Bankesy

Here's an interesting piece from the Jerusalem Post all about the ruins of Qasr al-Abd, west of Amman, capital of Jordan, brought to the attention of the world by 'an eccentric English aristocrat', William Bankes. Orientalist, Egyptologist, collector and mate of Lord Byron, Bankes recognised these ruins as being those of Tyros, described by the 1st century AD Jewish historian Josephus, when he came across them along with two British naval officers midway through a grand tour of the world.

Although he was mostly responsible for redesigning Kingston Lacy and leaving it in the shape it is in today, Bankes barely got to live in or enjoy his creation. He was forced to flee the country and live more or less in exile after he was caught in flagrante with a guard in Green Park. Sodomy, at the time, remained a capital offence.

Throughout his life he sent back to Kingston Lacy numerous artefacts or curiosities that he picked up on his travels, and is said to have returned home in secret to glimpse this collection just before he died.