Treve Rosoman 1948-2017
The Trustees are very sad to announce the death of Treve Rosoman, who had been one of our trustees since 2008. Treve was also a member of our Advisory Panel which supports Hogarth’s House and served as our Vice-Chairman during 2013-14.
When the refurbishment of Hogarth’s House was being planned in 2009 he assembled a group of specialists with knowledge of small 18th century houses and their interiors for a lively study day on site. This proved exceptionally helpful in using architectural details and features to date changes in the structure of the House. Subsequently he ran an event for members of the public at the House as part of a programme of historical workshops, and he was usually on site to discuss the history of the building at the London Open House event each September.
Our trustees contribute specialist expertise to the work of the Trust. Treve had exceptional knowledge of historic interiors, their decoration, equipment and furnishing, along with the skill of sharing it without jargon or pretentiousness. He gained this sound practical knowledge first through the antique trade, then through work for the GLC Historic Buildings Division and at English Heritage (1986-2013), principally as curator of the Architectural Study Collection. From 1995 to 1999 Treve was responsible for re-creating the art deco interiors of Eltham Palace. He was also part of the team conserving Sir Robert Taylor’s Danson Park, in particular recreating a Chinoiserie wallpaper. He was an active member of the Furniture History Society and the Regional Furniture Society and had worked freelance since leaving English Heritage. This summer he examined the 18th century wallpaper with a design of ruins at Boston Manor House as a contribution to the planned refurbishment project.
In 2014 The Guardian carried a report of the opening of English Heritage’s new collections store at Wrest Park. It commented “the wallpaper collection alone – thousands of samples, often peeled from walls about to be demolished – represents a lifetime’s work. Most were salvaged by Treve Rosoman, a recently-retired English Heritage curator. The collection includes a photograph showing him perched precariously in a digger bucket so he can retrieve wallpaper from the tottering remains of a first floor room”. He always believed strongly in sharing the outcomes of research projects with which he was involved, so he wrote numerous articles, including an important one on the contents of Chiswick House in about 1775. His fascinating catalogue of “London Wallpapers 1690-1840”, first published in 1992, was revised and reissued in 2009.
We send our condolences to Treve’s family. Like them, we shall miss him terribly.