Lecture re the Victoria and Albert Museum
3rd June 2021
Victoria and Albert Museum
Online Talk given by Jeremy Musson and Hugo Rittson Thomas
Romantics and Classics Style in the English Country House
June 3rd 2021
Living today in the house of the English countryside, the owners blend contemporary style and furnishings with their former heritage. To mark the publication of their book, the authors discussed the architecture, exterior and interior of the houses including the magnificent gardens. Jeremy is a leading commentator on the English Country House and interiors. Hugo is known for high profile photographic portraiture including Her Majesty the Queen. The photographs of the interior in particular were stunning because using natural light, the photographs looked exactly like paintings.
Assembling a special collection of twenty fine houses of different periods which ranged from traditional and classical. These houses had been in the same families for many years. It was also interesting to see the restoration and particular influences.
One of the examples is Haddon Hall in Derbyshire which is twelfth century and fortified having a double courtyard and a long gallery. This has been beautifully restored using local craftsman.
Sir Roy Strong’s home The Lackett was enlivened with Palladian touches. The Court of Noke has a canal around the home. Other properties of interest were Pitshill owned by Hon. Charles Pearson, Smedmore and Walcot. In Smedmore for example there are examples of Chinese porcelain as well as East India merchant flower piece cabinets with floral decoration. At Wolverton in Worcestershire there are mixed refurbishment styles with the presence of an orate garden with an octagon banqueting house as a folly in the garden.
The Court of Noke at Pembridge in Herefordshire is owned by Edward and Emma Bulmer. Edward is an architectural historian and a descendant of the Bulmer cider making business. Returning to Pitshill, Midhurst, Sussex Edward Bulmer worked on the interior design.
Having seen the wonderful array of beautiful houses with exquisite photography has inspired me not only to purchase the book but perhaps visit one or two of these beautifully restored homes in the Summer.
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