Important new acquisition for Horsham Museum & Art Gallery

Museum curator Jeremy Knight said: “The saying ‘a rolling stone gathers no moss’ is about 2,000 years old and is still used today about people who are active and always doing things. Frederick Du Cane Godman was one of the most dynamic, active, and brilliant minds of the Victorian era, a man who was a leading member of more than ten scientific organisations. He did just that; gather moss.

“The naturalist, explorer, ornithologist, archaeologist, collector par-excellence, builder of South Lodge in Lower Beeding, breeder of orchids, and local benefactor took up the hobby of collecting moss when he was a sick child. Some specimens show he was collecting when he was 14 years old, and he continued it through his lifetime.”

Now, thanks to the generosity of the Friends of Horsham Museum and a close descendant of the Godman family, Horsham Museum & Art Gallery have acquired Frederick Du Cane Godman’s albums of mosses.

“The albums reveal the Victorian fascination with the natural world, Godman’s enquiring mind and his attention to detail, as well as his desire to collect. They will feature in a stunning exhibition that draws together many aspects of his amazing life when the museum re-opens next year.

“Frederick Du Cane Godman’s important collections have had a chequered history following the death of his daughters.

“His world famous collection of Islamic pottery was gifted to the British Museum, and his collection of ornithology (numbering in the tens of thousands of scientific specimens) was given to the Natural History Museum. However his other collections were dispersed through various auctions.”

The albums acquired by Horsham Museum were first sold in the late 1980s and were recently put up for sale in Norfolk by an unknown dealer and then passed into the book trade.

“The dealer John Underwood bought them and offered then in the August PBFA Online Book Fair, a new innovation in the antiquarian book trade to deal with the impact of COVID-19. That day some 60 dealers showcased their recently acquired books. Fortunately serendipity played a part.”

Jeremy saw the albums and recognised their importance. John agreed they should come to Horsham, offered them at a reduced price, and the Friends of Horsham Museum seized the opportunity. Jeremy underlines their importance: “They are a complete collection that spans over 50 years of Godman’s collecting interest.”

They also reflect some of his earliest engagement with natural history.

“He evidently valued the collection as he had them bound and preserved in the magnificent bindings. The albums reflect his passion, interest and engagement with science, and the natural world around him.

“To use an oft-quoted phrase, they offer a glimpse into the man himself and as such are a remarkable archive. They are also a record of British moss in all their varieties and offer researchers a look at moss habitats before the changes brought about by pollution and climate change.”

Horsham Museum and Art Gallery is currently closed to the public, but behind its doors the staff are working hard to refresh the displays, continuing to develop the collections, and taking advantage of any opportunities that arise to acquire significant items that tell remarkable stories.

Jeremy added: “Such crucial acquisitions are only possible through the generosity of public donations, and due to our temporary closure we have seen a significant drop in this important income stream.

“Should you wish to donate to the museum to help us continue with our valuable work, this can be done via the website: https://horshammuseum.org/support-us“You can also email us at [email protected], or call us on 01403 254959 to make a donation by card. Your donations will ensure that we can carry on enhancing our ability to tell the stories of our area.”

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