Weirdness @ Bumforth Manor

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Thu 05 Jun 2014 - Sun 08 Jun 2014

Historic Houses are usually places that deserve to be shown great respect; they are visited with the intention of widening one's cultural understanding, learning about history, and discovering pioneering figures from the past. But with a name like Bumforth Manor it is practically impossible to hold a a straight face. So why even bother? Between the 5th - 8th June, pop in for a free visit, and discover the Weirdness that ensued during the nineteenth century.

Nick Simpson is the custodian, curator, and descendent of a family that lived in Bumforth Manor for over five generations. Nick's grandfather, Samuel Heracles Gascoigne-Simpson, was an eccentric Victorian inventor, who also had an interest in photography. Studying, under William Henry Fox Talbot, the 'Father of Photography', Samuel combined his two passions to create pioneering - if not a little bizarre - work.

He developed a technique called Transient Puff, which involved making pictures on electrically alloy plates, using liquid mercury. This highly dangerous and explosive method actually received a patent - that is until people who used it began to change colour.

Nick Simpson recently discovered many of his great grandfather's glass plate photos languishing in the attic, and has decided to put them on display for the public. These images depict curious and oddball scenes of Samuel's (sometimes unwilling) subjects, which have been restored, and turned into limited edition prints that are available to buy.

#free
#fun_things_to_do
#historic_houses
#history
#humour
#photography
#quirky
#things_to_see
#june
!date 05/06/2014 -- 08/06/2014
%wnlondon