Video Wednesday - Stately Home Renovations

Dumfries House

Prince Charles - the Royal Restoration of Dumfries House - Documentary 46 minutes.


Tim Wonnacott and Rosemary Shrager visit some of the castles, palaces and stately homes frequented by Queen Victoria during her lifetime. They begin with Chatsworth House in Derbyshire. 30 minutes.


I Own Britain's Best Home - The Yorkshire Castle, a renovated folly.  10 minutes.


Grand Designs - The Dilapidated Georgian House- 55 minutes.


Tour round the interior of abandoned Berkyn Manor. 4 minutes.


Wentworth Woodhouse - the incredible, sinking stately home. 3 minutes.


Restoration Home - Stoke Hall. 49 minutes

And From Elsewhere On The Web . . . . .

We thought we'd pass along some interesting posts we've stumbled upon lately - something for everyone. Enjoy!




The Momento Moriatas - Killed By A Coffin, And Other Tales of Kensal Green Cemetery

 

The British Library Blog - How Research at the British Library led two authors to challenge 18th
century East End stereotypes and to write three books on the subject.

Views of London, No.5. Entrance from Mile End or Whitechaple Turnpike’.  Maps.K.Top.22.6.e - S

The Georgian Gentleman - London's first gas lights

The Guardian - Inside "Billionaires Row": London's rotting, derelict mansions worth 350m

Adventures in Historyland - Lady Butler's Waterloo

William Kent: Designing Georgian Britain

William Kent

Whilst in Manhattan recently, I was fortunate enough to be able to take in the current Exhibition at the Bard Gallery - William Kent: Designing Georgian Britain, which will move to the Victoria and Albert Museum in London from March 22 to July 13, 2014.

The Exhibition contains nearly 200 examples of Kent's elaborate drawings for architecture, gardens, and sculpture, along with furniture, silver, paintings, illustrated books and new documentary films. As most of his best-known surviving works are in Britain’s great country houses, the exhibition is rich in loans from private as well as public collections.

As the Exhibition website tells us: "Kent devised a style that catered to the Grand Tour alumni, recreating the splendors of Roman palazzi. A jovial house guest of his patrons, ‘Kentino’ (as he was affectionately known) and his creations reminded them of the best days of their lives, before they returned, inherited, and dutifully managed their old family estates." Kent's notebooks and drawings kept during his own time in Italy form a part of the current Exhibition and it was fascinating to see these items, written in his own centuries ago, up close.

You may recall a recent post on this blog on Devonshire House in London and, if so, you'll know how delighted I was to find items from the House included in the Kent Exhibition.

Door and surround from the East Drawing Room (later the dining room), Devonshire House

Lord Burlington is the best- known today of several patrons who embraced Kent's design ideals and Kent lived in his London townhouse, Burlington House (today the home of the Royal Academy) for most of his life and was also, in effect, artist-in-residence at Burlington’s new Italianate villa at Chiswick.

Armchair for Devonshire House William Kent. Armchair for Devonshire House William Kent 1733-40. Carved gilt wood, modern upholstery.

As Victoria reminded me, some of the Devonshire House items were sold as part of the Chatsworth Attic Sale held at Sotheby's in 2010, which included some 20,000 items from the Duke of Devonshire's home. You can read all about that sale here. And you will find prices realized here. The sale brought in over six million pounds in total.

Of Kent's public works, the exhibition examines 10 Downing Street, the Houses of Parliament, the Horse Guards at Whitehall, and the Royal Mews. One section is devoted to Holkham Hall, designed with the assistance of Lord Burlington for Thomas Coke, 1st Earl of Leicester, who was among Kent’s most important patrons. You can read Victoria's post on her visit to Holkham Hall here.

There is a book that's been published to coincide with the Exhibition entitled William Kent: Designing Georgian Britain, edited by Susan Weber, and published with Yale University Press,
presents twenty-one essays by leading scholars of eighteenth-century British art and design, including Julius Bryant (co-curator), Geoffrey Beard, John Harris, John Dixon Hunt, Frank Salmon, and David Watkin. The book is richly illustrated with over 600 color images, including the pieces featured in the exhibition. A chronology of Kent’s projects, an exhibition checklist, and an extensive bibliography round out this scholary publication.

You can read more about the Exhibition on the Bard Graduate Center website here.

A Pinterest Post - Basil Gill

I recently came across the arresting photo above while looking through the Pinterest boards. Hello, said I, this face begs further scrutiny. Clicking through, I discovered that this is the English actor Basil Gill (1877 - 1955) and s further search through Google Images led me to the discovery that I'd already pinned another photo of Mr. Gill to my board Absolutely Fabulous. In that photo (below) Mr. Gill resembles nothing so much as the quintessential English Dandy.

Searching the web for concrete facts about Basil Gill turned up not much more than bare bones credits for roles he'd played, until I found a site called a site called Shakespeare - The Players, which provided the following information.

"Basil Gill's first stage appearance was in Wilson Barrett's The Sign of the Cross. After touring in Australia and the United States, he had his chance to play Shakespeare when he joined Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree's company in 1903. He stayed with Tree until 1907, and during those years he played in Richard II, Fenton in The Merry Wives of Windsor, Ferdinand in The Tempest, Claudio in Much Ado About Nothing, Horatio in Hamlet, Richard II, Brutus in Julius Caesar, Orsino in Twelfth Night, Florizel in The Winter's Tale, and Octavius Caesar in Antony and Cleopatra. This range of parts offered Gill do not occur often in an actor's life.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"After he left Tree Gill still performed in many of Shakespeare's plays; there were so many that it is simpler just to list them: 1908, Bassanio in The Merchant of Venice; 1910, Henry VIII, A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Julius Caesar; 1911, Malcolm in Macbeth; 1912, he played in revivals of many of the parts he had played before; 1913, Bassanio in The Merchant of Venice with Johnston Forbes-Robertson; Twelfth Night, and Julius Caesar; 1914, Henry IV; 1915, Henry VIII; 1916, played in Julius Caesar for the Shakespeare Tercentenary at the Drury Lane Theatre; 1616, Romeo; 1920, Julius Caesar; 1926 and 1928, Macbeth; 1932, he twice played Brutus in Julius Caesar; 1933, As You Like It, A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Twelfth Night; 1934, Henry VIII, Julius Caesar, and The Merchant of Venice; 1935, The Merchant of Venice and Macbeth; 1936, Richard II and the ghost in Hamlet.

"Gill was a handsome leading man, something of a matinee idol, so he played romantic parts in many modern and "popular" plays as well, but he was best known as one of the theatre's leading performers of Shakespeare for almost four decades. He also played in thirty-five films during his career. His first part was in 1911 when he played Buckingham with Sir Henry Beerbohm Tree as Wolsey in Henry VIII; his last film was in 1939 and it was in the late 30's he played in two popular movies, Journey's End and The Citadel."

 

 

 

 

Gill died at his home in Hove, Sussex. If you know anything else

regarding Basil Gill, pleasae let me know.

 

 

 

But Back to Masterpiece Theatre . . . . .

You'll forgive me for returning to a topic on which I posted as recently as Friday, but Masterpiece Theatre is truly getting on my nerves. On Friday I touched on the fact that it seems just recently to want to remind me of the Wellington Tour at every turn. Today, I have a new gripe - the way Masterpiece Theatre treats it's U.S. viewers like second class citizens.

I was doing a bit of gardening on Saturday. Now, before you get the wrong picture in your head, I live in Florida and so use the term "garden" loosely. Disabuse yourself of Capability Brown-like borders and vistas.

The reality, especially since I've been ignoring the garden of late, is more like this -

Except that it's more overgrown. So, there I was hacking through the underbrush, being bitten rather painfully on my neck by something rather large, when it dawned on me that the fact that Masterpiece Theatre airs shows like Downton Abbey and Sherlock earlier in Britain than in the U.S. was exceedingly unfair. Why make us wait to see them when they didn't have to? Surely our fan base is as large as theirs, or even larger. There are more of us then of them, after all.

And then I started thinking that it was additionally unfair that Britain kept all their good bits of history on their side of the pond, as well. I mean in that they are entitled. They own it all. They can do what they want with their heritage sites and stately homes and the like. But they've got so much of the stuff, large numbers of it going to rack and ruin at such an accelerated rate that English Heritage itself can't keep up. Therefore, you'd think they'd pack a few of the crumblier ones up and ship them over here and therefore share the wealth, if you will. I mean, if they could FedEx the London Bridge over here, then surely a moderately sized stately pile wouldn't be a problem? Once they arrived here, we could round up the HGTV hosts to reassemble them and then renovate and redecorate them according to historic designs. Instead of Property Brothers or Love It or List It or Income Property we could call the show The Castle Crew or even History Handyman or some such. Or we could get the neighbors in to redo the place for the new owners to the designs of Adams or Ackermann or Inigo Jones and then have a big reveal at the end of each episode. Think of the ratings.

And whilst we're at it, why don't they send a few Royals over here to head our government? Oh, I know the Royals no longer actually run the British government, but then there aren't that many politicians over here actually running the government either. Instead of our having to deal with cracked out mayors and sniping senators, there would at least be entertainment value in seeing what hats the Royals wore while at the same time they might drum up some business for American fashion houses. And really, the more we have to deal with the healthcare fiasco in this country, the more National Health seems like a jolly good idea.

And so my mind went, until I became aware of the bite I'd received on my neck, which was beginning to itch. It was a large bite. The welt it left was about the size of a rather large grape. It was so large that it made me wonder just what the deuce had bitten me, since I hadn't gotten a look at it. I doubt it was a brown recluse spider since I'm still alive and hope it wasn't one of those devilish insects that lays eggs beneath the skin of their victims. I also hope I'm still alive by the time Season 3 of Sherlock finally airs here on January 19th.

The Wellington Tour: Masterpiece Theatre

The Wellington Tour is still nine months away and so I do not dwell on it. Much. It would be folly for me to think on the prospect of seeing England again this far ahead of our departure. So I've decided that the best thing to do is to put the Tour as far from my mind as possible. You would think it would be relatively easy to accomplish this state of enforced amnesia, but it is not. Reminders seem to be round every bend. Rory Muir's new biography of the Duke of Wellington was just published in December and so I've been reading reviews of it whilst awaiting the arrival of my own copy (oh, Joy!). And then there are the gossip items one can't help reading lately regarding the engagement of the present Duke of Wellington's granddaughter, Sofia Wellesley, to ex-guardsman and current crooner James Blunt, pictured below. Lately, one can hardly turn around without encountering the Duke of Wellington. And there was the diorama of the Duke of Wellington's funeral procession, with rolls of handcoloured pictures of all the dignitaries and their carriages, which I found recently on eBay. It looked something like a thicker Etch-A-Sketch, the pictures moved along rollers that were controlled by the two knobs beneath the glass window. Alas, I was forced to stop bidding when the price flew above four hundred dollars, more's the pity. It would have been a grand addition to my future Wellington Museum.

And then there's Masterpiece Theatre, which seems to be on a mission to remind me of the Wellington Tour on a regular basis. I watch a lot of PBS, and thus have been treated to the spate of commercials and programs running up to the premiere of the new season of Downtown Abbey. PBS has been running Season Three episodes of Downton Abbey almost non-stop. Hubby has even gotten into the spirit of things, though unwittingly.

"Hey, Hon!"
"Yeah?"
"You watching your PBS?" (Hubby watches his shows in the living room - I in the bedroom).
"No. Why?"
"That woman's on again. You know, the one who's in every British program ever made."

I switched over to our PBS channel, where I saw the Dowager Countess of Grantham on the screen. "Maggie Smith," I yelled."It's Downton Abbey. I'm going there."
"Riiight."
"Downton is really Highclere Castle and we're going there on the Wellington Tour."
"Better you than me. My good man," answered Hubby.

In fact, I'm watching The Secrets of Highclere Castle - again - as I write this.  Once more I hear that Highclere Castle costs roughly a million pounds a year to maintain. And that within it's walls is the priceless Van Dyck of Charles I, visible in the photo below.

I wonder if the family will be at breakfast when we arrive . . . . . . Once more, I'm told that in 1839 Highclere House was remodeled in the Gothic style. And that Capability Brown redesigned the landscape, which features a ruin-like folly and various temples, including the Temple of Diana, below.

In fact, the more I think on it, the more I realize that what I want to see most at Highclere are the grounds.

In the photo above, we see one of the fifty-six Cedars of Lebanon planted by the first Earl. I'm glad that Victoria and I have blocked out an entire day for our visit to Highclere, so that we'll all have the time to take it in at our leisure. You can click this think for a map of the grounds.

This will also leave us plenty of time to visit the Tea Rooms

Highclere Castle Afternoon Tea Menu Tea and Coffee A glass of Sparkling Elderflower/Champagne Selection of sandwiches that may include; Roasted Chicken and Stuffing Smoked Salmon and Horseradish Honey Baked Ham Egg and Cress Freshly Baked Scones Clotted Cream and Homemade Jam A selection of cakes: Victoria Sponge, Carrot Cake or a Coffee and Cream Cake

and, naturally, the Gift Shop. But returning to the house . . . .

I do want to see Lady Mary's bedroom . . . . . . .

where Mr. Pamuk died. 

It's part of the tour, as is the gallery along which the ladies of the house carried the body.

I know, I know - with all that's happened on Downton Abbey, why do I keep going back to that episode? Could it be because it was strangely comedic?

Of course, I'll be tuning into Downton Abbey this Sunday since I can't wait to find out what Thomas the Footman has up his sneaky sleeve this season. That should keep me from thinking about The Wellington Tour. Much.

Why not consider joining Victoria and me on our Tour?  We'd love to have you with us as we experience all the fun of Highclere Castle, as well as the exciting feast of additional sites we have planned.

Video Wednesday: Debutantes of 1939

The Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, the Duke of Wellington, Viscountess Macmillan, Lady Bowman, Diana Tennant, Sir Martyn Beckett, Betty Morton, Peggy Cripps and the Duchess of Northumberland reminisce about the debutante season, Nazis, the Coldstream Guards, the Big Apple, the Kennedy Family, the Ritz Bar and all manner of things that recall a vanished way of life. Fascinating stuff. 48 minutes.

Click Here to View

A Pinterest Post: Juana Galán

This is one of my favorite Pinterest posts because Juana Galán (1787–1812), above, was fierce, feisty and would no doubt have been a favorite of the Duke of Wellington. During the Peninsular War, twenty year old Juana worked in a tavern in her home town of Valdepeñas, Spain, when she gathered the intelligence that the French were preparing to invade the town. As most of the men were away from the town already fighting in the war against Napoleon, Juana took matters into her own hands and rallied the townswomen in order to form a battle plan of their own.

On June 6, 1808, Napoleon's troops entered the town, whereupon the women, strategically placed in windows about the square, poured boiling water and oil over the heads of the soldiers who rode past. Juana, armed with either a baton or a cast iron stew pot (depending on which version you believe) then went into the street and beat the soldiers about their heads like there was no tomorrow. No doubt Juana had help in the pummeling, as a single person, man or woman, could not have taken on an entire regiment of French cavalry by themselves, however history credits Juana alone for the deed. The French fled and subsequently abandoned their aim of conquering the region of La Mancha altogether. Soon afterwards, the Spanish army were victorious at the Battle of Bailen against the French.

On May 2, 1810, Juana married Bartolomé Ruiz de Lerma,  with whom she had two daughters. She died during the birth of her second daughter on September 24, 1812.

 

You can find all my Pinterest boards here.

The Twelve Days of Christmas

December 25th

My Own Heart - The London coach arrived today, bringing with it your gift of a partridge and a pear tree. You are too clever by half!
Yours For Eternity

December 26th

My Love - Two turtle doves! How simply smashing. I cannot wait to see you again that I might thank you personally. You are too droll.
For Ever and Ever

December 27th

Darling - There we were, my footman and I, dispensing bird seed when what should arrive at Blicking Hall but three French hens. You cannot imagine the look they brought to the footman's face. Truly, you shouldn't have.
Always

December 28th

Sweetheart - Four calling birds. How quaint. You should know that my lady's maid is making noises about leaving the Hall. The footman is none too happy, either, although the local carpenter is quite over the moon to have been hired to construct the aviary. Typically, work is scarce for him at this time of year.
Love

December 29th

Dearest - How could you do this to me? I do not mean to be short with you, but none of us here has gotten much sleep of late, what with all the billing, cooing, chirping and calling the birds are wont to do.
Yours
P.S. Thank you for the five golden rings.

December 30th

Dear - Now you've done it. Cook is quite put out by the six geese laying in her kitchen, and no wonder. You must end this. Accomplished cooks are difficult to come by in the country.
As Ever

December 31st

Dear Sir - I am most heartily sick of the sight of feathers. Your seven swans arrived today and are swimming in the ornamental fountain in the conservatory. Oldham has been snorting at me disdainfully all morning. Have you ever been snorted at by your butler? It's off putting, to say the least.
Happy New Year

January 1st

Sir - Is there a market for spare goose eggs? The eight maids you sent today are a welcome sight, what with all the seeds and feathers we have to sweep up hourly here. Once they have finished with that, the maids intend to walk to the village, where they are determined to help with the milking. Wherever shall they all sleep?
Please Cease and Desist

January 2nd

To Whom It May Concern - This daily gift giving business is no longer amusing. The entire village have followed the nine drummers drumming to our door. The staff are up in arms, save for the footman, who has not been seen since shortly after the eight maids arrived.
Stop it!

January 3rd

You black hearted scoundrel - the magistrate appeared at Blicking Hall today. It transpires that the villagers are being driven to distraction by the ten pipers and their constant piping. Perhaps you should have sent mimes.

January 4th

Could you not have sent the eleven ladies dancing to Almack's instead of to me? Do these outrageous gifts have anything to do with the betting book at White's? Is that idiot Brummell somehow involved? Have you a good receipt for fowl fricassee?

January 5th

My entire staff have deserted me, taking with them the maids, pipers, dancing ladies and, blessedly, the drummers. There is the tiniest bit of good news - I have been given to understand that some of them have made successful matches and are currently bound for Gretna Green. I was headed to my rooms with a bottle of port when who should arrive but twelve lords a leaping. And what lords they are - so handsome, so gallant, so utterly divine! How could I have doubted your intentions? Please give my regards to all in London, as I fear I shall be much too occupied here at Blicking Hall to partake of the Season.
Your Most Grateful Friend

Have Yourself a Stately Home Christmas

Each year, at the beginning of November, I start checking the mailbox for my invitation to spend Christmas at Stratfield Saye. Each year, I'm disappointed in this hope. All is not lost, however, as I've still been fortunate enough to spend a few Christmas's, and a New Year's Eve or two, in England anyways. Recently, Victoria and I were mulling over our choices for future holiday stays and we both thought it would be grand to really splash out and spend the hols at a stately home or three - even if none of them are Stratfield Saye.

Victoria suggested Castle Howard, above, in Yorkshire, which will be decorated and receiving visitors until 22 December. From their website: "Beautifully decked out each Christmas by the Hon.Simon and Mrs Howard, a visit to Castle Howard fills the festive season with sparkle and cheer. Approach the magnificent 18th-century house along the Christmas tree-lined drive.

"Inside, discover breathtaking interiors lit by candle and firelight, dressed with magnificent trees, a stunning display of traditional Howard family ‘twigs’, winter garlands and floral arrangements. Christmas at Castle Howard includes live music performances daily, audiences with Father Christmas and delicious seasonal menus in the restaurant and cafés. Remember to leave enough time to visit the gift shops, Farm Shop and Garden Centre where you can pick up that special Christmas gift."

Victoria also suggested Wiltshire's Bowood House, above, for which she harbors a soft spot in her heart, not least because it's home to the current Marquis and Marchioness of Lansdowne. Speaking of whom, here's the invitation to visitors from the Lady of the House: "For the second year the Marchioness of Lansdowne invites you to Bowood House Christmas Extravaganza.  See Bowood House decorated for a family Christmas and indulge in a fantastic shopping experience.  Come and see stunning stalls filled with handmade toys, Christmas food, antiques, evening clothes, indulgences, shoes, books, silk flowers, handbags, furs, puzzles, table decorations, candles, book signing by famous food writers and much much more." The Extravaganza has become a seasonal favorite - last year, the Duchess of Cornwall paid a visit.

While Bowood House itself closes to the public before Christmas proper, the Bowood Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort.offers a two night Christmas Break, which includes a Christmas Eve visit to Lord and Lady Lansdowne -

Two Night Christmas Break - Get away for two nights with dinner, bed and breakfast, as well as full use of our spa facilities. What the break includes:

Christmas Eve
Arrive in time for a Champagne High Tea, served between 3pm and 4pm, before heading down to Bowood House to join Lord and Lady Lansdowne for carols in the private family chapel, followed by mulled wine and mince pies in the Orangery. Return to the hotel for a delicious three course dinner. If you wish to attend midnight mass in the village church, transport will be available. Then it’s time to relax. Enjoy a nightcap or a complimentary hot chocolate before you head up to bed and remember to put your Christmas stocking on your door before you go to sleep.
Christmas Day
Start the day with a full Wiltshire Breakfast. Spend the morning relaxing or work up an appetite with a walk in the beautiful Bowood Grounds. Santa will arrive with gifts for all. Lunch will be a gourmet experience offering traditional Christmas fayre, with a menu designed and cooked by our Executive Chef. The afternoon is a time for a nap or to watch the Queen’s speech and if you’re peckish, you’ll be able to help yourself to a delicious rolling buffet in the evening.
Boxing Day
Enjoy a full Wiltshire Breakfast and then make use of the luxurious Spa facilities before you leave. If you want to postpone your departure, add an extra night bed and breakfast from only £170 per room.
From only £450 per adult, £200 per child. Prices are based on two people sharing a twin or double room, single supplement applies, upgrades are available at a supplement. Price per child is based on sharing with two adults. If two or more children, an adjoining room will be offered for £375 per child, subject to availability. For more information or to make a reservation please call Bowood Hotel Reception on 01249 822228.

Personally, I'd love to see Chatsworth House at the holidays. The Duke and Duchess of Devonshire first opened the House to visitors at Christmas as a way of making up revenues after a year of poor visitor attendance due in part to hoof and mouth disease in the local area. Now, decades on, the Chatsworth Christmas displays are a well loved tradition for visitors from near and far.

This year, from November 9 to December 23, Chatsworth offers Christmas displays on the lower
floors of the house. The theme for Christmas 2013 is 'The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe at Chatsworth.' In addition, each year the House hosts Christmas Market Weekends, seasonal floral workshops and twilight evenings.

The Cavendish family also own Bolton Abbey in Yorkshire and its there that you can enjoy a magical walk and discover the 12 scenes from the traditional carol come to life. Explore Strid Wood to find the 12 scenes – see 7 swans a-swimming, 3 real french hens and have a go on the drums. Nearby, the Devonshire Arms Country House Hotel and Spa offers its own fabulous Christmas Package. From their website:

With its signature puddings and wild moors, Yorkshire is a marvellously English place to spend Christmas. One of the county's finest properties is the 30,000-acre Bolton Abbey Estate in the Dales, owned by the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire; and, on it, the Devonshire Arms Country House Hotel and Spa is offering two- and three-night Christmas packages. A Champagne reception and dinner in the Michelin-starred Burlington Restaurant will warm guests up for some carol-singing,

Christmas Eve -

Champagne Afternoon Tea, this will be served in the lounges and will include a variety of delights
19.00	Drinks Reception in the Cocktail lounge
19.30	Seated for a set menu dinner The Burlington Restaurant. We respectfully advise that the dress code for this evening is Jacket and Tie
22.30	The Choir will leave to take their place in The Priory for Midnight Mass. We invite you to board the 1920’s Charabanc to chauffeur you to The Priory from 10.45 pm
23.30	Celebrate the First Mass of Christmas
00.30	Once safely back at the Hotel, and if you can fit it in, enjoy hot chocolate, marshmallows, brandy, mulled wine and mince pies as a bed time treat.

Christmas Day Breakfast is served in the Burlington Restaurant.
10.00	Morning mass at the Bolton Priory for those wishing to attend, The Priory is approximately 1 mile along the river or road. Reception has information on other Church services.
12.30	Champagne reception in the cocktail lounge.
13.30	The Traditional Christmas Luncheon, served in the Burlington Restaurant.
16.30	Games or walk
19.00-20.00	A Christmas buffet will be served in the Burlington. Help yourself to as much as you can eat.
20.30	Christmas Pub quiz to be held in the Brasserie.

Boxing Day

8.00-10.00	Traditional Breakfast will be served in the Burlington Restaurant.
12.00 noon	Join the Airedale Beagles in the Devonshire’s front car park on their traditional Boxing Day hunt. Mulled wine & mince pies will be available to keep you warm!
12.00 noon	For those of you who have chosen to go on the guided walk with Eddie, please meet in Reception at 12.00 noon, to see the Beagles & returning at approx 3.30pm to 4.00pm.Packed Lunch will be provided.
12.30–14.00	For those not attending the walk, a Boxing Day lunch is served in The Burlington Restaurant.
19.00-00.00	Champagne Reception prior to Boxing Night Black Tie Dinner with wine package and Jazz Band in the Cavendish Room, this is when the prizes will be given to those who have won the competitions.

Three-night packages from £1,645 per room. Devonshire Arms Country House Hotel and Spa, Bolton Abbey, Skipton, North Yorkshire (01756 710441; www.thedevonshirearms.co.uk)

The Wellington Tour - Devonshire House

No matter how many times I visit London, I always find new nuggets of historic trivia that are hugely interesting. I thought I'd do a bit of investigation recently in preparation for the St. James's Walk Victoria and I will be leading during The Wellington Tour in September, when I discovered some interesting facts.

Firstly, I did some research into Devonshire House, London home to the Dukes of Devonshire since 1697, when the 1st Duke purchased the home, then known as Berkeley House, from Lord Berkeley. You can get an idea of it's prime location on Piccadilly from Roque's map below.

The house burned down in 1733 whilst undergoing renovations, allowing the Duke to rebuild in a contemporary style better suited to entertaining on a grand scale. The prime example of such an entertainment came over a hundred years on at The Duchess of Devonshire's Ball, a fancy dress entertainment held in order to celebrate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee on 2 July in 1897. The Duchess encouraged guests to take their inspiration for fancy dress from history, literature and mythology. Thankfully, the Duchess hired photographer James Lauder of the Lafayette Company to be on hand to photograph the 200 costumed guests in front of different backdrops over the course of the evening.

The Duchess of Devonshire as Zenobia, Queen of Palmyra

The Ladies Churchill as Watteau shepherdesses.

Princess Henry of Pless as the Queen of Sheba

Unfortunately, Devonshire House (below in 1905) was demolished in 1920, when it was sold by the 9th Duke of Devonshire in order to pay death duties. Today, an office building stands on the site.

The new bit of trivia I learned is that the gates from Devonshire House were saved and moved to the entrance of Green Park off Piccadilly. I can't tell you how many times I've walked past, and through, these gates, never realizing their history.

 

 

Another piece of London history I've walked past numerous times is the Porter's Rest above, located just down the street from the Green Park Gates as you walk towards Apsley House. As E. Beresford Chancellor tells us, there is a plaque on the object that reads "At The Suggestion Of R.A. Slaney Esq. Who For 20 Years Represented Shrewsbury In Parliament This Porter's Rest Was Erected In 1861 By The Vestry Of St. George Hanover Square For The Benefit Of Porters And Others Carrying Burdens." You can be sure we'll be pointing this piece of street furniture out to everyone on the Wellington Tour - who knew?

 

Click Here For Complete Details of The Wellington Tour