Brass Cantled Sporran & Forrest Outing

**BobsYourUncle** · 10th October 10, 07:36 PM

All of the threads, discussion and photos on here about brass cantled sporrans really got me going. I collected some of the photos from various threads, and emailed Ms. Janet Eagleton, MBE & Son [Maurice] at Scottish Sporrans in Perth to see whether they could make such a thing.

Mrs. Eagleton was a pleasure to talk to on the telephone, and less than three weeks later, a beautiful sporran arrived. It is stunning, everything I had hoped for. It will become an heirloom in my family. While it was dear, the quality is fantastic, and I expect it to outlast me in use by a great deal.

Scottish Sporrans can be reached here: http://www.scottish-sporrans.co.uk

Email: janet@scottish-sporrans.co.uk ; Tel: 01738 447187 (shop)
01738 710385 (workshop)

Here it is as worn on the back patio:

**BobsYourUncle** · 10th October 10, 07:53 PM

It was such a beautiful day. After church, my wife and I took our two boys for a walk. Our daughter Maggie had too much schoolwork to join us. The three of us went to one of our favorite spots, the Sands Point Preserve. The Preserve is an old estate formerly owned by 19th century American robber barons--first the Gould family, then the Guggenheim's--yes, the Guggenheim's in New York City whose name is on a museum...

There is some claim that F. Scott Fitzgerald modeled East Egg in the Great Gatsby after Sands Point, and that West Egg is the next Long Island penninsula nearest New York City, Great Neck/King's Point, but I have also heard the claim that those honors belong to East Hampton and West Hampton at the other end of Long Island.

While you all debate that, in the intervening years, the robber barons died out, and their families could no longer afford the upkeep [like many lairds in other countries], and many of the so-called Gold Coast of Long Island estates have become Nassau County parks. Sands Point is now one of these parks, which is why we get to tramp about there.

Here is the history mashed up from two websites having to do with the operation:

PERHAPS THE MOST IMPRESSIVE OF THE NORTH SHORE'S early-20th-century estates, Sands Point first served as the home for railroad heir Howard Gould and was later purchased by Daniel and Florence Guggenheim.
The 216-acre preserve, located by the Long Island Sound, is dominated by the massive Hempstead House and nearby Castlegould stable, but also includes a second mansion, “Falaise,” that was built by Capt. Harry Guggenheim around 1923. (Guggenheim was the founder with his wife, Alicia Patterson, of Newsday.)

Falaise, located on a cliff above the Long Island Sound and based on a 13th-century French Norman manor house, is open for tours between June and October, Thursdays through Sundays each hour from noon to 3 p.m. (fees: $6, adults, $5 seniors; please note that children under 10 are not allowed in Falaise).
Distinctive features of the house include an enclosed cobblestone courtyard, thickly mortared brick walls, steeply pitched roofs of heavy tile, and a round tower. The Medieval atmosphere is continued inside the house by the arches, thick wood beams, textured plastered walls, and carved stone mantels.
Falaise is also furnished with antiques, many from the 16th and 17th centuries, and includes wood carvings, sculptures, Renaissance paintings and several important pieces of modern art. Please call for fees and other information.
In addition to its stunning buildings, Sands Point provides six nature trails that meander through diverse habitats of woods, fields, pond and beach in a beautiful North Shore community along the Long Island Sound. The preserve is an interesting mix of natural and landscaped areas. Forests, meadows, beach and cliffs, lawns, gardens and a freshwater pond provide habitats for a variety of plants and animals. The proximity of different habitats affords the visitor a varied outdoor experience within a relatively limited area. Nature Trails provide access to the preserve and highlight specific points of interest in self-guiding literature.
Today there are very few places in the metropolitan New York area where you can be an important part of preserving and enjoying open space, nature, wildlife and architectural magnificence. Please join in the urgent effort to make sure that the Nassau County owned 216 acre former Guggenheim Estate, now called Sands Point Preserve, is maintained forever as open space and as a daily exhibition of past and future natural beauty, human creativity and achievement.
On this site, the largest property in Sands Point, steep cliffs overlook a mile of sandy beach, directly on Long Island Sound. A sparkling pond teeming with wildlife runs from uplands almost to the coast, resulting in a melding of saltwater and freshwater species. Silent trails meander through deep woods. Walk century-old stone bridges and gaze in wonder at peerless castles and Gatsby-era country homes that are the embodiment of a golden era.

The Preserve was the ultimate Gold Coast estate, the famed "East Egg" of F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby", the home first of Howard Gould and the actress Katherine Clemmons, and then during its glory years the residence of Daniel and Florence Guggenheim and their son Harry and his wife Alicia Patterson. Harry and Alicia founded Newsday while living here and Harry's world-renowned collection of art, sculpture, furnishings and history is on display during seasonal docent-guided tours at his cliffside French manor house called Falaise.
Located just 40 minutes from Manhattan, there is no better place on the planet to observe, celebrate and believe the era of Gatsby. Represented here today are the art of the Guggenheims, exquisite textiles and gown collections, literature including the book "We" wrtten here by Charles Lindbergh and the actual lifestyle of the times.

Here is an arial view:

Here is CastleGould from the front:

Our son Tommy takes a breather on the bench out front:

Big wedding party--the place is very popular for wedding photography:

**thescot** · 10th October 10, 08:05 PM

That is an excellent sporran, and I know you are justifiably proud of it. Congratulations on your choice of a sporran maker.

**BobsYourUncle** · 10th October 10, 08:15 PM

CastleGould from the field. A popular Medieval Renaissance Fair is held here every year.

We headed out on the trails that have been carved out on the grounds.

Some of the trails run along the edge of a bluff looking out over the ocean in Long Island Sound. The far shore is Connecticutt.

**BobsYourUncle** · 10th October 10, 08:18 PM

Family on a big rock by a pond:

A moment in the sun. I would have loved to be out in the sound sailing--a good wind was up.

Family under a bridge on the trail.

Gerrroff yer mum.

I don't know why the formation.

Tommy goes topside of the bridge.

And he's off...

**BobsYourUncle** · 10th October 10, 08:20 PM

Mee boys:

We've come all the way around the trails to the back side of CastleGould.

The archway.

One of the other structures on the estate is called Hempstead House. It houses, what else, a museum, and is also used for the annual school dance, High School Prom to some, here called "The Gambol" [trying to access the Gatsby legend, perhaps?]. My son Jack's rather unique pose is due to his request that we arrange things so that he appears to be holding Hempstead House upon his back, like Atlas. He was only moderately pleased with my special effects. Everybody's a critic.

Well, that about does it!

**Downunder Kilt** · 10th October 10, 11:07 PM

Great looking sporran BobsYourUncle and as you said it will outlast us all and become a family heirloom. (trust the two sons will follow into the kilt

) Looks like you had a grand day out with the family and thanks for sharing the photos. All in all looks like you had a full on weekend