W. S. Gilbert and his menagerie of animals

Samantha PillingHistory, Latest News

Robin Red Breast

W. S. Gilbert had spent thirty-five years being a professional writer, so the decision to retire was a hard one for him. However, retiring allowed him to enjoy the prestige and wealth he’d worked hard to achieve, and this left him free to spend his time at Grim’s Dyke, surrounded by his family and friends. It also gave himself, Lucy … Read More

W. S. Gilbert and the lemurs in his life

Samantha PillingHistory, Latest News

Lemurs

Sir William Schwenck Gilbert, most known for his ‘Savoy Operas’ in Victorian England, also had a deep love of animals, particularly his various pet lemurs. The English writer, composer, comedian, actor and singer George Grossmith, is stated as once overhearing Gilbert saying “Deer-stalking would be a very fine sport – if only the deer had guns.” The first lemurs of … Read More