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Ernest Edward Cook (4 September 1865 – 14 March 1955) was an English
Ernest Cook Trust website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cook, Ernest 1865 births 1955 deaths English philanthropists English art collectors People educated at Mill Hill School
Ernest Edward Cook (4 September 1865 – 14 March 1955) was an English philanthropist
Philanthropy is a form of altruism that consists of "private initiatives, for the Public good (economics), public good, focusing on quality of life". Philanthropy contrasts with business initiatives, which are private initiatives for private goo ...
and businessman. He was a grandson of Thomas Cook, the travel entrepreneur.
Cook was born in Camberwell
Camberwell () is a district of South London, England, in the London Borough of Southwark, southeast of Charing Cross.
Camberwell was first a village associated with the church of St Giles and a common of which Goose Green is a remnant. This e ...
, London and educated at Mill Hill School, as were his two brothers Frank and Thomas. He entered the family travel business, and developed its banking operations. In 1928, along with his brother Frank, he sold his business interest in the family firm to the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits.
Following the sale, Cook retired to Bath
Bath may refer to:
* Bathing, immersion in a fluid
** Bathtub, a large open container for water, in which a person may wash their body
** Public bathing, a public place where people bathe
* Thermae, ancient Roman public bathing facilities
Plac ...
, and devoted himself to his art collection and the acquisition of country estates. He accumulated a large collection of fine and decorative art, which on his death became the largest bequest ever left to the National Art Collections Fund. In 1931 he acquired Montacute House in Somerset and the Bath Assembly Rooms
The Bath Assembly Rooms, designed by John Wood the Younger in 1769, are a set of assembly rooms located in the heart of the World Heritage City of Bath in England which are now open to the public as a visitor attraction. They are designated as ...
for the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings.
He became a major benefactor of the National Trust, and encouraged the Trust to acquire historic country houses and estates. Montacute House and the Assembly Rooms were transferred to the National Trust. In 1938 he acquired Hartwell House, Buckinghamshire when it was threatened with demolition. The contents were sold off by public auction. Cook acquired a total of seventeen estates, of which Bradenham, Buscot and Coleshill passed to the National Trust.
In 1952 Cook founded the Ernest Cook Trust, and transferred seven estates to it.
References
Further reading
* Collins, E. J. T. and Giles, A. K. (1989). ''Innovation and Conservation: Ernest Edward Cook and his Country Estates''. University of Reading. .External links
Ernest Cook Trust website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cook, Ernest 1865 births 1955 deaths English philanthropists English art collectors People educated at Mill Hill School