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Honourable Sir Gerald Hugh Tyrwhitt Wilson Born September 18th 1883, in Bridgenorth, Shropshire Died April 19th 1950,Faringdon House, Berkshire 14th Baron Berners, succeeded his uncle to the barony, originally created in 1455, in 1918. |
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Auto Epitaph: Here lies Lord Berners One of the learners His great love of learning May earn him a burning But praise to the lord He seldom was bored L Berners |
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| After a conventional
education, Gerald was sent to Europe to prepare for entry to the diplomatic
service. From 1899 to 1919 he travelled extensively and eventually became honorary attached to the British Embassy in Constantinople. An artistic person, his main claim to fame was as a composer, though he also wrote and painted. |
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In 1918 his life changed on succeeding to the title. He eventually settled at Faringdon House around 1930 when his mother died. From then on his eccentricity developed. He entertained lavishly - personalities from all walks of life - including the Mitfords, Duff Coopers, Evelyn Waugh, Cecil Beaton and any number of composers, painters and choreographers. He dyed his flocks of doves many different colours  .On the front door of Faringdon House was the legend 'Mangling done here'. |
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| With him at Faringdon
House was his young friend Robert Heber
Percy. The Folly Tower was opened in 1935 on Robert's birthday. Robert
always claimed he would have preferred a horse. Lord Berners' greatest work of art was Faringdon House, and on his death, Robert inherited this along with the rest of his possessions, and nearly all of his money. Reference:
Information contributed by Judith Ross |
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