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Saved for the Nation

Celebrating the transfer of two of Sir Joshua Reynolds' greatest masterpieces to the National Trust.

  • Booking not needed
  • Free event (admission applies)

The portraits of Joanna Leigh, Mrs Richard Bennett Lloyd (1775-6) and the impresario and actor David Garrick, torn between Tragedy and Comedy (1761) were given to the National Trust for display at the Manor. They have been here on loan for over 30 years and are now part of the national collection through a mechanism called ‘Acceptance in Lieu’.

Acceptance in Lieu (AIL) was established in 1910 and is a UK government scheme which encourages people to transfer important cultural, scientific or historic objects and archives into public ownership in museums or institutions in place of paying inheritance tax. Since its creation, the scheme has enriched national collections across the country, large and small, through the donation of thousands of objects.

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