Sparrow+library

The Sparrows, a Woodbridge branch of the family, bought Worlingham Hall in 1755. The large library was remodelled in 1800 for Robert Sparrow.

The following is a reference to the Sparrow library in a letter of Dawson Turner, Yarmouth banker and bibliophil, written from Falaise in August 1818 when he was on a tour of Normandy.

// "Previously to quitting Bayeux, we paid our respects to M. Pluquet, a diligent antiquary, who has been for some time past engaged in writing a history of the city. His collections for this purpose are extensive, and the number of curious books which he possesses is very considerable. Amongst those which he shewed to us, the works relating to Normandy constituted an important portion. His manuscript missals are numerous and valuable. I was also much pleased by the inspection of an old copy of Aristophanes, which had formerly belonged to Rabelais, and bore upon its title-page the mark of his ownership, in the hand-writing of the witty, though profligate, satirist himself. M. Pluquet’s kindness allowed me to make the tracing of the signature, which I send you.—­ // [Illustration: Rabelais hand-writing]

// Such an addition as we here find to Rabelais’ name, denoting that the owner of a book considered it as being the property of his friends conjointly with himself, is not of uncommon occurrence. Our friend, Mr. Dibdin, who had been here shortly before us, and had carried off, as we were told, some works of great rarity from this collection, has enumerated more than one instance of the kind in his Bibliographical Decameron; and the valuable library of my excellent friend, Mr. Sparrow, of Worlingham, contains an Erasmus, which was the property of Sir Thomas Wotton, and bears, stamped upon its covers, Thomae Wotton et amicorum. //

(Robert Sparrow’s MP for Bedford memoirs contributed by Dawson Turner)

The French traveller, Chateaubriand records a meeting with the Reverend Bence Sparrow (1747-1824), Rector of Beccles from 1774, in 1793. His brother Robert owned Worlingham Hall which Chateaubriand frequented. Both brothers had good libraries.

Kentworthy-Browne [et al], Guide to Country Houses, III, 1981. T.K. Cromwell, Excursions, II, 1819, 123. H. Davy, Seats in Suffolk, 1827. E. Sandon, Suffolk Houses, 1977, 241.