Langold and the Gally Knights'
The grandson of Sir Ralph Knight, also Ralph, who inherited Langold, posed as a man of "good taste," consequently he found the estate susceptible of much improvement and embellishment, so he first set to work on the mansion, in spite of the fact it had been good enough for sire and grandsire. It had originally been his intention to build an entirely new house, or add a magnificent wing to the old; the foundations were actually laid, and materials for building lay on the premises for many years, but the ambitious project was never proceeded with. However, this owner had the landscape gardening fad, and it had been said that the oaks, ashes, yes, and thorns he planted made a galaxy of effect which had nothing like an equal in the county. The enterprising young man died, leaving only a sister. Dr. Gally, a Prebendary of Norwich and Gloucester, like a true son of the Church on the look-out for an heiress, succeeding in capturing this sister, and had no scruple against adopting her name, though he did not become knight twice over. It is as well for the good name of the Church that her doctor was no mere adventurer who settled down to disposing of his wife's fortune, or living on it in selfish, do-nothing ease. On the other hand he appears to have been a conscientious literary worker, not only did he keep up voluminous correspondence with many classical scholars of Europe, but he collected a valuable classical library.
Let us look at Dr. Gally Knight's two sons, Henry and John. Everybody knows that model Christian clergymen do not always have model Christian sons. Let us look at Henry and John through the vista of time long past, for they seem to bear the test admirably. As twins in their affection for each other, they made one magnificent example of fraternal union, and accomplished something worthy of men as an acknowledgment of the fact that they were allowed to live, and not to be hampered for want of a few sovereigns.
Henry, the Yorkshire Ruskin, a barrister, had taken up his abode at Firbeck Hall. the younger brother at Langold. The spectacular decorum for which Firbeck and Letwell villages have ever been noted attributable to the influence of these two brothers and their wives, who are described by Hunter as women of great energy, tenderness, and cheerfulness.
The wife of John Gally Knight, of Langold, afforded a remarkable proof that virtue may be amiable and attractive as it is laudable and useful, and that constant intercourse with the world need have no bad effect upon singleness of heart and simplicity of mind. She rebuilt the church at Firbeck from its foundations, except for the tower, and she also built the schools at Firbeck and Letwell. These two villages were ever the hobby of the Gally Knight family.
Henry Gally Knight rose to fame, while his brother at Langold was doing all the good he could as a landlord. He was magistrate, a traveller, a Member of Parliament, a scholar, a virtuoso, and an antiquary. In Parliament he represented Aldborough in 1824, Malton in 1830, and Bassetlaw, in North Nottinghamshire, from 1835 to 1836. But before this, in 1808, at the age of 21, he set out on a long course of travel to Spain, Sicily, Greece, Syria, and Arabia, and on his return to England published an account of the tour. Six years later he published a poem entitled 'Europa Rediviva' . This was followed at different intervals by others.
However, Henry Gally Knight's chief title to fame is supported by the zeal with which he devoted his time to the investigation of architectural history, both at home and abroad, the fruits of which he gave to the world in an 'Architectural Tour in Normandy', Norman Remains in Sicily," and the 'Ecclesiastical Architecture of Italy', in two large folio volumes, with 81 illustrations, 1843-44. The object of this work was to give examples of the primitive churches, and of the changes of style in Italian architecture from the time of Constantine to the 15th century.
As a member of the Commission for the Advancement of Fine Arts, Henry Gally Knight's purse was ever open to promote the cultivation of literature and art. He was one of Yorkshire's most gifted sons, but, he has for long been forgotten.
He died on February 9th, 1846, aged 59. There was an original portrait of him by Sir M. A. Shee, P.R.A., presented by his tenants at Firbeck and Langold, on October 19th, 1841, in the possession of Sir William Fitzherbert, and another portrait of him, in oriental costume, by Reynolds. He also figures in Hailstone's 'Yorkshire Portraits'.
Source: Leeds Mercury, 1900.
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