST THAT MOST GLORIOUS TALENT AND GIFT OF CONSTRUCTING FOLLIES. HOW SAD!
BUT THANKS TO YOU, THE SPIRIT OF OUR ANCESTORS REMAINS A REALITY.
BRAVO AND ‘CARRY ON!’
YOUR AMERICAN SOUL* BROTHER
TOM
* LOVER OF THE BEST QUALITIES OF THE SPECIES.
Editor says:
Hello Tom. Let’s hope folly building is soon back in fashion – I’d love to feature more new follies on these pages.