Often I've come across little gems that totally blow me away. Loseley Park and the Watts Gallery, both in Surrey, are two such places.
Loseley Park was built in the reign of Elizabeth I, in a bid by the then owner to entice the monarch to visit. According to the meticulous records that remain, the entire build price came to just under £2000, a princely sum at the time. Inside, there are priceless antiques, including the intricate wood panelling in the Great Hall that once graced Henry VIII's Nonsuch Palace, George IV's coronation chair, and work by Grindling Gibbons, England's finest ever woodcarver. The fireplace in the Drawing Room, carved from a single block of chalk is truly magnificent. Unfortunately, photography is forbidden inside Loseley Hall, since it is still inhabited by the More-Molyneaux family.
Part of the attraction of Loseley House is Loseley Gardens, a beautiful garden divided into a number of themed sections: the Rose Garden, the White Garden, the Herb Garden, the Vegetable (organic of course) Garden. The White Garden is a serene and tranquil oasis of white and cream surrounding a central water feature. Dotted around the gardens are benches, some in the shade, some in the sun, where visitors can relax and reflect. It is a magical place, on a perfect late summer afternoon.
Not too far from Loseley Park in the village of Compton is the Watts Gallery, containing the work of the Victorian painter G F Watts. Until I visited the Watts Gallery, I must confess my ignorance of this artist. The paintings on exhibit range from History Painting, Social Realism, Aestheticism, Symbolism to Abstraction. Such vistuosity! But the paintings that really grabbed my attention were from another Victorian artisit: Frank Holl. His portrayals of the impact of loss, departure and death were utterly moving.
In the village is the local cemetery, dominated by the Watts Cemetey Chapel, designed by G F Watts' wife Mary Watts. The Chapel is a wonderful infusion of Art Noveau, Celtic and Romanesque influences. It is built on a grassy mound and the deep red terracotta brickwork contrasts strikingly with the grey cemetary landscape. The truly impressive aspect of this building is that it was built by the villagers and craftsmen from the local areas.
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| Loseley Park, Surrey |
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| The water feature at the White Garden, Loseley Park |
Part of the attraction of Loseley House is Loseley Gardens, a beautiful garden divided into a number of themed sections: the Rose Garden, the White Garden, the Herb Garden, the Vegetable (organic of course) Garden. The White Garden is a serene and tranquil oasis of white and cream surrounding a central water feature. Dotted around the gardens are benches, some in the shade, some in the sun, where visitors can relax and reflect. It is a magical place, on a perfect late summer afternoon.
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| End of summer, but the bees were busy at work |
Not too far from Loseley Park in the village of Compton is the Watts Gallery, containing the work of the Victorian painter G F Watts. Until I visited the Watts Gallery, I must confess my ignorance of this artist. The paintings on exhibit range from History Painting, Social Realism, Aestheticism, Symbolism to Abstraction. Such vistuosity! But the paintings that really grabbed my attention were from another Victorian artisit: Frank Holl. His portrayals of the impact of loss, departure and death were utterly moving.
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| Frank Holl's Burial of the First Born A touching portrait of a family in grief |
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| Watts Gallery, Compton, Surrey |
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| The Watts Cemetery Chapel, Compton |
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| The Eternal Circle in the Dome, Watts Cemetery Chapel, Compton |
