Egan Collection on Repair and Conservation of English Monumental Brass
Reference code
EGA
Title
Egan Collection on Repair and Conservation of English Monumental Brass
Date
1966-2001
Level of description
Fonds
Extent and format
21 boxes, containing files and a ring binder
Scope and content
This collection, given to the Society in 2002 (but with an addition c.2017), consists of files of reports and correspondence relating to the conservation and repair of more than 700 monumental brasses in England undertaken by Bryan Egan between 1966 and 2000.
The main body of files [EGA/01] includes both Egan’s correspondence, reports on condition and conservation, and invoices for his work, together with photographs of many of the brasses and their components, including shields, and on occasion metal analyses and information on the heraldry or genealogy displayed on the monuments or concerning those commemorated; in several cases he also filed guide books or leaflets from the churches where the brasses are located. The earlier files tend to be more sketchy in their detail. Egan also made notes on the outside of many of the files, mainly recording contact details and dates of activities. However, few of the files contain examples of all such material, and thus rarely provide a complete record from initial contact to completion and payment.
Additional brief reports on conservation are contained in sheets within a separate folder, arranged by the year when the work was completed [EGA/02].
There are five reports on conservation work other than on monumental brasses: brass candlesticks in St. Peter and St. Paul, Buckingham, a chandelier at South Mimms, Middlesex, an oil lamp holder at Canons Ashby, Northants, tomb-chests bearing incised slabs at Grafton Regis, Northants, a monument at Deene, Northants, and various lamps at Clifton Hampden, Oxfordshire.
The collection covers many of the brasses on which Egan worked, but it is not a complete record of his activities over the years. On his retirement from active repair work in 2002, an article by Robert Hutchinson FSA in the Bulletin of the Monumental Brass Society 93 (May, 2003), 675-77, recorded the places where he had undertaken surveys and/or repairs; a copy of this list of the ‘Egan archive’ accompanied the gift of the current collection to the Society of Antiquaries [EGA/05]. Successive volumes of the Transactions of the Monumental Brass Society record a number of cases for which no file survives here. Conversely, the contents of some files do not record any active involvement by Egan himself.
For consistency, the files are listed as ‘pre-conservation‘ or post-conservation’ papers. It is clear that while in many cases Egan was approached by the church or other institution holding a brass which was thought to need remedial attention, or his attention was drawn to such brasses by colleagues and friends within the Monumental Brass Society, in other instances he himself made the initial approach, often following a visit to a church. In the former situation, he would usually produce a formally structured ‘pre-conservation report’; in the latter, his initial suggestions more often took the form of a letter, to be followed by a more formal report and estimate of cost if the church wished to pursue the matter. Sometimes, he appears to have had no response from the church, or a polite refusal initially, or in response to his survey and costings. In such instances, the file may be marked ‘Work not done’. Alternatively, the file may note that the work was later given to another brass conservator, William Lack.
If Egan proceeded to undertake work, he normally produced an equivalent ‘post-conservation report’, with his account for the work. In a number of cases, however, subsequent correspondence indicates that he had done some work, but no report survives in the files. A few files record only work which Egan had done, with no indication of the initial contact.
Many files include monochrome or colour photographs, usually taken by Egan himself. In later reports, the brasses may be shown in pre- and post-conservation state. A few files also contain negatives, although most negatives are filed separately [EGA/03].
In some cases, information in the files is supplemented by Egan’s annual reports on conservation, and a few more detailed articles, published in the Transactions of the Monumental Brass Society.
Dates of brasses or other information contained within square brackets are supplied from elsewhere, usually Mill Stephenson’s catalogue.
Although he usually styled himself ‘Bryan Egan’ when writing for publication, in most of his correspondence he used the forms ‘Bryan (or B S) Huntley Egan’ or ‘Huntley-Egan’. The simpler form has been used in cataloguing this collection.
The main body of files [EGA/01] includes both Egan’s correspondence, reports on condition and conservation, and invoices for his work, together with photographs of many of the brasses and their components, including shields, and on occasion metal analyses and information on the heraldry or genealogy displayed on the monuments or concerning those commemorated; in several cases he also filed guide books or leaflets from the churches where the brasses are located. The earlier files tend to be more sketchy in their detail. Egan also made notes on the outside of many of the files, mainly recording contact details and dates of activities. However, few of the files contain examples of all such material, and thus rarely provide a complete record from initial contact to completion and payment.
Additional brief reports on conservation are contained in sheets within a separate folder, arranged by the year when the work was completed [EGA/02].
There are five reports on conservation work other than on monumental brasses: brass candlesticks in St. Peter and St. Paul, Buckingham, a chandelier at South Mimms, Middlesex, an oil lamp holder at Canons Ashby, Northants, tomb-chests bearing incised slabs at Grafton Regis, Northants, a monument at Deene, Northants, and various lamps at Clifton Hampden, Oxfordshire.
The collection covers many of the brasses on which Egan worked, but it is not a complete record of his activities over the years. On his retirement from active repair work in 2002, an article by Robert Hutchinson FSA in the Bulletin of the Monumental Brass Society 93 (May, 2003), 675-77, recorded the places where he had undertaken surveys and/or repairs; a copy of this list of the ‘Egan archive’ accompanied the gift of the current collection to the Society of Antiquaries [EGA/05]. Successive volumes of the Transactions of the Monumental Brass Society record a number of cases for which no file survives here. Conversely, the contents of some files do not record any active involvement by Egan himself.
For consistency, the files are listed as ‘pre-conservation‘ or post-conservation’ papers. It is clear that while in many cases Egan was approached by the church or other institution holding a brass which was thought to need remedial attention, or his attention was drawn to such brasses by colleagues and friends within the Monumental Brass Society, in other instances he himself made the initial approach, often following a visit to a church. In the former situation, he would usually produce a formally structured ‘pre-conservation report’; in the latter, his initial suggestions more often took the form of a letter, to be followed by a more formal report and estimate of cost if the church wished to pursue the matter. Sometimes, he appears to have had no response from the church, or a polite refusal initially, or in response to his survey and costings. In such instances, the file may be marked ‘Work not done’. Alternatively, the file may note that the work was later given to another brass conservator, William Lack.
If Egan proceeded to undertake work, he normally produced an equivalent ‘post-conservation report’, with his account for the work. In a number of cases, however, subsequent correspondence indicates that he had done some work, but no report survives in the files. A few files record only work which Egan had done, with no indication of the initial contact.
Many files include monochrome or colour photographs, usually taken by Egan himself. In later reports, the brasses may be shown in pre- and post-conservation state. A few files also contain negatives, although most negatives are filed separately [EGA/03].
In some cases, information in the files is supplemented by Egan’s annual reports on conservation, and a few more detailed articles, published in the Transactions of the Monumental Brass Society.
Dates of brasses or other information contained within square brackets are supplied from elsewhere, usually Mill Stephenson’s catalogue.
Although he usually styled himself ‘Bryan Egan’ when writing for publication, in most of his correspondence he used the forms ‘Bryan (or B S) Huntley Egan’ or ‘Huntley-Egan’. The simpler form has been used in cataloguing this collection.
Creator
Egan, Bryan S Huntley
Archival history
These files, accumulated by Egan in the course of his work, were given to the Society of Antiquaries through the auspices of Robert Hutchinson, FSA in 2002. In a small number of cases, some papers appear to have been added since that date.
System of arrangement
Although almost all the work covered by these files took place after 1972, the files were and remain organised alphabetically by historic pre-1972 county and then by parish to conform to the current organisation of the national collection of brass rubbings and other archives held by the Society of Antiquaries. The files are arranged in alphabetical order of historic (pre-1972) English counties; they relate to 32 of those counties, with no files for Monmouthshire, Herefordshire or Cheshire in the west midlands, nor for Lancashire, Westmorland, Northumberland or Durham in the north. The file relating to Cumberland seems to have been kept for information, rather than to reflect work by Egan.
Within the counties, the files are arranged alphabetically by parish, according to the order given in Mill Stephenson’s List of Monumental Brasses in the British Isles (London, 1926) and Appendix (London, 1938). Not every church or brass listed by Mill Stephenson was surveyed or repaired by Egan; likewise, his work included numerous Victorian or later brasses not covered in Stephenson’s survey. Where appropriate, Mill Stephenson’s number is given in brackets after the name or description of the brass (MS I, MS II, etc), although Egan’s details do not always match precisely those given by Stephenson.
Within the counties, the files are arranged alphabetically by parish, according to the order given in Mill Stephenson’s List of Monumental Brasses in the British Isles (London, 1926) and Appendix (London, 1938). Not every church or brass listed by Mill Stephenson was surveyed or repaired by Egan; likewise, his work included numerous Victorian or later brasses not covered in Stephenson’s survey. Where appropriate, Mill Stephenson’s number is given in brackets after the name or description of the brass (MS I, MS II, etc), although Egan’s details do not always match precisely those given by Stephenson.
Contents