Best of globetrotting major’s collection goes on show

After his death, world traveller, big game hunter and collector Major Percy Stewart left his estate in trust for the people of Pocklington.

Four of the best items in his collection are now on display, in Beverley, including a face mask which was once used in initiation rites in Papua New Guinea.

For the first 25 years of their marriage Major Stewart and his wife Katherine, a wealthy coal mining heiress, travelled the world, their trips only interrupted by the outbreak of war.

The larger-than-life major was later to base three books on their experiences, himself hunting out exotic creatures to kill while Katherine enjoyed gentler pursuits, gardens and natural history.

Hundreds of curios transported back to East Yorkshire included a section of a giant redwood tree, which became his office and den, dainty Chinese shoes just three inches long, and a kiwi feather Maori cloak.

David Geekie, of the Stewart Museum Trust, said: “Major Percy Stewart and his wife, Katharine, acquired Burnby Hall, Pocklington, in 1901.

“Their first task was to begin the creation of the ornamental gardens that have subsequently, of course, become such a renowned feature of the East Riding. As the changes to the hall and gardens were taking place, the couple were planning their first round-the-world tour.

“Between 1906 and 1925 they were to make a total of six such trips; and they were determined that they should bring back to Pocklington interesting and valuable artefacts from all the places they visited so that the people of Pocklington could enjoy, at second hand, all the adventures they experienced on their travels.”

In the last five years, five artefacts, including the mask, which dates back to the late nineteenth century, were selected by Yorkshire Museums as being amongst the 100 outstanding world treasures in Yorkshire.

The mask, along with a Chinese snuff bottle, a carved wooden figure from the Solomon Islands and Major Stewart’s diary, recording details of the Russian Revolution in March 1917, are on display in the café case at the Treasure House, Beverley, until January.