Archive of correspondence, plans, friezes, property documents, etc: Swarthmoor Hall, 'The Birthplace of Quakerism': Its renovation by the Edwardian architect Frank Gray Wallis.

Swarthmoor Hall in Cumbria - known as 'The Birthplace of Quakerism' - is a building of immense symbolic importance to members of the Religious Society of Friends, a place of pilgrimage from all over the world. It is, in addition, an English Heritage listed building. This archive contains a mass of previously-unknown material relating to its renovation from 1913 onwards, under the supervision of the Liverpool architect Frank Gray Wallis (b. 1868), himself a Quaker. It contains plans and designs by the architect, his correspondence with the Hall's owner Miss Abraham, and a small collection of documents relating to the history of the property and its owners.Background: Swarthmoor Hall was the family home of the parliamentarian Thomas Fell (1598-1658), Vice-Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. Fell's wife Margaret (1614-1702, 'the nursing mother of Quakerism') was impressed by the teachings of George Fox (1624-1691), and prevailed on her husband to afford Fox and his followers protection. On Fell's death Margaret became Fox's wife. Rachel Fell, one of Margaret Fox's daughters by her first husband, married Daniel Abraham, who inherited Swarthmoor Hall. It was sold out of the Abraham family in 1759, and allowed to fall into decay, with much of the panelling being removed, and nearly half of the building collapsing. This archive contains material assembled by Miss Emma Clark Abraham (1850-1934), direct descendant of Margaret Fox through her daughter Rachel and her husband Daniel Abraham. Miss Abraham, with money inherited from her father the leading Liverpool pharmacist John Abraham (1813-1881), bought Swarthmoor Hall back into the Abraham family in 1913 (not 1912 as often reported; see indenture in section D below) for £5,250, and immediately set about a programme of renovation and restoration, including the introduction of a balcony and the repanelling of much of the house, including the Great Hall and Judge Fell's Study. The building was purchased from Miss Abraham's nephew in 1954 by 'claimants' on behalf of the Society of Friends, as agreement of 1913 (see above-named indenture). The archive not only contains correspondence casting valuable light on the state of the house and the nature of the changes made to it by Wallis for Abraham, but also includes attractive ground plans by the architect of the interior and grounds, as well as a number of designs for architectural details.The condition of the correspondence is good, with all items clear and complete on lightly-aged paper. The plans and details are in fair condition overall, with some items carrying closed tears where the tracing paper has become brittle along its creases. (The one exception, in poor condition, is described in section C below.)A. Letters, description of proposed renovation work at Swarthmoor Hall and estimate by Wallis.- Manuscript copy (folio, 2 pp) of undated itemised estimate by Wallis of the 'cost of the proposed alterations and improvements' to Swarthmoor Hall. Totalling £1399, and with 27 items (including 'Conversion of old cartshed to fowlhouses & piggery' and 'Iron frames & lead lights to windows throughout'), under the headings 'The Approach etc.', 'Farm Buildings', 'House', 'Panelling' and 'Drainage'.- Undated typed document (4to, 8 pp) signed by 'Frank Gray Wallis | Architect | 85 Lord Street | Liverpool', describing in detail 'works to be carried out' at Swarthmoor Hall. Dealing in turn with 'The Approach', 'Alterations to Farm Buildings', 'The House', 'Internal Fittings and Decorations', 'The Hall', 'The Study', 'The North Bedroom', 'S.E. or Bay-Windowed Bedroom', 'Attics' and 'Drainage'.- Ten Autograph Letters Signed and one Autograph Note Signed from Wallis to Emma Abraham. One undated, the others written between 1913 and 1916, and all concerning renovations to Swarthmoor Hall. Totaling 4to, 3 pp; landscape 8vo, 3 pp; and 12mo, 6 pp. All sent from Liverpool, the first five dated items on Wallis's Cook Street Letterhead ('Domestic & Garden Architect), and the last five on his Lord Street Letterhead ('Architect & Garden Architect'). The undated letter on letterhead of Philip H. Lockwood, Architect, Liverpool, with Lockwood's details deleted to leave the address. Enclosing plans, reporting on the progress of the work and the results of inspections, providing estimates and accounts for purchases and replying to points raised by her. On 7 January 1914: 'I am sorry the prices have come out so much higher than we reckoned but evidently Ulverston is a much worse place for building than I should have expected.' On 18 April 1916 he excuses a quotation he has received: 'The price £206 is of course much higher than it would have been before the War but on the other hand we might wait 3 or 4 years before we could get a price £50 less, & it does not seem worth while waiting for a small reduction.'B. Plans by Wallis of the proposed renovation work.- Plan on tracing paper of 'Swarthmoor Hall | Suggested Layout of Grounds and Addition to House'. 96 x 64 cm. Some colouring. An attractive document, with the lettering in an art nouveau style. companion piece to the last, including vignette illustrations of 'Suggestion for Restoration of Arch' and 'Doors at A & A'. Numbered 'XXXVIII 3 25313 [25 March 1913]'.- Ground plan on tracing paper of 'Swarthmoor Hall | Extra Bedrooms over Kitchen.' 26 x 18 cm. Numbered by Wallis 'XXXVIII 7 30413 [30 April 1913]'. (Incorporated in next.)- Plan on thick paper of 'Proposed Addition to Swarthmoor Hall'. 76 x 55 cm. In colours. An attractive companion piece to the plan of the grounds, with a similar art nouveau feel. Giving two elevations ('Section AA' and 'Section BB'), 'Ground Plan', 'Chamber Plan', and plan for 'Bedrooms on 2nd. Floor (above existing Kitchen)'. Numbered by Wallis 'XXXVIII 12 10613 [10 June 1913]'. Together with a Typed Letter Signed (4to, 1 p) to Emma Abraham from James W. Alsop of Alsop, Stevens, Crooks & Co, solicitors of Liverpool, 13 June 1914, concerning the plan's return.C. Architectural details by Wallis on tracing paper.- Rectangular frieze, incorporating shell and floral motif, on both sides of the same piece of tracing paper. 52 x 22 cm. Also carrying on it an undated Autograph Letter Signed by Wallis to Emma Abraham, beginning: 'This is the design for the smaller door panel. I hope you will be able to understand the treatment required from the panels at a similar style that you did for the mantelpiece.'- 'Half Inch Details of Panelling in Study'. 75 x 36 cm. Including a wood-panelled fireplace. Numbered 'XXXVIII 5 29413 [29 April 1913]'.- Rectangular frieze, captioned 'Swarthmoor Hall | Full size Details of carving to Panels in Study'. Numbered 'XXXVIII 8 26513 [26 May 1913]'. 76 x 38 cm.- Ornate frieze incorporating shell and floral motifs. Numbered 'XXXVIII 45 16114 [16 January 1914]'. 44 x 36 cm.- Frieze incorporating floral motifs. Numbered 'XXXVIII 47 4214 [4 February 1914]'. 27 x 32 cm.- Rectangular design, incorporating a tudor rose. With note: 'Bottom of Pillaster'. Numbered 'XXXVIII 66 2.IX.14 [2 September 1914]'. 100 x 22 cm.- Design for numerals of year '1914'. Numbered 'XXXVIII 83 16.IV.15 [16 April 1915]'. 52 x 44 cm.- Design of numerals '1914'. (Smaller version of last.) 30 x 23 cm.- Rectangular frieze, incorporating palm motif and a shield. With note indicating 'Centre line of panel.' 76 x 27 cm.- Rectangular frieze, incorporating year '1914'. 90 x 30 cm.- Rectangular frieze in poor condition, with sections held together with contemporary gummed paper.- Rectangular frieze, incorporating a tudor rose and curving floral motif. 76 x 25 cm.- Also included are three designs on small irregular pieces of tracing paper, and a crude design for stone arch.D. Property documents relating to Swarthmoor Hall.- Manuscript copy (4to, 2 pp) of letter from Margaret Fox to Lord Ancram, 31 January 1685 ('A.R.B. Collection No. 105'). With signed note by Emma Abraham: 'Copied from the original in Devonshire House London & sent to me by (Mrs.) Helen G. Crosfield, Feb. 29th. 1912.'- Victorian manuscript copy (4to, 2 pp) of George Fox's will of August 1688. Apparently made for Emma Abraham's father John Abraham (1813-1881), whose name is in the top left-hand corner of the first page.- Typed synopsis (folio, 3 pp) of 'Conveyance to Daniel Abraham' of 'the Manors of Ulverston and Blawith and Swarthmoor Hall', 8 July 1694. Followed by short note regarding the deed and two others. In envelope docketed by Emma Abraham: 'Copy (abridged) Deed 1694 Charles Fell &c to Dan. Abraham | In possession of the Duke of Buccleuch.'- Nineteenth century copy (folio, 2 pp) of a 'M.S. in the handwriting of John Abraham | An Estimate of Swarthm[oo]r yt I would Dispose off June 13th. 1740', with the 'Lands that I could wish to keep with Swarth[oo]r Hall' on the reverse. Followed by short note 'by John Abraham (great grandson of the writer of the estimate'.- Victorian manuscript copy (folio, 2 pp) of letter from 'Ellen (Clare) Abraham to her daughter, Ellen', 18 August 1798.- Typed indenture (8vo, 11 pp + covering page) drawn up by Alsop, Stevens, Crooks & Co., Liverpool and dated 14 February 1913. 'Copy Agreement for option of purchase of the Swarthmoor Hall Estate Ulverston Lancashire and otherwise in relation thereto.' Miss E. C. Abraham to Wm. Hanbury Aggs Esq. and others. In original sealed envelope. Includes the names and addresses of Aggs and the fifteen other Quaker 'claimants', entitled to purchase the property on the death of Miss Abraham and her nephew Edward Mitford Abraham.- Three Typed Letters Signed to Emma Abraham from R. B. Jackson of Hart Jackson & Sons, Solicitors of Ulverston. All dating from July and August 1932. Regarding the inspection of four deeds in the possession of the Duke of Buccleuch.