Up at 7:00. Made a breakfast of a couple of rashers of bacon (must find out while they call it that, Maybe Eric can help), toast, yogurt and coffee. Then off to the College to update my blog. Stopped on the way at the village church and went around the cemetery. I wonder when the concept of using gravestones began? Of course with the Art in Memory exhibit being on (check out his site) www.westdean.org.uk/gardens/artmemory.html there were many stones to look at. Two were in wood and all were very interesting. Three of them were all a tribute to one lady. Two stones really caught my interest. The first was just inside the gate and it said on the face “Like that of leaves are the generations of men.” That was nice but carved around the outside not visible to the camera were the words “Life does not consist of what we can do, but we love and are love.” The second was very fitting I thought for Carol. It said “Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted.” Carol’s brother Clary passed away on June 21, 2008 and she has been feeling his loss. May she find comfort. I am constantly reminded of him on this trip as I carry a knife of his with me and am using one of his tote bags which I couldn’t have done without. Today I think I’ll head to Petworth House, an historic property with lovely gardens. The sun seems to be trying to break through, maybe my clothes will dry.
I took the #60 bus to Midhurst at 12:00 and was able to catch a connecting bus ten minutes later to Petworth about 8 miles away. A one day bus pass costs £7.30 pounds and is good value. There I visited Petworth House. Admission is 10.60 pounds but well worth it. This includes access to the grounds which are large and vast. They are not so much about flowers as they are about shrubs and perennials. See the picture of the rhododendron that is in full bloom now as well as the Magnolias. I walked around the grounds taking perhaps an hour. There is a separate section set aside for a park which was designed by the prominent landscape designer Capability Brown. He was thus called because he could take advantage of every capable option in a setting and he lived up to his name here. I did not venture into the park but have a few pictures that show it. The sun was out, but the wind kept the temperature at about 15. Overall the grounds encompass 700 acres. After the grounds I entered the house and from here on in I was unable to use my camera. I have included a picture of the house from the back exterior from the park but it belies totally the grandeur of the home. I suggest you view the following webpage to see this property. http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-petworthhouse/. I used an audio tour, which I have found to be the best way to understand large properties. It cost £2.50 pounds. This home has been owned for family use for the past 700 years. It started with the Percy family in the mid 1100s who became the Earl of Northumberland in the late 1300s and then passed to the Duke of Somerset in 1682 when he married a granddaughter of the Earl. In 1947 it was given to the National Trust in an arrangement that allows Estate taxes to be avoided, which are onerous and usually as in this case, the family is allowed to occupy a portion of the property for its personal residence.
The Chapel is the oldest part of the house dating to the 14th century. There are stained glass windows from the 1700s. A draped curtain carved of wood must be 25 feet long and 8 feet high and tremendously ornate. There are not enough superlatives to describe the grandeur and dripping wealth of this family and its home. The Somerset Room contains paintings by many masters. There is an original book hand written and decorated - Canterbury Tales by Chaucer. It is 15th century on velum with original cover and binding. The 10th Earl of Norfolk was a huge collector of Van Dyke and there are several pictures on display. These were contemporaries so you often seen portraits of the family done by Van Dyke. The Marble Hall is just that. A spacious room (every room is huge) covered on the floor with marble tiles. Then all about are marble statues and busts as well as many paintings. There are Lime wood carvings done by Gibbons, some so finely done of musical instruments that include a score written for an opera and historians have been able to read the score in the carving. A marble bust of Aphrodite is said to be one of the finest pieces in the National Trust collections. The Piece de Resistance however is called the Great Picture and Sculpture Gallery. I stood at the entrance and literally felt my jaw drop. Here is a cavernous room under several arches with wall niches 8 feet tall all housing sculptures from many periods. The family even encouraged English sculpture and one piece showing St. Michael slaying Satan is the centrepiece of one hall. The 10th Earl of Somerset was a patron of Turner, who has been acclaimed as one of the greatest English painters who ever picked up a brush. Many of his works are on display and were actually commissioned by the Earl, so they show many local scenes including the park. I literally could not take it all in, there was so much opulence.
At any rate I ended my tour at 4:00, walked to the centre of town and found I had 35 minutes to kill before the next bus. I just wanted to sit but did manage to find a nice bottle of wine, a Liebframilch at a local shop and waited patiently for the bus to Midhurst reversing the transfer to West Dean and arrived home at about 5:00. The clothes on the line were all dry if slightly wrinkled and it felt good to get them in. I am back at the college now typing yesterday and today’s blog and will go to supper at the Selsey Arms for Thai food with the folks I am staying with. See you tomorrow.
I took the #60 bus to Midhurst at 12:00 and was able to catch a connecting bus ten minutes later to Petworth about 8 miles away. A one day bus pass costs £7.30 pounds and is good value. There I visited Petworth House. Admission is 10.60 pounds but well worth it. This includes access to the grounds which are large and vast. They are not so much about flowers as they are about shrubs and perennials. See the picture of the rhododendron that is in full bloom now as well as the Magnolias. I walked around the grounds taking perhaps an hour. There is a separate section set aside for a park which was designed by the prominent landscape designer Capability Brown. He was thus called because he could take advantage of every capable option in a setting and he lived up to his name here. I did not venture into the park but have a few pictures that show it. The sun was out, but the wind kept the temperature at about 15. Overall the grounds encompass 700 acres. After the grounds I entered the house and from here on in I was unable to use my camera. I have included a picture of the house from the back exterior from the park but it belies totally the grandeur of the home. I suggest you view the following webpage to see this property. http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-petworthhouse/. I used an audio tour, which I have found to be the best way to understand large properties. It cost £2.50 pounds. This home has been owned for family use for the past 700 years. It started with the Percy family in the mid 1100s who became the Earl of Northumberland in the late 1300s and then passed to the Duke of Somerset in 1682 when he married a granddaughter of the Earl. In 1947 it was given to the National Trust in an arrangement that allows Estate taxes to be avoided, which are onerous and usually as in this case, the family is allowed to occupy a portion of the property for its personal residence.
The Chapel is the oldest part of the house dating to the 14th century. There are stained glass windows from the 1700s. A draped curtain carved of wood must be 25 feet long and 8 feet high and tremendously ornate. There are not enough superlatives to describe the grandeur and dripping wealth of this family and its home. The Somerset Room contains paintings by many masters. There is an original book hand written and decorated - Canterbury Tales by Chaucer. It is 15th century on velum with original cover and binding. The 10th Earl of Norfolk was a huge collector of Van Dyke and there are several pictures on display. These were contemporaries so you often seen portraits of the family done by Van Dyke. The Marble Hall is just that. A spacious room (every room is huge) covered on the floor with marble tiles. Then all about are marble statues and busts as well as many paintings. There are Lime wood carvings done by Gibbons, some so finely done of musical instruments that include a score written for an opera and historians have been able to read the score in the carving. A marble bust of Aphrodite is said to be one of the finest pieces in the National Trust collections. The Piece de Resistance however is called the Great Picture and Sculpture Gallery. I stood at the entrance and literally felt my jaw drop. Here is a cavernous room under several arches with wall niches 8 feet tall all housing sculptures from many periods. The family even encouraged English sculpture and one piece showing St. Michael slaying Satan is the centrepiece of one hall. The 10th Earl of Somerset was a patron of Turner, who has been acclaimed as one of the greatest English painters who ever picked up a brush. Many of his works are on display and were actually commissioned by the Earl, so they show many local scenes including the park. I literally could not take it all in, there was so much opulence.
At any rate I ended my tour at 4:00, walked to the centre of town and found I had 35 minutes to kill before the next bus. I just wanted to sit but did manage to find a nice bottle of wine, a Liebframilch at a local shop and waited patiently for the bus to Midhurst reversing the transfer to West Dean and arrived home at about 5:00. The clothes on the line were all dry if slightly wrinkled and it felt good to get them in. I am back at the college now typing yesterday and today’s blog and will go to supper at the Selsey Arms for Thai food with the folks I am staying with. See you tomorrow.
A pleasure to follow your English rambles.
ReplyDeleteThe Truro Golf Club clean-up day took place this morning and the parking lot was almost full with volunteers. An hour or so each of raking and gathering got the course looking better for the season. Afterward there was free chili and beer in the kitchen. I shared a table with Hopper, Doc, Leo, and John and Audrey Conroy. They all send along their best and Hopper may be catching your exploits on your blog.
Gerry and Tufts are in the Valley golfing and thus avoiding the clean-up! The rest of us are looking forward to a May 1st opening. Unfortunately, although there has been some sun, it is still very cold and Carolyn wants to see some growth before she lets us start tromping over the course.
Keep up the interesting posts. The Percy family of which you write are famous in Brit history and I seem to recall one of them was INVOLVED with Elizabeth I. I shall have to check my history books.
Now that you have seen the work of Inigo Jones and Capability Brown - you may wish to find a suitable moniker for yourself. I am sure Doc could come up with a few suggestions!
Take care
Alan
The shrubs are totally gorgeous. Are the pink ones rhododendrons as well?
ReplyDeleteC.
Wow! Words really can't explain what you are taking in! I think the Magnolia tree would look perfect in our new yard in Bible Hill!
ReplyDeleteKeep up the great blogs,
Take care
Kelly