Sewell Barn Theatre space for presentations, meetings and other private hire uses. Originally the barn belonged to Clare House which was owned by Philip Sewell, a local benefactor, from 1864 to 1906. Anna Sewell, author of the children’s story "Black Beauty", was Philip’s sister and lived in the White House, Spixworth Road, Spixworth. Philip owned a mare called Black Bess which used to draw his carriage along Spixworth Road and it might be supposed that Bess was the original inspiration for Black Beauty, and the barn a prototype for Black Beauty’s stable. The book was published by Jarrolds in 1877. Philip Sewell died
Anna S. Dolgorukaya Anna S. Dolgorukaya Anna Sergeyevna Dolgorukaya (1719–1778) was a Russian pedagogue, noble and courtier. She was the first principal of the Smolny Institute in Saint Petersburg in 1764–1764. She was the daughter of Councillor prince Sergei Petrovich Dolgoruky (1696-1761) and princess Irina Petrovna Galitzine (1700-1751) and sister of prince V. S. Dolgoruky (1724-1803), Russian ambassador in Prussia, and married in 1746 to prince Alexei Golitsyn (1713-1765). She had been a courtier prior to marriage. Described as well educated, intelligent and witty, she was appointed to the post of the newly founded Smolny Institute by Empress Catherine the Great. However, she