The Writing Room

The Writing Room

Hugh stopped the car at the top of the hill above Massingham House, once the home of Arthur Cray, poet, philosopher and man of letters. Cray was long dead and the house now inhabited by two great-nieces who had made it a shrine to Cray's memory with the intent to open it to the public as a 'literary heritage resource'.

He picked up his binoculars, surveyed the building and made a few notes about the setting. He sighed as he thought of the task before him, then drove slowly to his appointment.

The younger sister, Enid, answered the door. Hugh extended his hand for her to shake but she grabbed it and pulled him into the house trilling ''Mavis, it's the man from the BBC.''

Hugh extracted his hand and offered it to Mavis. ''Actually I'm a freelance broadcast journalist.'''

Mavis shook hands enthusiastically. 'So good of you to take an interest in our literary heritage project. Now what can I offer you? We have a very nice claret or is a gin and tonic more your line?''

''A cup of tea would be just fine, thank you.''

Mavis poured herself a large measure of whisky. "I'll put the kettle on in a moment."

Enid slid her arm through Hugh's. "You must see the writing room first. It's central to the whole project."

Hugh allowed himself to be led up a spacious staircase to the first floor. Enid threw open a door. "We've worked so hard on restoring this room, especially the panelling, and you're the first to see it.'

Hugh looked around puzzled. Little tallied with his research. He cleared his throat. "Is this the original room? It seems, well, rather larger than I expected."

Mavis smiled. "My dear, we've just extended it a little. Arthur's room was so cramped, you couldn't fit more than two people in it. No good at all for the visiting public."

Enid gestured enthusiastically. "We knocked down the adjoining wall, then transferred the panelling from a bedroom. It's now the way Arthur would have wanted it."

Hugh opened his notebook. "I see."

Mavis leaned towards him. "Arthur had a vision for this house and we have done our best to realise it."

"And was this vision recorded anywhere? In the diaries for example?"

Enid blushed. "We believe it was in a letter that got lost, but Grandmother told us all about Arthur's ideas."

Mavis gripped Hugh's arm. "It's oral history passed down the generations."

Hugh hastily made some notes. Mavis peered over his shoulder. "Show me what you are writing, young man."

Hugh proffered the notebook.

"I can't read shorthand."

"Well I'll translate. The writing room, central to the whole project, is beautifully panelled in carved oak. Cray's desk has the original inkwell and blotter."

Mavis beamed. "Now let's show you the restorations we've made to the reception rooms. It's all been done according to Arthur's vision."

Three months later, the sisters invited a select group of village worthies to listen to the radio broadcast on Massingham House in the series 'Literary Tours of England'. Enid ushered the guests into the drawing room and Mavis graciously distributed sherry.

A hush fell as Hugh's sonorous tones filled the room. "Visitors to Massingham House are advised to first consult Featherstone's 1935 guide to the area, for the illustrations are the only way to gain some impression of the original interiors. The building has been over-restored to the point one wonders if this is the same house at all. The famous writing room is the worst affected, being enlarged solely to accommodate visitors….."

Mavis leaped up and switched off the set. There was an embarrassed silence, then Enid spoke. "It's your fault Mavis. You never did make him that cup of tea."

Margot Agnew