Comments on: The Nelson Tower, aka Paxton’s Tower, Llanarthney, Carmarthenshire

By: Editor

Editor — Mon, 27 Sep 2021 07:15:05 +0000

In reply to Kate Harwood. Thanks Kate. I just need a few more hours in each day…

By: Kate Harwood

Kate Harwood — Sun, 26 Sep 2021 18:05:22 +0000

In reply to Editor.

If you’re really interested in the effect India had on the British – and vice versa – the John Keay’s books are good. Also Anthony Farrington’ Trading Places’, Philip Lawson’ ‘The East India Company: a history, Lawrence James ‘Raj: The making and unmaking British India’ and Jeremy Bernstein ‘Dawning of the Raj’. All good and then there are various tomes on gardens!

By: Editor

Editor — Sun, 26 Sep 2021 17:10:19 +0000

Hello Judy and thanks for your lovely comments. I haven’t seen his book on the East India Company, but I have read other works by Dalrymple, and as you say he is the best in the field. I will add this book to my (very long) list of future reading.

By: Judy Popley

Judy Popley — Sun, 26 Sep 2021 14:30:38 +0000

Fascinating article, as always. I’ve just been reading the masterly tome: Anarchy: The Relentless Rise of the East India Company by William Dalrymple who has extensive knowledge of India.

Quote from Amazon “A wonderfully readable history of the East India Company — The best history books of 2019 ― Prospect A dazzling account of multinational corporate rapacity in one of its first forms, the East India Company; yet again Dalrymple manages brilliantly to be both historian and contemporary analyst — Robert Macfarlane, author of ‘Underland: A Deep Time Journey’ Extraordinarily ….”

Interesting to know that the Botanic Gardens of Wales have taken over the estate – at least it hasn’t been turned into a trading estate or housing estate! Thanks again for your research.

By: Editor

Editor — Sat, 25 Sep 2021 09:59:33 +0000

In reply to Kate Harwood. Hello Kate, and thanks for taking the time to post such an interesting comment. Lucrative Arithmetik must have been responsible for some fine architecture, including, as you say, the amazing Sezincote.

By: Editor

Editor — Sat, 25 Sep 2021 09:54:06 +0000

In reply to John Malaiperuman. Hello John. It's a wonderful landmark and wonderful that it survives. Middleton Hall is a sad loss, but the site at least has an exciting future as home to the National Botanic Garden of Wales.

By: Kate Harwood

Kate Harwood — Sat, 25 Sep 2021 07:56:49 +0000

Paxton was partner of Charles Cockerell in India where they both made a lot of money through ‘Lucrative Arithhmetik’. Cockerell, of course, built Sezincote (architect, and brother, SP Cockerell) with help from William Daniell, the painter of Indian scenes. Perhaps the biggest ‘folly’ or collection follies of the Indian ones in Britain.

By: John Malaiperuman

John Malaiperuman — Sat, 25 Sep 2021 07:51:10 +0000

I love the title “Master of the Mint”. Thank goodness the folly was saved. Pity about the house.