William at Wightwick

Wightwick Manor is full of William Morris furnishings but sadly it is one of those properties where no internal photos are allowed. I was really thrilled to see the hand drawings by Philip Webb for Morris's Forest tapestry. The tapestry is also currently on loan from the V&A so it was splendid to see it displayed next to the drawings. These original drawings were found in Compton Hall and a major fundraiser was established to purchase them last year - only 200,00 pounds required and they did it! (The only one missing is the peacock). You can see the story and drawings at this link by clicking here and this is the tapestry photo from the V&A site......

Despite no photos inside I still managed to capture the day outside........

 No comment for the image below......(!!)...but a girl just had to take home the lion tapestry cushion to keep the hare one at home company didn't she??!!

 We also stopped by a small quilt shop White Cottage Country Crafts - and here are the cakes Larry!!

 Tomorrow is my favourite day where we visit Kelmscott Manor....so stay tuned x

A treat from a Lord!

Today we visited Buscot Park - the home of Lord Faringdon and as a special treat he offered to be our tour guide....and what a treat that was! His gracious hospitality and his wit and humour were well received by us all.........and the red socks such fun!

It was a treat to see Lord Faringdon's reproduction US house as well......something that we haven't had access to on previous visits........

 I think some of our group were quite taken with him too!.....

 The highlight for me is always the saloon and the Burne-Jones Briar Rose paintings.....in Helen's words I get the vapours in this room and to photograph it all was such an honour......

 Lord Faringdon even took the rope barriers down and invited us to "plonk ourselves down". By now Helen and I were just gobsmacked!

 A Kelmscott Manor painting in a bedroom complete with Janey Morris overlooking proceedings.......

 Another of those joyous scenes......can you quite believe it?!......a Lord greeting us in his grandest of homes and telling us that the seats are for sitting! I am not so sure what the National trust staff were thinking but gosh we were and will be grateful for this life long memory......

 Our house tour was followed by an informative lecture in the estate's theatre and presented with style by Denis Moriarty - an Oxford graduate with an interest in fine arts and of course William Morris. As always it was lovely to see him again and spend time chatting over lunch.

My final task was to visit the new obelisk sundial made to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee......

 So another great day...stay tuned for more adventures tomorrow x 
(And thanks to you all for your kind messages......today I am starting to feel human again and being the last day of two courses of antibiotics I think I should be!)