The George B Clark Prize 2018 for Research Pertinent to Stowe

This biennial Prize for £2000 has been established by the Hall Bequest Trust, as a mark of the great contribution that George Clarke has made to Stowe over more than 60 years. His association began on a formal basis from his appointment as a teacher in 1950 until his retirement in 1985, but has continued for over 30 years since as an important historian of the place. As Editor of the Stoic for seven years, he published a series of definitive articles on the history of the gardens and its buildings. In 1990 the Bucks Record Society published his edition of the Descriptions of Lord Cobham’s Gardens at Stowe 1700 – 1750. He established a close working relationship with the Huntington Library, where the 350,000 Stowe papers are. In 1975 George Clarke was awarded a scholarship for research there and took a term’s sabbatical. He lectured widely including to the Society of Antiquaries, SPAB and Courtauld Institute. He is a founding Trustee and past Chairman of the Hall Bequest Trust, which was established in 1983. It has three aims: to purchase and display historic and cultural items relevant to Stowe, to support educational projects at Stowe, and to provide bursaries for pupils at the school.

The Prize will be awarded for original archival research pertinent to Stowe within the fields of architecture, architectural history, the material arts such as sculpture, collecting or landscape design. The winner would undertake to write an article and to give a lecture within six months of completion of the research.