The year is 1769. William Constable inherited a love of science and botany from his father, and became a passionate collector of natural history. 

Gordon played the part of Constable at the Hall and at the Maritime Museum in Hull, where he met visitors throughout the day to talk to them about some of Constable's collection and lead an object handling session. The collections were a representative selection of those on display at Burton Constable Hall. 

Constable showed much interest in the advancement of arts and sciences. He was interested in botany, geology, zoology, physics and science in a wide sense. In 1769 he embarked on a Grand Tour to Italy where he acquired many works of art and curiosities to add to his extensive collections. His spinster sister Winifred accompanied him. There were more than a dozen individuals who contributed to William’s collection including friends, relatives, the famous zoologist and traveler Thomas Pennant (1726-98) and the well-known naturalist, botanist and philosopher, Emanuel Mendes da Costa (1717-1791).