The Grand Tour was no longer the sole preserve of aristocrats and from 1784 onwards he had taken many trips abroad, mainly to Italy, even travelling through France with his young wife and child at the beginning of the French Revolution. He eventually became an authority on Italian literature, an author and a translator.
While he was abroad in 1794 the nave roof was taken down, possibly fell down, and pieces of it had been used for repairs in the tower. It had had gilded angel corbels and must have been a glorious sight. However he returned in time to save the screen, a glory of this church.
He designed several local houses including The Hall and Holly House at Smallburgh, also The Grange at Gunn’s Corner, to where he moved his family after leaving Irstead Rectory [later the Barton Angler and now the Old Rectory].
He died in 1841 aged 91 and is buried at Sloley where he had been Rector for 57 years. Much loved and revered for his scholarship and care for his parishioners.
In 1786 William Gunn became Vicar of Barton Turf, he was already Rector of Sloley, Vicar of Hoveton St. Peter and Felmingham and Curate of Irstead. An even more dispersed arrangement than the present benefice.
The painting of the Lamentation of Christ by Mary and John after Rubens in the Chancel was given to the church in his memory by his son Rev. John Gunn.
William Gunn with members of his family at Smallburgh Grange about 1815, from a water-colour drawing.
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William Gunn was also a great correspondent and an archive containing approximately 1,000 letters from more than 200 correspondents, travel diaries and other documents was purchased by the Norfolk Record Office in October 2006. An index of his correspondents, details of the collection and biographical information can be accessed through the NROCAT online catalogue.
William Gunn aged 60.
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Memorial to William and Ann Gunn in Sloley Church.
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