An account book kept by James Stark Senior, for substantial building work carried out at Ryston Hall, Norfolk, England between September 1795 and September 1798. Ryston Hall, in Norfolk, was built between 1669 and 1692 by the English architect Sir Roger Pratt, 1620-1684. Ryston Hall was remodelled by Sir John Soane in 1787, the work having been commissioned by Edward Roger Pratt, an acquaintance of Soane made on a grand tour; the quantity of bricklaying in these accounts suggest that additions were still being made to the house. In the 36 months covered in this book, Stark charged a total of approximately £1,462.18.7: listings include the number of days worked by a small team of carpenters and bricklayers, together with additional bills from suppliers and extra workers when required. The core team includes three members of the Colcher family, Tibbet, Barrit & Stark. The bricklayer is recorded as Butrice (spelled various ways throughout). Many of the workers, including Butrice, come accompanied with ‘his lad’ or ‘his son’. One record includes ‘Burton'(?) and ‘his daughter’, who worked only one day. In addition to the regular bill for labor and materials, entries include ‘Beeston’s bill for greenhouse £48.10.6’ and ‘Stark‘s bill for greenhouse £57.2.0’.
- Author: Stark, James.
- Title: Starks’s account book for 1795 : manuscript.
- Production: Norfolk, England, 1795-1798.
Catalog Record
LWL Mss Vol. 248
Acquired June 2019
