A visit to Kiftsgate Court

We have just spent a few days in the Cotswolds.  While we were there I went with Angela (owner of the recently featured beautiful garden ) to visit Kiftsgate Court Garden near Chipping Campden.

On a steeply sloping site, the garden is a real joy.  It has wonderful long borders, a more contemporary area that includes a water garden with sinister black water, and fantastic views out over the vale of Evesham to the hills beyond.   We were too late sadly to admire the extraordinary Kiftsgate Rose, which spreads for yards into adjacent trees, but were compensated by the wide variety of summer perennials, including some spectacular hydrangeas.   The planting schemes were quite daring; no refuge taken too many in soft pinks, blues and purples but a willingness to include quite hot tropical colours occasionally lifting more gloomy corners.

The house is rather wonderful too.  The neoclassical façade was imported from another house nearby and attached to a Victorian core.  It once was much larger, spreading back into the car park, and incorporating a huge ballroom.  The soft Cotswold stone gives the whole a golden glow.

The gardens date back to the 1930’s, and have been constantly evolving since then.  Three generations of lady gardeners have created this wonderful place, and we were lucky to meet the current incumbent.   It was interesting to talk to her about the challenges of maintaining the garden, and also to complement her on the quality of the small but very tasteful shopping opportunity in the porch of the house!  

Spectacular views from the lower garden

All aboard for mentoring

The Allen Gardiner

On Thurs, 17th August, from 9.30am-11am, courtesy of Articulate, there is the opportunity to meet old and new acquaintance and enjoy a lovely brunch plus welcome (non alcoholic) cocktail aboard the brilliant river cruise boat, the Allen Gardiner.  The boat is berthed at Ipswich Haven Marina, and although the vessel will stay in port you will have a chance to experience being on board.

The purpose of the event is to introduce a project called ‘GrandMentoring’, an innovative initiative that harnesses the energy, skills and experience of older volunteers (50+) to support young people in our area to find work, stay on in education or take up training.

Originally the brainchild of Lord and Lady Freud, the scheme has been running in London since 2009. Now it is here in our own backyard!  In central Ipswich alone, there are more than 400 young people in care. Any person aged 50+ who wants to give back to the community, give a young person a chance and can spare about an hour a week (or equivalent) would make a huge difference. You may not fit the bill yourself, but you may know someone who does.  Any project that increases employability skills has obvious benefits for both those who are mentored and for local businesses.

This is all about changing lives and personal contact, not just giving money.

Tickets £15, Bookings close 10th August. To find out more, and/or to book in, please visit www.articulatehlc.co.uk

Sprucing up Sudbury; a chance to get involved

Belle Vue Park, Sudbury

Are you concerned about how Sudbury looks?  Or are you confused about the number of people who are involved with attempting to keep the town tidy?  Or do you want to point out areas that you feel could do with sprucing up?

Next week, on Wednesday 19^th July at 6.30 p.m. in the Town Hall there is an opportunity to discuss improving the look of the town.

It is the case that many local organisations, as well as the Town Council, are working hard to try to present the town at its best.  Recently the Sudbury Society launched their ‘Love Sudbury’ campaign, and ActivLives does clear up work with volunteers in Belle Vue Park and other locations.

Many individuals and businesses also play their part, taking care of their own premises and the adjacent public areas.  The Town Council, among other services, provides the floral displays around the town.  Of particular note are the beautiful flower troughs around the railings of St Peter’s Church.

Some of these efforts go unnoticed and it is certainly the case that there is little or no co-ordination between those involved.   The meeting next week hopes to address this and other related issues.  Any group or individual who is already involved or would like to know more,  is invited to bring suggestions, good practice and ideas for partnership working to this informal forum.

In order to accommodate numbers could you please contact the Town Council at advice@sudburytowncouncil.co.uk or telephone 01787 372331 if you wish to attend or require further information.

New Gainsborough drawings discovered at Windsor

A sketch for Cornard Wood?

On the BBC Today Programme this morning we heard the very exciting news  that a folder of drawings at Windsor Castle, previously attributed to Landseer,  has been identified as containing early works by Thomas Gainsborough.

Art expert, Lindsay Stainton, who is a good friend of Gainsborough’s House in Sudbury, made the connection when she noticed the similarity between one of the drawings and the painting of Cornard Wood which currently hangs in the National Gallery in London.

When schoolchildren visit Gainsborough’s House they are told about how Gainsborough went about creating his landscape paintings.  He did not sit and draw them from life in the open air,  but would sketch small parts while out and about and then create a complete and considered image once he was back in his studio.  Children are invited to attempt the same sort of assemblies using large stones and broccoli etc.

These new discoveries will facilitate more research into the creation of the landscapes, which Gainsborough claimed were the pictures he most enjoyed painting.  Unfortunately portrait painting was a lot more lucrative for him, and he often gave his landscapes away to friends.  In addition to the sketches from nature there is also a small sketch of a woman who could be his wife, Margaret Burr.

There is an interesting clip about the recent discovery on the BBC website HERE.

Her Majesty the Queen has been very generous in the past in lending her Gainsboroughs, and other works, to Gainsborough’s House for display in temporary exhibitions.  Let’s hope that these new discoveries will be able to make a journey back to the home of their creation in the not too distant future.

Russia at Gainsborough's House in September

Solovetsky Monastery, White Sea, Russia

On four Wednesdays following 13th September, between 10. 30 a.m. and 12.30,  I will be hosting four sessions at Gainsborough's House during which I will present four different aspects of Russian cultural life.  The format will be two themed illustrated talks/discussions on each morning, with a break for coffee and pastry midway.

The four themes are based on the Russian Church, Russian Landscape, Russian Country Houses and Dachas, and Russian resistance to autocracy from the Decembrists (1825) to the Thaw (1956/7).

I have set up a tab above 'Late Summer Russian Talks' which gives more details.

Closer to the time I will be updating the tab with further details, including some suggested reading material.

You can book for whichever session or sessions interest you, and there is a slight price reduction if you book all four.

Bookings can be made by contacting Reception at Gainsborough's House.  All proceeds will go towards the work of the museum.

Semer Ladies visit silk exhibition at Gainsborough's House

Enjoying an introductory talk in the Garden at Gainsborough's House.

It was very good to welcome a group of ladies from Semer to Gainsborough’s House a couple of weeks ago.  I do miss getting around the Cosford area, and it was nice to see some old acquaintance along with some new faces.  The group was given an introductory talk and a tour of the House.  I was able to say a little about the exciting capital project which, we hope, will transform the museum for generations to come.

I hope that they enjoyed the exhibition, Silk: from Spitalfields to Sudbury, currently showing at the museum.   I had an opportunity this week to take a closer look and it is a most interesting show.

The exhibition explores the local and national history of silk in England from the eighteenth century to the current day.  Loans from the Victoria and Albert Museum, The Museum of London and Norwich Castle Museum supplement items and samples sourced from our local silk weaving firms here in Sudbury.

In addition to its many other charms, Sudbury is the largest producer of silk woven textiles in England, with four different companies that trace their roots back to the early nineteenth century.  The town already had a history of working with textiles due to its history as a centre for wool production, and it is thought that Gainsborough’s brilliance in depicting clothing was due to his family’s association both with this trade, and also the fashion industry, (his sister was a milliner).  The picture of Lady Alston below(sadly not part of the exhibition!) is a good example of his skill.

Silk: from Spitalfields to Sudbury runs until 8^th October 2017 at Gainsborough’s House.  It is supported by the John Ellerman Foundation.

Lady Alston by Thomas Gainsborough (c. 1753 - 60) Oil on Canvas.  The Louvre.