J.M. Barrie and Knebworth House
A no longer active online J.M. Barrie group led me to Lord Henry Lytton Cobbold, the baron of Knebworth House. Barrie, a frequent visitor, had a close friendship with Pamela Lytton, so I contacted the email address the group’s administrator gave me. Henry Cobbold responded graciously to my questions about J.M. Barrie’s connection to his family, and he put me in touch with the Knebworth House archivist, Jill Campbell.
A little flurry of snow fell the day we visited. It was picture perfect.
Jill was so helpful and informative. She told me about a collection of over fifty letters written by Barrie, mostly personal; however, one letter referenced the upcoming film, which was yet to be cast. Barrie jokingly wrote to Pamela Lytton that they hadn’t found an actress to play Peter, but if Pamela were to be cast, he’d change the title to “Peter Pam.”
A glimpse of the letter in Barrie’s singular hand. His letters aren’t that easy to read.
Jill also told me that an original adaptation of Peter Pan had been performed on the grounds of Knebworth House in 2016. Intrigued by the idea of an outdoor production that would not have the option of “flying” the performers, I asked if Jill could give me the contact information of the company. She put me in touch with the producer, who put me in touch with the playwright and press agent. Everyone was so accommodating, and I received a copy of the script they used, as well as a collection of photos from the press agent. Children and adults enjoyed he production.
I scheduled an appointment to visit Knebworth on 27 February 2020. I mentioned my plan to Christine De Poortere, who graciously offered to drive me. She had always wanted to tour the spaces open to the public, but had never done so. A light snow fell that day, and Knebworth House looked enchanting. Jill took us up the creaky old stairs where she allowed us to examine the priced collection of Barrie’s letters. Coincidentally, Christine brought a copy of a letter featuring a response to one of the letters in the archive written by Pamela Lytton. Jill happily accepted the gift, and she intended to archive it with the original.
Knebworth House has opened its doors to the public and has hosted many concerts over the years for artists such as Led Zeppelin, Genesis, Queen, and Pink Floyd. They offer interactive activities for children, including a popular dinosaur trail. I highly recommend a visit during its open season.