About the Angela Thirkell Society
The Society
Founded in 1980 by Mrs Diana McFarlan of Dublin, at the instigation of Margot Strickland, author of Angela Thirkell, Portrait of a Lady Novelist, and with the active cooperation of Lance Thirkell, youngest of Mrs Thirkell's three sons, the Society aims to honour the memory of Angela Thirkell as a writer and to make her works available to new generations. An annual Journal (free to members) is produced and contributions are encouraged. There is a thriving second-hand book scheme as well as a system by which members may borrow books which they might find too expensive or difficult to obtain, and regular regional and national meetings and outings take place. The Society also publishes articles and short stories by and about Angela Thirkell, letters written by her to her secretary, Margaret Bird, between 1950 and 1960, and a childhood memoir by her son Lance.
Activities
Outings:
1998 Burne-Jones exhibition in Birmingham.
1999 (With the North American Branch) Bluebell Railway and West Hoathly (setting for August Folly).
2000 Weekend in Brighton, Hove and Rottingdean, visiting Burne-Jones churches and The Grange local history museum.
2001 Stanway House, Gloucestershire (home of Lady Mary Elcho and the model for Rushwater House)
2002 Standen House, Sussex (designed by Philip Webb and containing many Morris & Co items), and Rottingdean.
2003 Kelmscott Manor (home of William Morris) and Buscot Park (Burne-Jones's Legend of the Briar Rose), Oxfordshire; All Saints Church, Cheltenham, and the Old Vicarage, Tirley, formerly the home of Gerald and Sunnie Carr, where Angela Thirkell and Lance stayed on several occasions.
2004 Watts Gallery, Compton, Surrey.
2005 All Saints Church, Wilden, Worcestershire, endowed by the Baldwin family, and Joseph Southall exhibition at the Cheltenham Art Gallery and Museum.
2006 Rottingdean, followed by tea with Angela Thirkell's cousin Molly Anderson, in Brighton. Addition visit to the Emery Walker House in Hammersmith, London.
2007 The Close, Salisbury (possible model for Barchester).
2008 William Morris Gallery, Walthamstow, plus Burne-Jones's The Last Sleep of Arthur in Avalon at Tate Britain, St Pancras Station (model for Pomfret Towers), and a talk on William Morris by Peter Cormack.
2009 Winchester, the Cathedral, Close and St Cross, possible models for Barchester and Hiram's Hospital.
2010 Rottingdean, to celebrate the Society's thirtieth anniversary. Optional dinner in Hove, overnight stay and visit to Batemans (home of Angela Thirkell's cousin Rudyard Kipling).
Many visits have taken place to Rottingdean, where Angela Thirkell spent many childhood holidays, and where she is buried beside her daughter who died in infancy.
Talks and discussions are held at the AGM and at Regional meetings.
A collection of colour copies of the covers of the English editions of the books started by the late Vice-Chairman, Margaret Beard, is under way, and we hope will eventually include the American editions as well.
Our latest project is to produce notes for each novel and invite those who can to explain the more obscure references (see Relusions)
Membership
New members are always welcome. To join, please fill out: Membership Application (PDF) . For general question, please contact Penny Aldred, the Angela Thirkell Secretary.