Strawberry Hill House, Twickenham.

Recently I had a lovely day out visiting this wonderful house. It is somewhere that I have wanted to visit for several years now. Built by Horace Walpole in the mid-eighteenth century. You can learn all about it here.

The tour started outside the house. Our group stood shivering whilst admiring the Gothic Revival facade, but anxious to get inside!

Once inside we were able to inspect the many beautiful stained glass windows, many of the panels came from the continent.

One of my favourite parts was the hallway and staircase with its incredible carved bannister... and the beautiful stained glass lamp which spread a gloomy sort of light down though the stairwell. Note how the walls are "patchy" as a result of ongoing painstaking restoration to expose the original underneath.

The contrast of light and darkness is deliberate as Horace Walpole wanted to create a gloomy atmosphere of medieval castles and coined the word "Gloomth" to describe this.

The rooms leading from the hallway are cosy and domestic in their proportions. Most of the windows have their original amazing sliding shutters and beautiful fireplaces.....

Sadly, there are few original furnishings, pictures or mirrors as the contents of the house were sold off in the Great Sale of 1842 when one of Walpole's descendants sold everything to pay his debts.

Where you see plain glass in the windows means that the original has been lost.

The final room of the tour was the large Gallery which was a real contrast. Opulent and grand in comparison to the smaller rooms.

This is the ceiling of The Round room which was quite stunning. Do visit Strawberry Hill House if you get the chance. It really is a treat!

A slice of Interior Decoration History

Some time ago I bought this folder at a Flea Market. Inside I was delighted to find these beautiful images of interiors. The artist is Watson Charlton, there is very little information about him. I would guess these images date from the 1920's or 30's.

On each page there are close up views of the textiles to be used to create such an interior. Sadly some of the pages are damaged by water so that the colours are not as crisp as they may be.

This one (above) is described as "Bradstowe" - Hollyhock Cretonne 3/6 per yard from Messrs Skinner and Son . 46 High Street, Broadstairs.

The Oak Dining Room has curtains made from "Egmont Taffeta" at 3/11 per yard from Messrs. Williamson and Cole, 26 High Street, Clapham, London.

Probably my favourite, this green bedroom . "The coolness of the green makes this a delightful room on the sunniest day, and the gay rose colour is bright at all times". The fabric used is Green Stripe Cretonne at 2/6 per yard from Waring and Gillow in Oxford Street, London.

Sadly the picture of this bedroom has got a lot of water damage, but I felt I had to include it as it so typical of the period between the wars.

"A Vieux Rose Bedroom" using "Old Bleach Linen, an ideal material for hangings and bedspread. Its softness makes such graceful folds that the simplest curtains look charming."

Above is "Tulip" Cretonne 2/6 per yard. It is used on the sofa and curtains in The Flower Room. (below) I love the description that accompany it. "Flower paintings, beside being a delight to the eye, can  be immensely important items in the furnishing of a room"

An English Room.

 This quintessentially English room is so evocative of the 1930's don't you think?

The fabric (below) is " Autumn Garland" Cretonne 2/11 per yard

"This Cottage Style room (below) will make many a housewife whisper: That is just the cheerful type of colour scheme our room wants" 

Lastly it is suggested that "Checks" are used for the kitchen. The curtains are made from "Sunregina Loom cotton and the paintwork is painted orange yellow, while the walls and ceiling are enamelled a lighter hue".

Antiques Fair at Cothay Manor

Only a few days late with this posting! Last Saturday was the Antiques Fair at the unbelievably beautiful Cothay Manor in Somerset.

We didn't have a stall at the event, so had the rare luxury (for us) of being able to visit and view at our leisure.

As usual I have no inside pictures of the fair. All I can tell you is the quality of the stands was very impressive. Caroline (Fountain Antiques) had her stall in the stunning bedroom with a vaulted roof. She had piles of immaculate linens and textiles on display.

Outside the air was mild, so I was able to wander around with my camera.....

This strange fellow was on the wall just inside the gatehouse! if you want to visit this stunning 15th century medieval gem click here for the opening times.

Cullompton Textile Fair

This fantastic plasterwork can be found above a fireplace in Walronds, a beautiful crumbling old house in the centre of the town of Cullompton in Devon. This wonderful building will be hosting a special Textile & Decorative fair next Wednesday (November 5th) from 10 to 4 pm.

Today I have been gathering together some items for my stall there.... as you can see there will be an eclectic selection of pictures, cushions, shoes, bags, ribbons, textiles, buttons & some fantastic vintage millinery flowers that have just arrived from France.

Admission is free to the fair, and customers can enjoy wandering through the labyrinth of downstairs rooms where the stallholders will be displaying their goods against a backdrop of oak panelling & mullioned windows.

To discover more about the house, there is a website http://www.cullompton.org/the-walronds-trust.html

The house is in desperate need of repairs and financial help.