Books › John Askew, the Stanhope violin maker, 1914 › scan 42
Scan 42
John Askew, the Stanhope violin maker, 1914
8 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. Printed page 24. See the scan on archive.org.
1wood he used for his fiddles. It is said that he got some old pine wood from the old Stanhope Church when restored in 1867. The writer has been informed that Benson, the schoolmaster secured some of this pine from the old Church. Probably the schoolmaster and his friend would both get supplies.
3Askew was probably not making fiddles at this date and if the schoolmaster preserved this wood he would willingly let his friend have it. As St. Thomas Church dates from the year 1200, was restored in 1663, then had galleries erected in the tower in 1743, the timber would be well seasoned.
5Two of the galleries were taken down by Rector Darnel, 1831-1864, and the last remaining gallery was removed in 1867 in Canon Clayton's time. The pine wood cut from the old pine baulks forming the galleries would be at least one hundred and twenty five years old, and probably more when it found its way into an Askew violin.
7One of Askew's instruments was bought by Mr. G. R. Moor of Westgate who frequently visited his shop and had talks with the maker. On one occasion the shoemaker pointing from his seat to a block of sycamore
The computer misreads some letters and numbers. Where a name matters to you, read the scan.