At lunchtime today , a small group of members of the Company
gathered at Davy’s Wine Bar on Holborn for a delightful and convivial lunch in
the Bordeaux Room, before walking to the Sir John Soane Museum in Lincoln’s Inn
Fields.
There we were treated to a fascinating introduction to the
life and work of Sir John Soane, and what a life it was! Born to a bricklayer,
at the age of 14 he became a hod carrier, as his father had died and he had to
help support the family . After work he would sketch in the evening at home
some of the architectural features of the buildings that he had been working
on. His elder brother, also a bricklayer, recognised his talent, and managed
to show the drawings to various notables, and
before long his architectural career was launched, which would take him
to be closely associated with the good
and the great of his day . His marriage was a real love match too, marrying a
girl also of very humble origins . He wanted both his sons to be architects,
The younger one, John , did so , but the elder one, George refused to do so.
The family strife that ensued led to tragedy …..
There is material for a blockbuster film here!
The Museum itself is full of interest, reflecting an
enthusiasm for collecting on the part of Sir John that borders on the
obsessive. The Picture Room is a great attraction with its Turner and Hogarth’s
Rake’s Progress.
After our visit, we adjourned to a nearby café for tea, and
departed into the evening to journey home.
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