Archive of the Month
The Boy and the Unicorn: A Very Special Cartoon
By Rachel Bennett, Assistant Archivist, RCB Library
For July’s Archive of the Month, we are exploring another unique item from the extensive collection relating to the diocese of Cork, Cloyne & Ross. When Bishop Paul Colton and his wife Susan took up residence in the Bishop’s Palace in Cork in 1999, they found various items located in storage, including a photo album that originally belonged to the Gregg family. As you will remember from a previous archive of the month the Rt Revd Robert Samuel Gregg (1798–1878) was Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross 1874–1893 [which can be read here] He succeeded his father John as bishop – the former having served during the period of the restoration of St Fin Barr’s, between 1862 and 1878.
Before Bishop Colton left office he and Susan arranged for the album to be repaired and fully conserved by specialists at Muckross Conservation Bookbinding in Killarney. He then subsequently deposited the album in the RCB Library where it is accessioned as RCB Library MS 1194. The volume contains a significant collection of photographs of St Fin Barre’s cathedral, documenting the complete restoration of the building by architect William Burges between 1862 and the later 1870s.
Currently Library staff are in the process of digitising the photo album, which is extremely rare and provides images of the building before and after the restoration – thus spanning the period of the two successive Gregg bishops. It will be available online at a later date.
For July, we are focusing on a unique original sketch found at the back of the album, drawn by William Burges himself. The cartoon includes a short note underneath “Sketch drawn by William Burges Esq for Jack when a little boy”. The note appears to have been made by John Gregg, who was residing with his family at the Palace and directly on hand to superintend Burges on his architectural plans for the Cathedral.
William Burges (1827–1881) was one of the leading figures of the Gothic Revival. Known for his richly decorative and imaginative architectural designs, Burges played a significant role in reviving medieval architectural styles during the Victorian era. Born in England, he was educated at King’s College School in London, where he initially studied engineering before joining the architectural practice of Edward Blore in 1844.
In his early 30s, Burges entered the competition to re–design St Fin Barre’s. The competition, held in 1862, attracted a considerable number of architects, who displayed their proposals at a public exhibition in Cork. When Burges was announced as the winner in February 1863, he simply recorded his success in his journal with the following entry: “Got Cork”! The commission would become one of the defining achievements of his career, and St Fin Barre’s remains one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture in Ireland.
As the cathedral restoration was underway family life for the extended Gregg family continued too. While vicar of Kilsallaghan in Dublin, John Gregg had married Elizabeth Law in 1830. The couple had a total of six children, including Robert Samuel Gregg, who succeeded his father as Bishop of Cork and actually put the finishing touches to the cathedral restoration in 1879.
His sister – the Gregg’s youngest daughter – was Charlotte Browne, and in 1871 she married the Revd Samuel Owen Madden, then rector of St Paul’s, Cork. The record of that marriage is held in the register for the cathedral, which records that she and Madden were wedded in holy matrimony by her father – on the 8 March 1871.
Robert and Charlotte went on to have nine children in total, four sons and five daughters, the first being John ‘Jack’ Madden. It is this grandson for whom Burgess sketched his cartoon, annotated and immortalised for ever in this unique volume.
Bishop Paul Colton first brought this story to light in his publication for children, young people, schools and parishes: Celebrating St Fin Barre’s 150 Years 1870–2020 (2020). To this we can now add the baptismal entry for the very Jack caricatured by Burges.
Burges is now remembered for his numerous architectural achievements, including the significant work at St Fin Barre’s Cathedral. This small sketch is an unexpected addition in the album that reveals a more personal connection between Burges and the Gregg family – serving as a reminder of the gems that can be recovered from archival collections.
For further information or questions about MS 1194, please contact Rachel Bennett, Assistant Archivist - [email protected]