SIR RERESBY SITWELLSir Reresby Sitwell, 7th Baronet, who died on 31 March, 2009, aged 81, was a British nobleman who was known for the upkeep of his family home and its rich history.Renishaw Hall in Derbyshire, described as the “the spiritual home of British eccentricity” by one newspaper, has been home to a string of curious characters.“One ancestor killed a pair of tigers in these woods,” wrote the Daily Mail. “Another invented a tiny revolver for shooting wasps while his wife lavished a small fortune on a psychic pig.”Sir Reresby was the elder son of the poet and critic Sacheverell Sitwell, one of three literary siblings who found fame during the 1920s. Sacheverell was frequently absent during his childhood, a trend which continued for most of his life.Reresby himself contributed to the family home’s reputation for peculiarity when in 2007 he opened an exhibition of Second World War ephemera including Field Marshal Montgomery's pyjamas, Eva Braun's nightdress, Goering's cufflinks and Mussolini's cigarette case.He was born on 15 April, 1927, and educated at Eton, going on to study medieval history at King’s College, Cambridge, though he left without completing his degree. He also served with the Grenadier Guards in occupied West Germany for two years.In 1952 he married Penelope Forbes, niece of the Earl of Granard, and they had a daughter, Alexandra, six years later. He went into business, first with cigarette machines, then as a wine trader.He took over Renishaw Hall in 1965 and dedicated himself to modernising and preserving the neglected house. He planted a vineyard and opened a performing arts gallery to display his family’s memorabilia. He and Penelope frequently entertained on the 5,000-acre grounds and, despite the rifts that had opened up within the family during his lifetime, he was known to enjoy sharing stories about his oddball ancestors.His honours included serving as High Sheriff and Deputy Lieutenant for Derbyshire, being made a Freeman of the City of London, a member of the Society of Dilettanti and receiving an honorary doctorate from Sheffield University as a celebrated patron of the arts and culture.He was survived by his wife and daughter, who inherits Renishaw Hall. His title passed to his nephew Francis.
Keep me informed of updates
