Search FNL grants since 1931

Peter Crosthwaite had a varied and extraordinary career as a navigator, excise agent, inventor, social reformer and entertainer. He was born in Keswick, joined the East India Company and worked his way from cabin crew to First Navigation Officer.

Details: The library collections at Belton, Lincolnshire, are among the finest in any National Trust house. The Library and Study, each containing about 6,000 books, give an almost complete picture of book collecting over 350 years.

The substantial records of a prominent Devon landed family. The Coffin family is said to have acquired the manor of Alwington soon after the Conquest, but the written record begins with a grant of free warren there to Richard Coffin in 1254.

This little-known collection of nine autograph letters of Joseph Wright of Derby (1734-97) reveals much about the artist’s professional practice and personal friendships.

The deed of exchange and its accompanying maps document the consolidation of the estates respectively of Sir Francis Burdett, 5th Bt. (1770-1844) of Foremark, the reformist politician, and Sir George Crewe (formerly Harpur), 8th Baronet (1795-1844) of Calke.

John Blakemore, Emeritus Professor of Photography at the University of Derby, is a world-renowned artist/photographer whose work encompassing a wealth of aspects from landscape and portraits to superb printmaking.

Mervyn Peake was one of those rare individuals who achieved eminence as both artist and writer.

Sir Philip Sidney (1554-86), poet and courtier, was one of the most influential literary figures of the Elizabethan age. The pedigree, which was probably commissioned from Robert Cooke by his father, Sir Henry Sidney, is on a long (c.300 cm) vellum roll of five joined sheets.

Approximately 200 poetry manuscripts of varying dates and formats, written in Blunden's calligraphic hand on the versos of college announcements, together with exam papers, auction catalogues, posters, 19th century ledgers, received correspondence and compliments slips, etc.

Twenty-five letters from Disraeli to his loyal supporter Sir Henry Stracey, MP (1802-85), containing comments on current affairs, and exhibiting his consummate skills as a politician, party manager and judicious flatterer.