The History of Shiplake. By Emily S. Climmenson. (Eyre and
Spottiswoode.)—Writing the history of a parish is a meritorious act, on which we make a point of bestowing such commendation as it is within our power to give. But some limits must surely be observed. Shiplake has some interesting features, and has been the home of some noteworthy persons. But a quarto volume of nearly five hundred pages is really too much to give to it. "With Allusions to Contemporary Events in the Neighbourhood," Miss Climmenson adds on her title-page. This serves as an excuse for some digressions ; if she had only added " and elsewhere" we should have known what to expect. William the Conqueror gave the manor of Shiplake to Walter Giffard. "It is necessary to glance at William the Conqueror's father's life before entering upon Walter Giffard's."
And so we have Arlotta, and the Castle of Argues, and the Bayeux Tapestry, and many other things. However, it is ungracious to criticise what has doubtless been a labour of love, in this fashion.
We hoar, of course, everything that is to be said about Shiplake, its lords, parsons, churchwardens, and inhabitants generally ; and if we also hear about other places and people, why, it may be asked, should we complain ? Life is leisurely, we hope, at Shiplake, and there is time to write, and a fortiori to read, about matters which in strictness do not concern the place. Not unfrequently, too, we are introduced to most really in- teresting people, of whom otherwise wo might not have heard. Such, for instance, was Humphrey Gaineborough, brother of the painter, who was minister of the Independent Chapel at Henley, and a mechanician of no mean skill. In fact, there is plenty of good reading in the book ; and though we cannot but hold to the opinion that one of half the size would have been better, we are obliged to the author for what she has given. Some particularly beautiful photographs must be men- tioned with praise. Some representations of frescoes found in the church at the restoration in 1822, and copied before they were destroyed, must also be noted. One is of Richard, King of the Romans. Chapters on the geology of the Thames Valley at Ship- lake, with a notice of palceolithic implements, and on the fauna and flora of the district, increase the value of the volume.
Previous page
