Mottisfont Abbey

[poliphilo]

Tudor mansion, Georgian makeover- with a medieval priory buried inside. The interiors are 1930s pompous- lots of fake marble- with the exception of a room painted in trompe l'oeil by the witty and wonderful Rex Whistler- the last country house job he undertook before going off to be killed in Normandy.

Comments

[puddleshark.livejournal.com]

I do mean to make it to Mottisfont one day to see the Whistler trompe l'oeil. Have you seen the mural he painted at Plas Newydd on Anglesey? It's a marvel.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

No, I've never been to Anglesey- but I know that scheme from reproductions (and TV)

I adore Whistler.

[davesmusictank.livejournal.com]

Fantastic building.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

It's a mix of styles and periods but it really works

[artkouros.livejournal.com]

I should have been born to the manor in England 200 years ago - I could totally play the part.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

The lifestyle continued until the mid 20th century. There may indeed be a few places where they still keep it up.

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

Now you're in my part of the world - as in, easy walking distance from my mum's house. My favourite thing about Mottisfont - apart from the rose garden, which it's perhaps still a whisker too early for - is the eponymous spring itself, in the grounds. Once, I believe a meeting place for a Saxon thyng (hence the name). The Whistlers are nice too, of course.

Did you go you extra four miles to Romsey?

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

We didn't see the gardens- helas. Wheelchair, gravel paths, the threat of rain...

Nor did we make it to Romsey- not this time.


And now we're in Oxfordshire.

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

Always one step ahead of the law, I see!

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Once you start running it's hard to stop.