Memoirs of the Celebrated Mrs Woffington: Timothy Richards of Bath

Monday 19 January 2009

Timothy Richards of Bath

Thought I'd share with you these fantastic bookends that I got as a birthday present a few years ago. They are by Timothy Richards of Bath who makes architectural models of period buildings; mine is a split pair of bookends (as opposed to a single doorway) of Queen Anne House in Bath. Last I heard, the workshop was located 300 yards from Bath Spa station, but Richards also exports to the US (details on his website). I'm in good company because apparently Margaret Atwood has a pair of Richards' bookends incorporating plaster, brass and stained glass, which she was awarded at the 2005 Edinburgh International Book Festival.

Photograph © Memoirs of the Celebrated Mrs Woffington.

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2 comments:

Anonymous said...: Love those bookends. I featured them on my blog a few years ago and was tempted to purchase a set. Now I wish I had.; 26 January 2009 at 15:42
Mrs Woffington said...: Ah, well, I believe he does ship to the States :); 26 January 2009 at 15:51

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Who was Mrs Woffington?

Virtually forgotten today, Margaret Woffington (also known as Peg or Peggy) would rise from humble origins to become one of Georgian London’s most famous actresses, sharing the stage with the likes of David Garrick and excelling in so-called ‘breeches roles’. Born around the year 1720 in Dublin, her childhood years were marred by the death of her father, which plunged her family into poverty. Having reputedly sold watercress barefoot in the streets of the Irish capital, she was soon talent-spotted by a tumbler known as Violante, who staged populist entertainments in booths around the city. Violante had a troupe of child actors called the Liliputians, and before long Woffington was making her debut as Polly Peachum in their version of The Beggar’s Opera. Moving to London, she gained plaudits for both her outstanding beauty and her talent – particularly in comedy – appearing at both Covent Garden and Drury Lane. Known for her quick wit and no-nonsense attitude, she had high-profile affairs with Garrick, Lord Darnley and Charles Hanbury Williams; she was also a generous benefactor, supporting her elderly mother and may even have endowed some almshouses in Teddington, where she had settled at the height of her success. She died, unmarried, in 1760, having suffered a long wasting illness, and is buried in Teddington's parish church of St Mary’s.

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