Participants of the University boat race, Oxford crew, the Tatler

31st March 1926

Participants of boat race in cartoon characters showing Sir James Croft, 11th Bart. (Eton and Brasenose) as the cox.

Kitchen Mortar

From the former kitchens at Croft (without its pestle).

Two large fossils

The first a thatch weight from Iron Age hill fort. The second, a saddle quern for grinding corn used with sausage shaped stone.

County map of Herefordshire

1650-1703

By Robert Morden.

Map of Herefordshire

C. 1540-1610

Print, coloured by Christopher Saxton.

Trees in the Park of Croft Castle

C. 1850’s

By Bessie Edwards.

County map of Herefordshire

C. 1800

Pair of matching card tables

C. 1800-1850

D-shaped, on pedestal base and with swivel top. The top has a brass inlay and brown felt baize insets.

Elizabeth Croft’s chair

Mahogany with twisted legs on brass castors, embroidered seat and back by Elizabeth Croft.

Furniture

Chippendale mahogany Gothic silver table

C. 1770

The legs formed by four columns with carved centre lock and fretwork bracket to each corner. Under the Johnson's dictionary, 7th edition.

Small round table

With turned stem, on three legs.

Straightback easy chair

Early 20th century

Upholstered in green leather, English.

Spoonback easy chair

Mid Victorian

With walnut frame, green leather upholstery and shaped scrolled balloon type back on cabriole legs. English.

Round table with inlaid specimen stones

Although the precise origin is unknown, the top is most probably Italian with a central mini mosaic. It was perhaps made up in England.

Mahogany glass-fronted bookcase

Contains a collection of books on Herefordshire from the Coleman Bequest.

Mahogany folding library steps

Late 18th century

On square legs. Forms a concave shaped stool when closed.

Hepplewhite mahogany elbow chair

With pierced splat backs, carved wheat husk decoration to the top rail and drop-in seat with a tapestry cover.

Georgian mahogany single carver chair

Late 17th century

With floral tapestry seat depicting a Griffin and flowers on a cream ground.

‘Carver’ - a dining chair with arms, sometimes called an elbow chair.

The 'Croft' combined mahogany writing table and filing cabinet

Made for Sir Herbert Croft, 5th Bt (1751-1816) by Seddon Sons and Shackleton, with the letter 'B' on panel doors, two flaps and a drawer.

Illustrated and described in 'The Shorter Dictionary of English Furniture' by Ralph Edwards. One of a series made to the order of Sir Herbert Croft, 5th Bt by the firm of Seddon Sons and Shackleton when he was working on a new edition of Johnson's Dictionary.

Gothic style wastepaper basket

19th century

Open fretwork, in Chippendale style.

The Reverend Sir Herbert Croft, 5th Bt

1751-1816

Engraving by William Skelton, after portrait by Lemuel Francis Abbott (in gallery).

Pictures

William Croft, Music Doctor

Engraving.

Sir John Vanbrugh Grandson of Lucy Croft, the sister of Herbert Croft, Bishop of Hereford. Engraving.

Thomas Archer 1668 – 1743 Brother-in-law of Sir Herbert Croft.

Elizabeth Lewis Wife of Sir Herbert Croft. Photoprint.

Elizabeth Croft

Drawing using pencil, black chalk and coloured wash, by Joseph Slater (d. 1847).

Elizabeth Croft’s cousin Anthony Chawner

Drawing using pencil, black chalk and coloured wash, by Joseph Slater (d. 1847).

Engraving showing five 17th/18th c. composers:

Henry Purcell, John Blow, William Croft, Thomas Arne and William Boyce.

William Croft, a Composer of church music. Contemporary of Purcell, Arne and Boyce.

The Reverend Sir Herbert Croft, 5th Bt (1751-1816)

By Lemuel Francis Abbott (1760-1803)

Born 1718 and died in 1816.

Known as “The Dictionary Croft”; he worked on a new edition of Johnson’s

Dictionary, but was unable to publish it for lack of funds. He also wrote

novels, including “Love and Madness”

Herman St. John Wolff

The son of Mrs Wolff.

By Sir Thomas Lawrence using black and red chalk.

Mrs Wolff

(1771-1829)

By Sir Thomas Lawrence. She was the wife of the Danish consul, and a friend of the painter and of Miss Elizabeth Croft.

Michael Henry Glendower Page Croft, 2nd Baron Croft (1916-1997)

by John Napper in 1987

Watercolour on paper. Michael, 2nd Lord Croft, succeeded his father in 1947. In 1957 he and his family, assisted by a grant from the Minis-try of Works, gave Croft Castle to the National Trust.

Four Syrian oviform vases

Turquoise glaze with black designs of stylised flowers.

Chinese mug

19th century

showing island scene with trees, buildings and sampan in foreground, colours of rust, blue, green and gold

Ceramics

Liverpool Delft plate

c. 1760

With off-white ground, central floral spray of purple, blue and yellow flowers. Outer rim has three single blue flowers and three leaf stems.

French porcelain veilleuse. Early 19th century Seven sided and each panel decorated with male and female dancing figures. “Veilleuse” = A watcher, or night-light. A night-light candle in the base would keep a pot of tea or chocolate warm at the bed side. The pot to fit the top is unfortunately missing.

Liverpool Delft plate c. 1760 With off-white ground, central spray of flowers with three single sprays to outer rim. Colours of rust, blue, yellow and green.

Bronze desk inkstand

Ca. 1840

With Gothic decoration. Two inkwells with central seal compartment and seal holder. Carrying handle to each end.

Brass letter scales and weights to 8oz

Prices shown were in force June 1897 to Nov 1915.

Other items

Eight-day striking bracket clock c.1695 In walnut case by Thomas Herbert. Engraved calendar aperture in matted dial centre. Repeating train and bells were removed and altered to anchor escapement in 19th c.

Gothic brass night light

With gothic windows, tracery and a detachable painted glass liner showing a garden scene.

Ivory sculpture of Cupid and Psyche

A copy of a Roman 2nd century AD antique based on a Greek original which was given by Pope Benedict XIV. Acquired by Sir Thomas Lawrence (1769 - 1830) in Rome.

Pair of cupid candlesticks

Each with a pair of holders held by a cupid and with a central figure between. French Gilt metal and bronze.

Bronze figure of Cupid

Fitted for electric light.

Leather rack

Made from two volumes of 'Historie Naturelle'.

Mahogany letter box

Inlaid with satinwood and green stained wood. Decorated with bold shell motifs and central oval. Note the decoration to the inside of the lid, converted to a paper rack.

Bronze sculpture of The Hon. Diana Uhlman The sister of the 2nd Lord Croft

Regency chandelier

With ormolu fittings, bottom finial and anthemion finials to the top.

Framed photograph of Michael Henry Glendower Page Croft

Croft, 2nd Baron, with his children

Taken in the Library, 1959

With son Bernard William Henry Page Croft, later 3rd Lord Croft and

daughter Hon. Charlotte Elizabeth Ann Croft.