Description of Fonthill Abbey and Demesne, in the County of Wilts; Including a List of its Paintings, Cabinets, and other Curiosities. Intended as a Guide to the Visitor, and to Convey Information to the more Distant Enquirer.
[FONTHILL] RUTTER, JOHN

Engraved frontispiece; viii+74pp.

Fonthill, a Gothic pile, was built by James Wyatt for the eccentric collector and author William Beckford [1760-1844]. Interest in Fonthill was generated by the decision of Beckford to sell the house and most of its contents. The contents of Fonthill were to have been sold by Christie's, but the house and contents were purchased en bloc by John Farquhar in 1823, who then instructed Mr Phillips to sell the contents. The central tower which dominated Fonthill Abbey collapsed on a number occasions, it fell down for the last time in 1825, when it was not rebuilt and eventually the whole structure was demolished.