Last Sunday saw me family chauffeuring again and I had another hour to spare which resulted in my dashing over for a quick visit to Winterbourne House again. Don't be fooled by the colour of the sky in the photo below which was taken when I visited in February. When I arrived last weekend it was raining heavily so I decided to have a look round the House.
Winterbourne is an Arts and Crafts House which has recently been restored and opened to the public in 2010. The house was built in the early 1900's for John Sutton Nettlefold and his family. Local architect JL Ball was commissioned to design the house in the Arts and Crafts style. John Nettlefold worked for the family firm Nettlefold Ltd which manufactured screws. In 1902, following a merger, the Company was renamed Guest Keen and Nettlefold. John and his wife Margaret moved into the house in 1904. The house was built to a "North Corridor" plan which meant all the main rooms had the maximum light and views. The rooms today reflect the day to day life of a wealthy Edwardian family.
The Morning Room
The Study
This Magic Lantern was producing a moving talking silhouette
which actually I found rather spooky!
The Drawing Room
Downstairs Gallery
I looked round the house interior a few years ago when I first visited Winterbourne but I think only the downstairs rooms were open then. Now you can also see upstairs.
Upstairs Gallery
This display case contains various items found around the gardens - a lovely idea I thought.
One room held what looked a very interesting exhibition on the World Wars but it was very busy in there and I only had about ten minutes remaining so
I looked into the Nursery which was a total delight.
There are several other bedrooms to visit.
Note the warming pan on the bed in this photo!
Display of Magic Lanterns.
Magic Lanterns were invented in the 17th century but became very popular in the late 19th and early 20th Century. Oil, lamplight and eventually electricity were used to project images from glass slides onto a wall or screen. Colour images could be shown accompanied by music and narration. In the days before tv and the cinema, shows often took place in village halls.
The Nettlefolds owned and used their own Magic Lantern.
This is one of my favourite paintings. The original can be seen in Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. It was painted by John Byam Lister Shaw and is entitled "The Boer War" 1901.
This bedroom belonged to the Nanny/Governess.
My mother once owned (and used!!) a sewing machine just like this.
I am not sure who might have been lurking behind this door!
The house is a total delight to visit and I wish I had had more time as there was so much to see and read.
The house looks quite delightful in side, not to grand. I like the books with the painted fllowers on its pages. My mum too had one of those sewing machines, I remember having a go. Very lucky to have such a wonderfull place you can visit many times and still find something new to see.
ReplyDeleteAre the staff getting to know you :) lovely post.
Amanda xx
Amanda Peters - Thanks so much Amanda. I could easily live in that house (and garden) if I ever won millions on the lottery and it was for sale :) Such a lovely atmosphere there. The sketchbook reminded me of Edith Holden! Must have been nice to be a lady of leisure in those times and have time to paint flowers!! My mum used to make nearly all her own clothes (and mine) on one of those Singers!
ReplyDeleteI think I am probably known as the person who rushes in and out in half an hour!!! :) When the weather is warmer may persuade B to go along with me and spend a day exploring :)
I think you managed to see and photograph a lot of the inside of this beautiful house. So many interesting things to see and I am sure you will find time to go back again. Hope your weekend goes well.
ReplyDeleteMargaret Adamson - Thanks very much Margaret. I will return :) Have a lovely weekend too.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the delicious insight to the house, not much ostentation which I find off-putting.
ReplyDeleteI learned to sew on a machine like that!
Toffeeapple - Thanks so much. I thought it had a real feel of a "lived in" house.
ReplyDeleteI seem to remember my mother tried to teach me and I couldn't get the hang of the pedal thing - put me off sewing for life!!
What a lovely post and a beautiful house. I love the little stage in the nursery and the teddy's tea party. I vaguely remember using a sewing machine like that in primary school in the needlework lesson, (i couldn't get the hang of it either). Thanks for sharing. :-)
ReplyDeleteDeb - Thanks so much - am really glad you enjoyed the post. I tried to use an electric sewing machine donated by my mother in law when we got married and had no luck with that either!! OH had to use it to take up curtains etc. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a fascinating place. Some really lovely fabrics in various of the pictures. I thought the shadow on the wall a bit spooky too!
ReplyDeleteCountryside Tales - Thank you :) It was such a shame I had so little time as I could have spent several hours looking round.
ReplyDelete