Uncover the fascinating stories behind Tatton Park's remarkable book collection with PHD researcher, Rachel Daley.
Have you ever wondered what stories hide on the shelves of the Tatton Park Library – and how all those remarkable books came to be there? PhD researcher Rachel Daley reveals the fascinating continental roots of the Tatton Park library, exploring the (often overlooked) influence of collector Samuel Hill on his nephew Samuel Egerton, who began his career as an apprentice in Venice.
Immersed in trade and culture, Samuel Egerton worked alongside eminent collector Consul Joseph Smith, acquiring books and artworks for wealthy Grand Tourists – including his Uncle Hill. This talk reveals how the eighteenth-century Grand Tour – a journey across Europe – shaped taste, status, and the art of collecting. Showcasing items in the collection bought by Samuel Hill and Samuel Egerton, demonstrates the family appetite for continental books, particularly those from specific publishers or with an element of rarity.
This is a story of two men whose travels and tastes transformed a private library into a window onto eighteenth-century Europe. By following their footsteps across the continent, we uncover how Tatton Park’s shelves came to hold not only rare books, but the ambitions, encounters, and imaginations of their collectors.
This event supports our fascinating 'Beyond the View: Canaletto' exhibition and your ticket includes entry to view this on the day of the talk. The event takes place in Lord Egerton's Apartment, overlooking Tatton Park's award winning gardens.
Rachel Daley is a third-year PhD researcher working with Keele University and the National Trust. Her research explores the library at Tatton Park as a social space, looking at how books were collected, circulated, and used, and at the role women played in shaping the collection. She is particularly interested in ideas of cosmopolitanism and regional book networks.
Rachel is also a qualified librarian and volunteers in Collections Care with the National Trust. Her research is funded by the North West Consortium Doctoral Training Partnership.
Time:
2:00pm - 3:00pm
Price:
£25 per person (includes Parkland and Mansion entry, including Beyond the View exhibition.*)
Book Tickets
*Exhibition can be viewed during opening hours before and after the talk.