Percy Bigland's 1889 portrait of Emma Holt. Public domain.
Like his father and mother, George was also interested in educational and cultural philanthropy and was a major benefactor of University College in 1881 contributing £40,000 to its establishment. George’s daughter Emma would continue this work and following her father's death she would not only support the University of Liverpool financially but would also serve on its council. One of Emma's many initiatives would be the founding of the Holt Travel Scholarship. This provided winners with sufficient funds to study abroad - for example the 1906 winner Herbert James Rowse (1887-1963) used his scholarship to travel in Italy and America where he studied classical and American Beaux-Arts architecture at first hand. Rowse's studies would inform his greatest work such as the India Buildings scheme on Water Street, Liverpool which was built as a speculative venture by the shipping firm of Richard Durning Holt and Alfred Holt and Company (known as the Blue Funnel Line) between 1924-1932. Emma Holt never married and continued to live at Sudley House until her death in 1944. She bequeathed the house and the collection of paintings and furniture assembled by her father to the City of Liverpool. Sudley House now forms part of National Museums Liverpool.
The Emma Holt Travelling Scholarship is awarded in review of student work in the third year examination for the degree in architecture.
Sudley House. Photograph by Man vyi (public domain)
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