| AdminHistory | Major Percy Marlborough Stewart (1871-1962) was born in Little Stukeley, Huntingdonshire. After studying Semitic languages and theology at Cambridge University, Percy Stewart took up the post of assistant headmaster at Pocklington School. Following a spell as tutor back at Cambridge, he returned to Pocklington in 1904 with his wife, Catherine Priestman, a wealthy heiress. The Stewarts built up the estate which became Burnby Hall, laying out the gardens with fishing lakes. Stewart was a keen game hunter and fisherman so the couple travelled abroad extensively between 1903 and 1926, with a gap during the war years when he became a Major in the Royal Fusiliers. The couple visited Europe, North Africa, America and Canada, Asia and New Zealand, going around the world several times. Major Stewart collected many souvenirs on his trips, which he brought back to show at home. He wrote three books and gave numerous lectures locally on his travels.
Major Stewart left his estate in trust to the town of Pocklington, and the gardens were first opened to the public in 1964. They are the home of the National Water Lily Collection.
The Museum was purpose-built in 1968 to house Stewart's collections which include trophies of the hunt and chase, heads and miscellaneous ethnographical objects. |