Museum Babble

After visiting many National Trust properties, I must admit they all blend into one, so I wanted to see something unique. Red house (not "The" Red House as we were swiftly told) in Bexleyheath London was definitely a good choice. The Gothic architecture and medieval decoration reflect its history as a hub for the Pre-Raphaelite movement. The house is a little empty, as many items had been removed or replaced over the years, but that isn't really the point of the property. Instead, my eyes were drawn to details on the stain glass windows and the decorative wall patterns. For the many people that I know who love the Arts and Crafts movement, this place will certainly be a treat.   Round window overlooking the rose garden.   The house was home to the multi-talented William Morris, but you don’t need to be a fan of his work to have fun because plenty of information was provided through tours and helpful volunteers. In fact, out o...

Built in the style of a French chateau, Waddesdon Manor is definitely made to impress and inside is no exception. The Victorian decor provides plenty of objects to photograph, but having so many objects in one room (as seen below) can be quite overwhelming and not to everyone’s taste. Whether you enjoy the manor will depend on why you choose to visit historic properties. If your aim is to step in to a serene space, then maybe this one isn’t for you, but if you want to see a collection of eccentric objects, then Waddesdon is a real treasure.  This is the first room you enter. My eyes don't know where to focus.   This gentleman was located in the wine celler. When inside, it soon became clear that learning about the property and its contents was quite a challenge. Afterward, I found out that audio guides were available, but they not well advertised so I missed the opportunity to get one. I relied on talking to staff and volunteers t...

Situated in beautiful Isleworth, Osterley Park is a wonderful example of neo-classical design. As stunning as it is, some rooms did appear a little bare, likely because many of the paintings and objects inside are provided by other collections, such as the V&A. Therefore, the joy of the house mostly lies with the architecture and history of the building, which does make for a good photograph, especially for all the Greeks reading this who love a bit of classical archtecture! As I hoped, volunteers were situated in almost every room, all brimming with historical information and interesting stories that really helped fill the bones of the house, which has convinced me once again that there is no substitute for human interaction in a historical house museum. I had a hilarious conversation with one volunteer called Mary, which involved critiquing the painting below. Osterley Park in this image is clearly depicted as being bigger and more imposing than it actually...