Two books from the library of Watnall Hall, and the 1954 auction

Two very rare books by Thomas Kirkland (1721 - 1798) given to Lancelot Rolleston (1737 - 1802) by the author have recently come to light. In the library of Watnall Hall from the 1790's till sold off in 1954, they were discovered in Jersey by a book dealer in 2022. In the sale of the contents of Watnall Hall held in December 1954, they were described as --

437 Kirkland (Thomas) A Commentary on Paralytic Affections , full calf, London 1792

438 Kirkland (Thomas) Essay on different branches of Medicine, half calf

Both books have personal dedications inside to Lancelot Rolleston from Thomas Kirkland . It is often found that libraries in such Great Halls and Houses have a family book label to the inside of the front board with name and crest of the family. Neither of these books do, which suggests that the Rollestons of Watnall Hall did not choose to have library labels made. Unless any of the many other books sold in the auction have personal dedications to the inside, it will not be possible to confirm they are from Watnall Hall. The same can be said of most of the other lots in the sale. Even if similar items described as to the list are found, and even if they bear the Rolleston cipher (Eagle's Head Erased), the cipher is one of the mostly commonly used ciphers in British heraldry making it very hard to confirm items are definitely from the Hall, which makes these books a particularly nice and rare find unlikely to be repeated.

It would appear that Thomas Kirkland and Lancelot Rolleston were acquainted with each other, possibly through each of their professions. Thomas Kirkland was born in Ashbourne Derbyshire in 1721 and became a successful doctor,surgeon,and author. In 1760 he became a surgeon in Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire. Became a member of the Royal Medical Societies of Edinburgh and London. He wrote a number of books on medicine and surgery from the 1750's to the 1790's. Lancelot Rollestion was the son of the Reverend John Rolleston who was the vicar of Aston-on-Trent, just thirteen miles from Kirkland's surgery in Ashby-de-la-Zouch. Lancelot inherited Watnall Hall from his father. He served as High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire in 1781.

Thomas possibly gave the earlier book, Essay on different branches of Medicine 1783 to Lancelot in the hope he would promote it. To the very front of the book after the board is a printed note. On the top of the note, Thomas has written in pen "To Lanc. Rolleston Esq", then the note follows, "from the author, who begs his acceptance of this part of an inquiry into the present state of Medical Surgery, &c. it being a distinct Essay, and fully illustrative, of the subject upon it is written. The remainder is calculated chiefly for the use of the faculty". Thomas has also written in ink to the blank and title page, "From the author - Mr Rolleston." and underlined both. The book also contains several pages of dedication from Thomas Kirkland to FRANCIS Earl of HUNTINGDON.

Original copies of Essay on different branches of Medicine are particularly rare, only two being recorded on the ESTC records. What is interesting is that one of those other two surviving examples has the same separate note to the front, only this time dedicating the note, again in Thomas's hand to the Revd. W. Hepworth.That copy is held in the British Library, London.

The second book, A Commentary on Paralytic Affections has written in pen by the hand of Thomas, "To Lancel, Rolleston Esq from the Author". Both books are first editions and both still retain their original board and calf coverings, as stated in the auction catalogue, full and half covers. Both books show much handling wear,so certainly did not sit on the shelves of the Hall neglected. Generations of Rollestons having the opportunity to read and enjoy while the two books were at the Hall for over 160 years.

Reminiscent of the dedication Kirkland made to Earl of Huntingdon, a comparable can be found in another rare book. History of Greasley 1901 by Rodolph Baron Von Hube, Vicar of Greasley at St Marys. A book covering the history of Greasley and the surrounding area.It has a very nice dedication page to the then Lancelot Rolleston, and also an image of Maud Rolleston in its pages.

NOTE -- Please do not copy the images without permission.