The Lunar Society

During the Enlightenment there was a change in professions of the men who influenced people; instead of the authority of the church; with priests; men who interpreted the bible, 'thinkers' and practical men became paramount. A group of such men formed through the prevalent coffee house culture, including James Watt, inventor of the steam engine, Josiah Wedgewood, the potter, William Herscel, an astronomer, and Benjamin Franklin, pioneer of the science of electricity and founding father of the American Republic. They were also joined by Erasmus Darwin, poet, evolutionist and physician, who, it is rumored, is said to have had a semi circle cut out of the table at which he sat with these friends, to comfortably fit his large bulk, without the discomfort of being unable to draw up to the table to talk because of his stomach. Grandfather of Charles Darwin, during his life over two hundred years ago, he planned to tow icebergs to the equator to control the global climate.

Back to the men; formed in Birmingham, the group would meet once a month, on full moon, and christened themselves 'The Lunar Society'. This was not however down to any pagan tradition, rather a more practical solution; the presence of the full moon, if out, would hopefully cast more light in the darkness, allowing them to ride home in comparative safety after their meeting; in slight intoxication they were more likely to see the pitfalls in their road, and avoid an accident! They nicknamed themselves the 'lunaticks': a pun on the work lunatic.

Both the Egyptian Aviary and the Monument to a horse in the previous blog feature in the PG tips card collection posted earlier. Intriguingly I think these men may actually be related, certainly George Durant, who built the aviary is related to "Mad Jack" Fuller who I'm sure you've all heard me harp on about at some stage; he is the one buried in a pyramid in East Sussex. I have got slightly lost in exactly how they are related due to all the different accounts, but as they are if does explain something of their influences, and explain how several pyramids got build in 18th and 19th century Britain, all by men unlikely to have travelled far out the own counties and those neighbouring, let alone on the Grand Tour (The Pyramid of Cestrius in Rome is often stated to be an influence; if was a popular attraction for those young men who went on a Grand Tour) let alone to the pyramids of Egypt.

Obsessions with pyramids, church spires and pets

An Egyptian Aviary at Tong in Shropshire. Built in the 18th century by a man who inherited his father's estate at four years old, the aviary included a two doors, a small chicken-sized one and another almost as small, for the egg collector. The yellow brick building is dotted with comfortable nesting holes, and egg shaped ventilation holes. On the walls are inscribed the words "Trail by Jury" and "Scratch before you Peck" and bizarrely "Teach you Granny".

Illustration from Follies, edited by Sir Hugh Casson, National Benzole Books, 1963.


















Photograph from Monumental Follies: An exposition on the eccentric edifices of Britain, by Stuart Barton, Lyle Publications, 1972.


















When hunting one day, a man rode over a hedge, only to find on the other side was a huge chalk pit, 30ft across. Luckily for him, his horse stretched out a little more, and reached the other side safely, saving his life. This man, Mr Paulet St. John, was so overwhelmed he renamed his horse "Beware chalk Pit" and together they went on to win numerous races. This monument is St. Johns memorial to his horse, at Farley down in Hampshire, standing 25ft high, marking the resting place of his saviour. The monument was built around 1733.

Photograph from Monumental Follies.


















Robert Stephen Hawker a poet and vicar built his home, the Rectory at Morwenstow in Cornwall, with five chimneys - four of which are miniaturization's of his favourite church spires. The fifth, somewhat larger, seems somewhat different. Apart from its function - it is the kitchen chimney and so larger than those for heating the lofty building, it could possibly depict something much more morbid than a church spire. I have found various different accounts, which tell of two different accounts. One opinion is that it is some kind of trap for the devil, so that he may be trapped and roasted alive, the other is that it is a replica of his mothers tomb. They are united in one thing; the both state uncertainly that this is the truth, they know Hawkers intentions. Unfortunately I haven't found a photo of the fifth chimney, although I can say one thing; it does exist; I've been there; the rectory is now a great place for Cornish cream tea!


One miniature church spire chimney. Photograph from Monumental Follies.








Hawker also built himself a hut, a solitary refuge for one in which he sat; reflecting and writing poetry. The hut still exists, and is also visitable. It sits by the cliff, almost dug into its side, and faces out to the ocean. Despite the only presence between this point and America being the sea, Hawkers view was not uneventful; the frequent storms combined with treacherous rocks and ignorant sailors, brought many boats and ships into danger along this stretch of coast, and Hawker was often witness to terrible events as he looked out in the darkness. It appears he was not the only one who looked on; soon after this accidents locals would flood to the sight, relieving the stricken vessels of their contents, their dead sailors being unable to prevent such robbery. Hawker was horrified by this practice, but it seems his power as the local vicar of multiple parishes did not stretch so far as to stop them.














Photograph from Hawker of Morwenstow, Portrait of a Victorian Eccentric, by Piers Brendon, Pimlico, 2002.

In the blurb on the back it is stated "He talked to birds, invited his nine cats into church and excommunicated one of them when it caught a mouse on Sunday."