Treasures of Commissioner’s House: A Letter from the Past
Treasures of Commissioner’s House: A Letter from the Past
While the Commissioner’s House undergoes an extensive renovation project, the team is finding some long-forgotten items and treasures. In this blog, we are focusing on a historic playing card that has been discovered. The previous blogs cover historic wallpaper and an intriguing playing card.
20 December
On this day in 1905, carpenter James Grieves was busy working away in the Commissioner’s House, Garrett Floor at the very top of the house. As he came to the end of his work, he ripped a page from his long, lined notebook and scribbled down a note in his workman’s pencil. When he was done, he placed that note into the rafters next to the fireplace, tucking it away out of sight.
Discoveries in the House
120 years later, our Commissioner’s House Restoration Team brought James’ note out into the light.
The paper and pencil were in remarkable condition. The rafters around the chimney had been boxed in at some point, and the note had remained safe for 120 years – protected from dust, dirt and light.
Once the letter was removed, it was handed to the Dockyard’s Collections Team for cleaning, cataloguing and transcription.
Conserving the Hidden Treasure
The item was lightly surface cleaned using a “smoke sponge”, made of tightly packed vulcanised rubber that lifts dirt and debris from the surface. The sponge was trimmed into a small triangle shape and stuck onto a cocktail stick to allow for cleaning around the letter without disturbing the delicate graphite. Some areas had a quick pass with some finely crumbed eraser granules.
To keep this delicate piece safe, we have mounted it on conservation mount board with a special, custom-made envelope to protect it from dust and other contaminants during storage.
Deciphering the Letter
After careful inspection, we were able to decipher the text, which we believe says:
“This was addressed (altered) by James Grieves (Carpenter) – on Dec 20th 1905
There was a fire in the adjourning room a piece of 9×6 [timbers] under harth burnt right through admiral cory’” [1]
We’re not sure what James is referring to here when he says: “burnt right through Admiral Cory”, but we do know that Admiral Corry [2](spelt correctly with two R’s) was the Commissioner at the Dockyard during the time this note was written. He passed away inside the Commissioner’s House in 1907.
His funeral[3], held on the January 29th 1907 was a grand affair with thousands of people in attendance. The funeral procession from the Dockyard to Chatham Cemetery is said to have been over a mile long. It’s possible that James is referring to a painting or perhaps it was the Admiral’s bedroom that suffered some sort of damage.
Unfortunately, no records survive that tell us exactly what happened on the 20th December 1905. The fireplace itself has a lovely black metal surround with a striking green tile. The fireplace in one of the adjoining rooms gives you an idea of what James’ fireplace looks like.
The Commissioner’s House Restoration Series
You view the restoration of the Commissioner’s House by watching the documentary series. Episode five includes a look at some of the upstairs rooms.
[1] https://collection.thedockyard.co.uk/objects/55042/note-handwritten-in-pencil-by-james-grieves
[2] Image reference: 2025.0029.01_ART.482
[3] Image reference: 2025.0029.02_PHA.28177
