Game Diaries of Sir Robert Gresley Bt. of Drakelow, Derbyshire Five game diaries providing a...

Game Diaries of Sir Robert Gresley Bt. of Drakelow, Derbyshire
Five game diaries providing a fascinating insight into the world of the late Victorian and Edwardian shooting parties, comprising;

1) Merton 1886 - Egypt 1888, manuscript records of bags and guns (including Lords Walsingham, Stanhope and Ashburton, Col. Paget etc.), various estates including Wemmergill, The Grange and Barningham, 7 photographs of houses and shooting parties, 2 watercolour sketches, ends with a shooting trip to Egypt, pigskin bound (lacking upper board).

2) Broomhead, 1888 (1070 grouse on first day) to Campsea Aske, 1891, manuscript records of bags and guns shooting, with 59 photographs of both the various estates (including The Grange, Floors Castle and Londesborough Park) and of the guns, who have signed throughout. Guns include various members of the aristocracy including Lord de Gray (Lord Ripon), Lord Ashburton, the Duke of Wellington, Lord Chesterfield, Sir Ralph Payne-Gallwey, Lords Wellesley, Lonsdale and Lowther. The album includes a pen and ink sketch of a grouse drive at Broomhead. Pigskin.

3) Floors Castle 1891 to Canford Manor 1895, manuscript records as above, with 50 photographs of various shoots and shooting parties, a pen & ink sketch and a number of miniature portrait photographs, signed throughout by the guns including Lord Walsingham , the Duke of Roxburgh, Payne-Gallwey etc., oblong 4to, worn defective binding.

4) Acton Reynald 1900 - Canford? 1902, manuscript records as above, estates include Blenheim, Thirkleby, Holker and Broomhead (1470 grouse on first day), a.e.g., Asprey pigskin diary.

5) Game Diary for Drakelow, 1893 - 1911, manuscript records for Sir Robert Gresley's own shoot, usual aristocratic guns, a.e.g., Asprey morocco game book;

6) At least 40 game cards from various estates including Sandon, The Grange, Walcot, Ammerdown, Somerley, Bishops Hall, Dale Park and Eynsham Hall.

7) A 1 page A.L.S. to Gresley from Payne-Gallwey of Thirkleby Park

8) A 2 page A.L.S. from Lawrence [?Gresley, Sir Robert's son] describing how the books 'bring back memories of real civilised life, where one only associated with one's own milieu'

9) an extracted biography of Sir Robert Gresley.

[Guns present at shoots include the two 'greatest shots in England'; Lord de Grey (known as Lord Ripon pre 1871) and Lord Walsingham, as well as the author Sir Ralph Payne-Gallwey.
c.f. Ruffer (J.G.), The Big Shots, 1984 and Martin (B.P.), The Great Shoots, 1987]