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KTCANTERBURY933 5

 

27 July 1991

Dear Mr Williamson,

Both Paul Pollak and Ken Stacey
have suggested that I should get in touch with you, as I am
working at present on the 17th c. Canon of Canterbury and
collector, John Bargrave. As you probably know, the Bargrave
(or Barger) family originated in Bridge, and the collector's
father, also John, built Bifrons. The eloquent inscription
commemorating the family is at the entrance to Patrixbourne
Church.

I find there to be many gaps in my knowledge of the Bargraves.
For example, I can find few of the dates of birth and death
relating to them, and wonder if there are parish records which

might help. Also I wonder if it is known where in Bridge they

resided (Y0Unger brothers of the older J.B. continued to live
on what was presumably family land).

A further conundrum is Bifrons itself, though I have several
times seen the later painting in the Mellon Collection at Yale.
I am anxious to know about the 'UXor Bona' inscription mentioned
by Hasted, and evidently still there in the l930’s. But I can
find no trace of what the heavily restored house looked like.

If you have any answers to these questions, or could point
me in the right direction with local records, I should be most
grateful.

Yours sincerely,

flan.‘

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