Journey into Wallington historian's own history

Posted by The Journal on Apr 17, 09 10:34 AM in What's On

An exhibition featuring a journey through the personal archive of one of the North East's greatest historians has gone on display.

Family photographs of George Macaulay Trevelyan have been brought together in a unique collection by the National Trust at Wallington Hall, Northumberland.

The Trevelyan family, 1910

Theo Trevelyan, Sir George Otto Trevelyan and George Macaulay Trevelyan. Theo, the eldest son of George Macaulay Trevelyan died tragically the following year, 1911, of appendicitis.

It was opened by Trevelyan's grandson George at his family home and features the academic throughout his life.

Born in 1876 into a dynasty of historical writers, Trevelyan has been described as arguably England's greatest historian during the 20th century.

The exhibition is made up of atmospheric black and white photographs set against a backdrop of 86 years of dramatic social changes in Britain.

Images include frivolous moments in plays at Harrow School, to travels around Italy, to images of wounded soldiers in the First World War.

Lloyd Langley, house and collections manager at Wallington said: "Following a series of photographic exhibitions in the house using Trevelyan family albums, I was put in contact with George Trevelyan, the grandson of George Macaulay Trevelyan.

"He kindly gave me access to his collection which had been passed down to him. The majority of images have never been seen by the public before."

The Trevelyans were a reformist Liberal family, well connected with great artists, poets, politicians and musicians of their day.

They were not, however, an inward-looking family and their liberalism and humanitarianism set them on a mission to share their love of learning with all social classes.

Trevelyan, who died in 1962, wrote many historical accounts. His research techniques included field walking and oral history, something very cutting edge at the time.

The books he wrote were not only factually precise and well researched, but were beautifully written for a popular market as well as fellow historians.

Mr Langley added: "Wallington was the family home of the Trevelyan family, who were not only great writers but were at the forefront of preserving our heritage long before it was commonplace to do so.

"George Macaulay Trevelyan was an exemplar of this tradition in his early support of Working Men's colleges, the Youth Hostel Association and The National Trust."

The exhibition can be seen at Wallington until September 5.

National Trust page for Wallington »

We'd like to hear from you.
Send your stories, pics and videos to northumberland@ncjmedia.co.uk