Montacute House III

Our next part of the visit is to the Parlour.  Oddly, I wrote this blog before, but the text and pictures disappeared. The great mystery of the age.  Onward.

Luckily for us this room while it has had several purposes, it has retained its chief features. In Georgian times it was used as a dining room.

The fireplace is something to behold, but of course one need to ignore the hot water radiator placed in the middle of it. It is made of Ham Hill stone. The upper register is decorative plaster over strapwork.

This gilt over walnut furniture dates from George I which along with the screen you will see later are embroidered in gros and petit point. As a stitcher I one can  imagine the hours of work that went into them.

The tapestry is a c 1731 Gobelins of the Hunter.

The wainscoting is thought to be original and certainly in the room in 1667.

This is a George II gilt sidetable with cabriole legs.

Lots more to see, next time

Montacute House II

Here is the front door which says

Through this wide op'ning Gate
None come too Early none Return too Late


This is a quote from Alexander Pope's Second Satire of the Second Book of Horace, Paraphrased  and come from a speech of an upper class ne'er do well, thought to have been added in the nineteenth century to the East frontdoor of this 17th century house

The coat of arms above the porch into the door are those of the house's builder, Sir Edward Phelips 1560- 1614 and dated 1601.

The door opens into the screens passage at one end of the Great Hall.

In this picture you can see the open door, and the passage behind the screen. This passage divides the great hall from the dining room.

And of course the screen itself.

It really is beautiful. It is a single story screen.

By this time, great halls were where the lord met his guests and took them up to the first floor private dining room.  At one time, the floor was tiled.  I am sure it was used similarly in our time.

The fireplace and paneling on this wall are original.

The stained glass in the windows is heraldic with the coats of arms of Elizabeth the first and Sir Edward Phelips and his brothers.

At the other end of the hall is a plaster frieze that  shows a story of what might happen to a man who strikes his wife with a shoe.

Until next time

 

Montacute House I

Moving on from Devon, we find ourselves in Somerset.

 At Montacute House.

A house built in the late fifteen hundreds. by Sir Edward Phelips.

The warm stone came from nearby Ham Hill and has been described as "the most beautiful Elizabethan House in England".

It must be noted that little of the original furnishings remain from any of the eras in which we might be interested, but the building and the decoration is original and would have been so during the Regency.

 These external views show an extraordinary house.

 This is a view of the east front, the principal front of Montacute. and is designed in the typical "E" formation from this period.  It also follows the height of Elizabethan fashion with its extensive areas of glittering glass. A hugely expensive proposition at this time.

Between each window on the top, third, story, and on the gable of the central bay are statues of the nine worthies - Joshua, David, Judas Maccabaeus, Hector, Alexander, Julius Caesar, King Arthur, Charlemagne and Godfrey of Bouillon.


The house is topped of with Flemish-type gables, whose curves were a fashion imported in the late 1570s

This is a pavillion, one of a pair each side of the forecourt at the east front were built and used as extra bedrooms.



There will be much more to come about this lovely house.


Until next time, Happy Rambles

Regency Library - Saltram

Saltram's Library is one of those amazing places in a house where you would like to be invited to spend an afternoon. Especially at this time of year.  While it isn't a small space, it has a very warm feel about it.

This first view gives a sense of its size and shape. Originally it was two rooms, the wall being where the columns are now with one are being the dining room. The guidebook says that at the end of the nineteenth century new book presses were set into the walls.  This was the first time I have seen them called book presses and I have been unable to locate a source for this description.  A description from the period describes them as bookcases.

The current arrangements date from 1819, so during the Regency.

The next pictures  shows the door which is open. When it is closed it would appear to look like any of the walls  of shelves. The books all date from the first Earl of Morley's time and contain a large collection of prints and original drawings. Note that the cornices and pediments to the book cases were added in the 20th century

Here are some more views you may enjoy. It is thought that the fireplaces and  over-mantel mirrors were purchased during the family's trip to France in 1818.

Until next time, Happy Rambles.

Weapons - Eighteenth Century

I thought these weapons were really interesting.  The large one is described as a muzzle loading carbine for domestic defense or for use on horseback.

It is dated from 1762. It was made by Henry Hadley and the siversmith was Jeremiah Ashley. 

The other two is a pair of dueling pistols.

Next time we visit Saltram's Library.

Regency Houses - Saltram Continued

Here is another look at the inner workings of the English Country House. This time it is upstairs, but not the upstairs of the family or guests.

Hmm. I wonder what this is, says husband.

Don't touch it, say I nervously.

Does he listen?

Of course not.



And this is what we found inside.

Now this little trapdoor is in the windowsill at the top of the servants stairs leading up to the first floor (or the 2nd Floor as we say in North America.

Any guesses?

Or are you one of those clever people who already know what this is.

Clue.  It is something to make the servants' lives easier, so we have to like it. The answers and more next time.

I know I'm a tease. So I will offer a prize this time. A draw from all those who comment for a book of your choice from the Gilvry Series-  books 1 or 2.

Until next time Happy Rambles.

Regency Houses - Saltram's Jane Austen Connection

The link to Jane Austen.

One of the interesting things on display at Saltram are
of course the pictures which often show ladies and gentlemen of our Regency era.

And here we have a Regency gown on display.This one is identified as c1800 and the train was added later.

At Salram I was also fascinated to discover a connect between The Countess of Morely, Frances Talbot and Jane Austen.  On December 27, 1815 the countess writes to Jane Austen telling her " I have been anxiously awaiting "Emma" and am infinitely obliged to your for your kind recollection of me.

I assume this means that Jane sent her a copy.

She goes on to say that "I am already become intimate with the Woodhouse family and feel they will not amuse me or interest me less than the Bennets, Bertrams and Norrises and all their admirable predecessors. I can give them no higher praise."

Clearly a fan.

There is also a transcript of Jane's reply. "Accept my thanks for the honour of your note and your kind dispostion in favour of Emma. In my present state of doubt as to her reception in the world it is particularly gratifying to me to receive so early an assurance of your Ladyship's approbation."

It seems that a writer's self doubt afflicts us all, even the great Jane Austen.

There are a few more things to see of interest at Saltram, so until next time, Happy Rambles.

 

Regency Houses ~ Saltram Bedrooms

It's always fun to peek into other people's bedrooms. Not that these rooms were always used as such, but that is how they are arranged at this point in time.

This one is fascinating because of the wallpaper.  It is silk painted with people hard at work growing curing and packing tea. It is a very expensive wallpaper from the eighteenth century
The bed is around 1760, the needle worked hagings are from earlier and the chairs are Chinese Chippendale style with pagoda-shaped cresting rails.

I must say, the new bed we have could use a set of these steps. Why is it we are going in for high beds again now?

The chimneypiece is mid-eighteenth century and carved with bears and bees.

There is more to see, so until next time, Happy Rambles.

Regency Houses ~ Saltram

                            

 Again the difference between upstairs and downstairs in this great house of Saltram. Here we have the North stairs the family would have used and those used by servants going up from the kitchens.





I wonder if the old adage about not passing on the stairs being unlucky might have come from some poor maid hustling down with a chamberpot bumping into some broad shouldered footman hurrying to answer a bell?







Until next time, Happy Rambles.

Regency Life Saltram Below Stairs Part 3

Here we have some kitchen essentials. 

 This would have been used to strain meat juices.

 The cans at right are for hot water for a vareity of purposes, including carrying up stairs to the family for washing and bathing by chamber maids. Full up these cans weigh about thirteen kilograms, a heavy weight for a young lass of about thirteen.  Sigh. No doubt that would have been my job.

 Butter pats and a dish drying rack

Jelly moulds

Some of it seems very  familiar doesn't it.  Until next time, Happy Rambles

Saltram Below Stairs Part 2

Moving on to:
The Great Kitchen at Saltram was described in 1811 by the Lady Boringdon's brother as, immense & in the utmost order of neatness. The Borigdon's must have been very proud of this kitchen if they were showing their guests around. Or perhaps he was thinking of doing something new at his own house and was looking for ideas.

I have to say that I always have difficulty deciding what pictures to use. And how much is is too much. As always I have far more pictures that I have room for in a blog and have not wish to bore my reader. Here is the first of a selection that I thought gave a really good idea of this part of the house.

This one was built in 1779 and modernized in 1913.

This hearth incorporates an open range which dates from about 1810.  Very modern. As you can see, it has roasting spits driven by heat from the fire and a huge dripping pan to catch the fats. This would have been the centre of cooking during the regency. I must say I find it rather daunting, but I guess it depends what you are used to.

Something I loved about the Saltram kitchen was the large windows, all of which could be opened. The room was bright and airy, though I can imagine how hot it would have been too when cooking a meal for a dinner party on a summer evening.

This kitchen required a staff of ten to keep it running smoothly beneath the watchful eye of the cook, the housekeeper and the butler.

 The other thing that is always a classic in a kitchen of this size is the long central worktable.

If you are wondering about the black range in the middle of that table it is Victorian, and therefore ignored. At least by me.

Until next time, Happy Rambles.

Saltram Below Stairs

Ever since I wrote Lady of Shame, part of the Castonbury Park Series, a Regency upstairs downstairs, or Downton Abbey, I have loved visiting the kitchen areas. Not the least because my hero in that story was a French Chef. I had to smile at one of the reviews which was quite positive about the idea of a Regency hero with a real job.

I digress.
Here we are exploring what at Saltram is called the Wet Larder. Not because of the sinks, called salt tanks, but because this is where wet work is done.(Not the kind you see in the mob movies, but it was used  for raw meats. And nothing else.

Joints of meat to produced bacon, ham and joints of beef to make salt beef for boiling would have been brought here. If they were to be wet salted they would have been immersed in water, salt, saltpeter and coarse sugar. The same ingredient were used as a dry rub. Some meats, salt beef for example, was kept in the tanks or in the wooden barrel, other meats like ham or bacon were hung in the cool and the dry.


The ready the meats were stored in earthenware dished on the non absorbent slate table tops you can see in this picture. As you can see the window looks out on the courtyard we saw earlier



The scales were used to check that what was ordered had actually been delivered.

No space is wasted, this is a store cupboard under the stairs leading up to the bedrooms at the back of the house.

More on the Kitchens to come later, until then, Happy Rambles

Saltram Part 8

 The kitchens always fascinate me, perhaps because I know that's likely where I would have ended up. Either that or as the wench that lights the fire before anyone gets up. 

No beautiful carpets here, stone flagstones are the order of the day.  You will also notice that the corridor to the kitchens flanks a courtyard and is separated from the house.

The food had to travel across this open area to the dining room.  The idea of course is to prevent the main house from catching fire as well as keep cooking odours contained where the inhabitants couldn't smell them.

This configuration was put in place after a fire destroyed the original kitchens in 1778. Lord Boringdon saw it as an opportunity to rationalize the domestic arrangements. He had the brew house and the laundry, which had been destroyed in the fire built as a separate block away from the house.


I do wonder how warm the food was after it travelled outside in the winter, but I expect they had food warmers in the dining room.  You can also see part of the orignial house here in this courtyard, and area likely never seen by guests and so not rendered like the frontages we saw earlier.

More to come on the working part of the house next time. Until then Happy Rambles.

Saltram Part 7

 Hope I am not boring you to death with all of these visits of mine.  I could spend hours wandering the lovely houses and I am so grateful to those who maintain them in such beautiful style.

These are the North Stairs, a quick retreat to upstairs from the dining room. They are not the main staircase, but very grand with an overhead skylight and support columns.

This hall also lead off to the heart of any house.  The kitchen.  Which will will visit next time.



Until then Happy rambles.

Saltram Part 6

 Our next room at Saltram is the piece de resistance for entertaining.  The Salon. I should mention that the ballroom did not have the chandeliers during the Regency era. Instead when they were having a ball they put up lamps over the windows and candles over the doors and concealed them with wreaths and festoons of leaves and flowers.  Health and Safety would definitely not approve it seems to me. Talk about a fire hazard.  I still wonder how they managed to light the middle of the room if they were only lighting the perimeter. But this is what happened in 1810, so a nice description of a real event.

Other neat bits of information, the band played in a tent outside of the great window and playeddances all right. The floor was "chalked" in a design by the hostess by a celebrated artist from Plymouth and they had two rows of seats around the edge of the room for about 200 people.  What an amazing image.

By the way that window in the middle there, with two columns and a bit of a portico, is known as a Venetian window.  The concave ceiling is beautiful. I can only capture a bit of it, but hopefully you can get the idea.

The carpet is Axminster. It cost  L126 and was desiged to mirror the ceiling. the reason for the furniture going around the edge of the room is to show it off. And here is the other wall with the fireplace. I just love the these giltwood Chippendale sofas.


Finally, while there are lots of pictures of a collector time, I picked this one, as he is such a regency looking gentleman, though it is dated around 1785, a Baron and neighbour and friend. A very personal touch.  The walls were originally blue damask which over time faded to dove grey according to account.

Clearly there is much more to see and know about in this room, but on we go.

Until next time, Happy Rambles.

Saltram, Devonshire Part I

Saltram stands on the outskirts of Plymouth and was created by a family by the name of Parker until 1951 when death duties made it impossible for them, to keep their family home.




The first this we came to when we left the parking lot was this pond. It looks like your typical pond with ducks and moorhens. It stands just outside the stable block. I was delighted to discover that this pond had a whole other purpose. Not one I have really ever thought about.

You can see the purpose in this picture. There is a gate and a cobbled slope down into the water.

Easy access for ducks, did you say?

No. In fact this is where carriages where washed. Naturally, like cars today, they had to be washed. All that lovely English mud.

The would back the carriages into the pond and give them a good wash. They didn't want them to sink into the mud hence the cobbles.

This is the first time I have seen a carriage washing pond, so I thought it deserved a blog post all of its own.

Lots more to see at Salram, so until next time, Happy Rambles.

Buckland Abbey VII

Because of my recent foray into the servants' quarters of the English Country House in Castonbury Park: Lady of Shame I found the kitchens and sculleries at Buckland Abbey a real draw.

The fireplace on the left is from the 18th century and has two built in bread ovens.  and was blocked up and replaced by the row of brick charcoal stoves invented by the French and known as stewing stoves which you can see alongside it. More of these later.  The fireplace on the right is from an  earlier era. The brackets above it hold spit rods. You can also see a spit rod inside the hearth along with the handle for turning it.

The windows make this kitchen a nice light airy place to work. Especially on a sunny day, which it was when we were there. And no doubt the windows would be good for letting out the smoke and the smells.

And how about that for a pestle and mortar. That really is a tree trunk.

These are those charcoal stewing ovens I mentioned earlier.

If you look carefully you can see the fire inside this one below the copper pot.

And of course no kitchen is complete without its long plank wood table running down the centre.

Notice the flagstones on the floor.  Those would have been cold underfoot, I would imagine, but easy to keep clean.

Until next time, Happy Rambles

Buckland Abbey Part VI

If you are wondering why I have been absent for a while, it is because I had gone over my allowed limit of photos and have been trying to figure out how to proceed.  I am not yet sure I have solved the dilemma, but at least I have made a bit of room for myself.

Continuing on with our tour of the Georgian part of the house we end up where I always find myself the most fascinated.  The servants areas.

 This is one of the staircase that would have been used by the servants as they dashed about making their employers happy.  Compare it to that beautiful winding polished wood staircase in an earlier blog.

As you know, I have just finished an upstairs downstairs Downton Abbey series with a group of other authors and in one of my scenes, my hero, a chef, must go by way of the servants' stairs to meet my heroine in the library, while she travels there by way of the grand central staircase. While we would not tolerate it today it makes for a very interesting dynamic.

Here we have some of the bells used to call the servants to various rooms and little spaces at the bottom of the stairs used for storage. The flagstone floors are typical in the corridors and rooms used for servants areas, whether on ground floors or in basement.

Note the plain wall sconces, a single candle with a polished metal plaque to reflect the light. One can imagine how gloomy it would be at night or on a rainy day.  And then we have a glimpse at the kitchen along with a rare view of my patient party who accompany on these trips. Most of the time they avoid the camera lens but as you can see I caught them here.  So next time we will take a peek around the kitchen.

Until then, Happy Rambles

Buckland Abbey, Devon

This year our explorations started from Salcombe in Devon.  We stayed in a hotel on South Sands. We only had to cross a narrow road to get to the sand.

On the beach we were able to pick up the ferry into town.  Much easier than driving on the roads you saw on the blog yesterday.

This is a view from the headland just beyond our hotel. I have to say, it was a picture perfect day in Devon when we walked along the road up to the top of the hill. Such a pretty coast land.

This blog is not really about  the seaside, but I was so pleased with this view, I thought it made a nice opening view.

Buckland Abbey, was our first port of call (keeping to our seaside theme) The GPS sent us on more of those brilliantly narrow roads enclosed in high hedges, and it was a bit like being lost at sea. However, the journey through the countryside was as lovely as it was terrifying every time a car came the other way.

Originally a Cistercian abbey, the property  was sold to Sir Richard Grenville during the Dissolution by Henry VIII.  The view here is of the south front and its origins can clearly be seen.

It was later acquired by Sir Francis Drake and remained in that family until 1940.

As usual, it is the late Georgian era of the house that interests me most, though it is hard to deny the fascination for one of England's heroes, Sir Frances Drake. Perhaps one day I will venture a story in those earlier times. This is one of the views a lady or gentleman in our era would have enjoyed. but Buckland was a farm when it was first built, to feed the monks and provide its wealth, and it was a farm during the Regency.

At first glance, this grand building might appear to be the outside of a church, but step inside and it is a completely different story.

It is in fact a barn.  Known as the great barn and built by the monks it continued to be used throughout the centuries for the winnowing and storage of threshed corn (wheat, oats, barley).

The large door in the centre on this side of the building is matches by another on the opposite side, both havingt an upper pigeon loft, which just sneaks into my picture. Those doors were set opposite each other to create a cross-draught to help with winnowing.  In 1792 thee additional doors were added at the ends of the building, which because it was too narrow for a wagon to turn around inside, allowed them to be driven from one end to the other. Previously the winnowed corn had to be flung from hand to hand to be stored at the far ends of the building. Here is a picture of the inside taken from one end and then the other.The narrow windows were for ventilation

And that wonderful contraption in the corner on the right - a cider press.   It was certainly in operation during the Regency because it is recorded that the original wooden screw was replace by an iron one in 1815.  The journals from 1795 record the consumption of 26 butts and one hogshed of cider during the course of the year, or approximately 3,000 gallons.  The apples were grown on the estate, so it would make sense that it would be a preferred beverage.

It is thought that the arch-braced oak roof might have been thatched originally.  It is hard to describe just how large this building is, but I think that the size of my brother in law at the far end of the building might just give you a sense of it. While there is a concrete floor in here now, until the 1950's it was beaten earth.

The next time we visit we will head towards the house, but in the meantime I will leave you with this picture of a medieval horse trough come planter, which I found enchanting. Until next time, Happy rambles.

Searching for Regency England

Wardour Castle (Continued)

In the 18th century, Wardour Castle became a romantic ruin to a new house for the Arundel's built across the lake also created in the 18th century during the landscaping of the park. How romantic is that view.

The small building to the left overlooks that lake and was built as a summer picknic pavilion. Quite honestly I was surprised to see that the pavilion looks back across that lake  rather than at the ruin itself. Built in the gothic stylepopular in the 1770's, I thought the windows rather small. By the 1830's this summer house had become a public refreshment room and dining room. These days it is used for weddings and such.

 I took many many pictures inside the castle, none of which are relevant to our topic, all about that medieval I will write one day I suppose, or the fantasy playing out in the back of my mind.  But since  I am writing a Regency-set gothic, and I definitely have a thing for towers and circular staircases, and some of the feeling of these will show up in that work, no doubt.

 Our last picture is a view of the house built to replace the castle during the late 1700's. So we are really in the garden looking back at the house.  It is not open to the public.

Until next time, happy rambles.