Last day - Museums of London and of Childhood

It's always a treat for me to visit the Museum of London, (http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/English/)%20as Hilary, the curator, finds such treats for me, and whoever I am with. This time, owing to my inability to read properly, she and I found that we had different times for our appointment. Fortunately, and no thanks to me, she was kind enough to go along with what I thought I had booked, so we all met up at 10.00 for our study table.

Wew were split into two groups, as the space is very limited at the M o L.  I took the first group, Jennie the second. There were some wonderful items for us - some shoes, (one of which pairs belonged to Queen Victoria) three Regency, or thereabouts, bonnets, a wonderful dress from the 1880's, an unusual 1730s corset, (specially for me), a lovely 19-teens evening gown,  and an 1890s evening gown bodice with lace trim. Needless to say, photos taken at the study table are not for publication, but you can see Jennie's photo tour of the museum on her blog here http://sensibility.com/englandblog/ We were joined by Cathy Hay of "Your Wardrobe unlock'd" and "Foundations Revealed" for the day.

While the second group were with Hilary, I sat in the cafe, and was joined at various times by others from the group, and we had a very pleasant time chatting, while we waited for the others to join us.

We had lunch at a wine bar on Bastion High Walk, not far from the museum, and Cathy brought some treasures she had rescued from a "jumble sale" held by one of the great costume houses, Angel's. She passed them round for all to see. The poor lady running the wine bar found us a very noisy and awkward lot, I'm sure! We took up a lot of space and confused her thoroughly about paying!

I had arranged for a small group to visit the Museum of Childhood, http://www.vam.ac.uk/moc/ where there is a fascinating collection of children's clothes in store. Noreen, the curator, allowed us almost free rein there, and as I had the advantage of visiting privately earlier in the month, I went back to some of my favourites, with Cathy. The group quite naturally split into two, and we covered a huge amount of ground, but I still plan to visit again, and spend more time looking at the immense amount of work put into these tiny garments. Noreen took us round the galleries in the museum, which is newly refurbished, and I spent a lot of time saying "Oh, I had one of those" and feeling very old!!

Finally my part of the tour had come to an end, and farewells were said outside the Museum, before the ladies went off to their hotel, beofre flying off to their various homes, or wandering off to see more of England. I enjoyed the 2010 tour very much and look forward to the next, whenever that is. Follow me in Spain, if you are interested, as that's where I was off to 36 hours later!

Lacock and back to London

Sunday was our last day in the Bath area, so all our bags had to be packed and ready for the coach to arrive. The manager and several members of staff were about so we could thank them personally for their care of us. Off we went to meet to the ladies who had been staying in Lacock, and spend the morning looking round.

It is a National Trust village, which means that there are no satellite dishes or TV aerials visible, and everything has to be kept spick and span. Many drama series are filmed there, including some of "Cranford". It was yet another beautiful morning, and strolling round the village was a real pleasure. Many of the shops were open, selling crafts, old fashioned sweets, herbs, toys, lamb skins, knits, and a wonderful hat shop. I bought sweeties, tea as a gift, jewellery in the craft shop, and some lovely chamois leather to make myself a pair of Regency period gloves. I could have spent more, I am quite sure, as the shops were full of goodies.

We met up for lunch in the yard of one of the pubs, which was excellent, and I got an opportunity to speak to two of the ladies with whom I had not had a chance previously to become acquainted. We all gathered for the coach journey to London, when Jennie went off "just down the lane" to collect an outstanding cheque. While she was away - a short time, or so we understood, I pigged out on a wonderful icecream!

We waited...and waited...and waited...and fidgetted, and worried, and tried phoning the lady who Jennie was to visit, and waited some more, and eventually she arrived back, with the cheque, having walked far further than she was told! (I guess the journey time might have been right if you were in a car!) We watched some of "Cranford" on the journey, as now we could relate to the village and the settings. The flowers everywhere were quite magnificent.

This house was on the main street, but if you look really closely at one of the windows ..... on the left of the shuttered window...

Meercats!!

 The journey went well, and we were not as late reaching London as we had expected. Someone had suggested that I should ring my DH to come and collect me, as I was to spend the night at home, so I rang to give him time to meet me, without either of us waiting too long. Jennie wanted to meet up with him again, and I also wanted Bettie to meet him. Once again, we waited, and waited...and waited and again I was fidgetty. However, Jennie had to trot off and do her famed London dash, so just Bettie and I stood there, until Keith came across, having parked, illegally, in some roadworks!! There was no time to get acquainted with Bettie, but they hugged, then I went off home to my own bed.

Tomorrow I was to be on home territory, my favourite museum, "The Museum of London" and my new favourite "The Museum of Childhood."

Bath Parade, continued

After lunch, we went our different ways, some to look at Bath, some to the Guildhall, where there was a period market, and some back to London. The weather was glorious - just warm enough for me not to be uncomfortable in my wool spencer. Oh, and having finally got over my phobia about having my photo taken, here I am, wearing a dress made from a saree, a very fine wool spencer, and a cap, made by the amazing Mela Hoyt-Hayden from the saree end, with a fabulous tassel! The photo was taken in Royal Crescent, by the way.

The ribbon is to enable me to wear with or without my Regency style wig, but on the day, the wig looked wrong, as I bought it some years ago, when my hair was a much darker grey.

I decided to go and have a stroll round the "Regency" market, which was in the Guildhall, behind the Abbey. I found it rather a disappointment, I'm afraid, as there was nothing I wanted to buy. There were ribbons and laces and haberdashery on one stall, and Nehelenia (Christina) and her sister had a stall with her patterns and other items, but I don't buy period patterns, and could have stocked the haberdashery stall out of my workroom, I have so much! So I stood and watched some young ladies dancing, in "period" costume, then, finding it rather stuffy, I wandered back outside.

There was still quite a while before we were to meet up with the coach and driver, so I found a bench in the sun, and sat people watching, a favourite occupation. I struck up a conversation with a very pleasant elderly gentleman, who asked what all the "dressing up'" was in aid of, and once I had explained, we sat chatting happily, until it was time for him to go, and me to stroll towards the coach park.

Unfortunately, this meant that I had to stop outside my favourite second hand book shop in Bath, and I am afraid it sucked me in, to buy a book for my husband, for Christmas. Outside again, and only one book bought, several of the young ladies congregated there, and eventually we all clambered back on board the coach, to return to our hotels, strip off our finery and go down to supper. Several of the Rudloe Hall group congregated in the Victorian lounge and chatted for ages, a pleasant ending to a lovely day. Pictures of the lounge - properly called the drawing room, I expect, below. I have a French ormolu clock, very similar to the one on the mantelpiece - unfortunately not working, and it has lost its dome.

The Bath Parade, with pictures!

The day dawned warm and sunny - a great start -- and continued so throughout. A deal of scurrying about took place, with me knocking on the door of my next door neighbour for help fastening my petticoat, and then later, helping me put on my spencer.

The ladies of Rudloe Hall in all their finery! Me? I'm taking the photo of course! (And having trouble explaining my phobia of having my photo taken!)

We arrived in Bath rather early, and everyone went off for a while, whereas I waited to meet up with some English friends who were also to be in the Parade. I nipped into a shop and bought a couple of fleeces while waiting, having been searching for about two years to find that particular colour, and at two-for-the-price-of -one, it seemed too good an opportunity to miss! However, I didn't carry a plastic bag round with me but left it to collect later - the shop put it behind the counter for me.

My friend and customer Margaret turned up, in her wonderful bonnet made by Mela Hoyt-Hayden. and while we were people watching I mentioned that one lady looked very good in her outfit. She turned towards me, and even from that distance I was able to recognise Kate, and another customer/friend, Kim.

I do not seem to have taken my camera out after these, and one other,  and have no photos of the Parade at all, or any of the Lacock ladies - if you do have please send to me for inclusion.

After the Parade, some ladies had lunch booked at the Guildhall, while my friends, and Jennie and the girls and a friend of hers, went to Tilleys Bistro, a restaurant I highly recommend. http://www.tilleysbistro.co.uk/  where we had an excellent lunch. Disappointingly, the ladies who went to the Guildhall were not so lucky.

I am going to split the day here, as it seems like a natural break is called for.

Bath and the American Museum

A slightly later start to this morning, as we were not travelling any great distance - to Bath only for a less frantic day. We were dropped of in the centre of Bath, to visit the Jane Austen Centre. I have carefully avoided visiting here, and after the visit, will not go again, unless with the Sensibility group. We were given an enthusiastic resume of Jane's life and family history, before walking round the exhibition. I will not comment too deeply on this, but would say that if you put on an exhibition purporting to show items from the Regency period, it would be a good idea if you didn't use a broken and incomplete item, and textiles of the wrong period.

"Tea with Mr. Darcy" followed - a bit odd to an English woman, as tea is a meal generally taken at 4.00 p.m., not in the morning! However, the cakes were excellent, but I am sure the ladies are bored with me complaining about cucumber in everything. The very sweet waitress kindly provided me with cucumberless sandwiches, and bagged them up for me when we ran out of time to finish them!

I was a bit apprehensive about our next visit, as it was one I had recommended. I love the American Museum http://www.americanmuseum.org/ but was afraid it might be a bit "coals to Newcastle". However, it did seem the the ladies enjoyed some, if not all of it, and all seemed to enjoy the beautiful gardens.

I drooled over the textiles, gowns, and quilts, especially the ones in the special exhibition, and enjoyed sitting overlooking the gardens. I was joined by Bettie, the young ladies, and some of the older ones, to whom Jennie and I introduced the soft drink, "elderflower pressee".

This was a nice relaxing day as far as I was concerned, and I was able to finish the small bits and pieces of my Bath outfit without staying up all night - always a bonus!

Tea with Mr. Darcy, and the American Museum

Killerton and Exeter

Once again, we piled onto the coach for another outing. This time it was to another outing to another National Trust property, Killerton, a most beautiful house set in acress of parkland, with sheep and cows wandering about freely, leaving friendly little deposits on the pathway!

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-killerton/

We met with Charlotte, on the the curatorial staff, who talked to us briefly, before letting us loose to look round the house at our leisure. (I sneaked off to beg Charlotte for a few hooks and eyes which had mysteriously remained on my sewing table, and caught a glimpse of a couple of garments lying in the room waiting for attention!)

 The costume exhibition was excellent, even the Fortuny gowns, one of which I really liked. I have to confess that I never really liked, or understood why "everyone" liked Fortuny, until I saw an exhibition at the Museo del Traje in Madrid, and suddenly the light dawned! The grey dress above is a simpler version of a two piece gown there, in crimson, and I really really fell in love with that. I might, repeat might, make a copy one day - the stash is waiting!

As for the Delphos gown pictured above, well I understand how clever it is, but wouldn't it just cling to every lump and bump, and I have way too many of those!

Eventually we stopped for lunch, although once again I sneaked away, to go to the shop. Miss Elizabeth and I found a gentleman driving a golf buggy between the house and the shop, and took advantage, saving me a walk uphill! I found the prettiedt lavender scarf, half price because of a flaw and snapped it up instantly, copied, I was happy to note later, by someone else!

Arriving in Exeter, we didn't realise that another hike, this time to the museum, was involved, and unfortunately, found ourselves meeting the curator, Shelley, rather later than planned. This meant that our time there was much limited, but were able to admire the shoes, bonnet and Worth robe she had out for us, and she kindly allowed us a little extra time to gaze in awe at some of the clothes in store, including a seventies dress of which I have an identical copy, still in my wardrobe  - sssh!

Miscellaneous Musings while on the move

On various of the coach trips with the ever patient Jon, various people kept us amused, entertained or informed. Jennie and I talked about, and showed various bits and pieces in our collections. Mine was mostly lace and collars, but also included the spencer/pelisse bodice of embroidered net that came from Jean Hunnisett. Jennie had some lovely garments and some girdles, as I call them. Nancy talked about the lavender wands she gifted us with and explained how they were made. And we watched a couple of episodes of the wonderful "Cranford", which I think the Lacock ladies in particular enjoyed, although more of Lacock later, if I am to keep this blog in order - it keeps trying to get away from me, with so much seen and done!

Hereford, continued

We arrived at the Hereford Museum to find that Althea was not there, and in spite of several search parties being sent out, they failed to find her. Meanwhile we looked at some really fascinating objects in the small museum, including some silks that caught my eye. There was plenty for the younger members of the group to look at and play with too.

Eventually we discovered that we had been meant to meet Althea "round the corner" in the costume store. (Round the corner turned out to be a bit of a trek as far as I was concerned, and watchers were posted on various corners to make sure that no-one got lost!)

The store has a splendid rolling storage system, and we spent ages looking at items that Althea pulled out from it. Again, some of the colours were quite astonishing, and oohs and aahs echoed through the stacks! Then Althea started pulling out drawers full of bonnets, fans, shoes, and, for me, waistcoats and dresses. One of the waistcoats in particular caught my eye, as I had packed a waistcoat with a very similar pattern at the Museum of London earlier in the year. I arranged to put Althea in touch with Hilary, once we got back to London, and also plan to revisit the collections independently.

Berrington Hall and Hereford

The arrangement was that after breakfast our driver would pick us up, having collected the other ladies from their B and B. We had a great breakfast, and lined up in readiness for the coach - which was a bit late as some people didn't perhaps realise the tight schedule we were on - it didn't happen again!

We drove through some lovely countryside, some of it Welsh, to my surprise - I really must have a look at the route that our driver took. We arrived at a narrow gateway, through which Jon, our driver threaded the coach with extreme skill, only to be met by a National Trust employee who said "That's not for coaches!" (There was no sign posting at all.) However, John managed to squeeze to coach up another track and into the coach park, whence we descended into a bitter wind - humph!

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-berringtonhall/

Berrington holds the "Snowshill" collection of costumes, some of which were drawn and patterned by Janet Arnold and Nancy Bradfield. We split into two groups, and while the other group visited the house, our group had first dibs on the wonderful collection of costumes that the curator, Althea Mackenzie, had got out for us. There were stays, dresses, including several patterned muslin "Regency" dresses - such a change - chemisettes by the pile, and for me, a special treat - a couple of quilted garments, one in trapunto , one just quilted. The quilted jacket and skirt that Janet Arnold and Norah Waugh both drew was absolutely fascinating - I came out drooling.

While some ladies visited the house, the other group met Althea, and others of "my" group looked around, I had a long discussion with the lady in the National Trust shop about the small books that Althea had written/complied which are no longer printed, and promised to write to the publishers, which I really must do, if I can find my notes!

It was a grey day, and the wind was bitterly cold, and I later sat outside, shivering. Having told everyone to wear layers because the weather was changeable, three guesses who didn't - aaw, you guessed! We then had lunch, before setting off to Hereford Museum, where we were to meet up again with Althea, who is also curator there.

It was a grey day, and the wind was bitterly cold, and I sat outside, shivering. Having told everyone to wear layers because the weather was changeable, three guesses who didn't - aaw, you guessed!

B and B in a mansion!

The party had to be split into two, as that was how the accommodation worked, so after we dropped off the Lacock ladies, who were staying in the Old Rectory http://www.information-britain.co.uk/showPlace.cfm?Place_ID=1166 our brilliant driver took us to Rudloe Hall. http://www.rudloehallhotel.co.uk/ It was just amazing - a Victorian Gothic mansion, in a beautiful setting, slightly shabby but oh, so welcoming and friendly. We were shown our rooms - mine was huge, with a very comfortable bed - and eventually met again in the sitting room, where we looked at the wonderful menu. I plumped for a starter and pudding, and realised I had made a good choice when both - venison pate, and summer fruit crumble - were delicious, and very filling! No sewing on the unfinished spencer was completed that night!

The Sensibilty Tour

My first blog of this kind, so forgive me if it's a bit - umm - rough to start with.

In September 2010 I joined the Sensibility Tour at the V and A (Victoria and Albert Museum), with two other ladies who had been staying with me. One lady was already there, and gradually the others joined us, as we waited for the phone call from the organiser, Jennie Chancey, to say that the coach from Heathrow was about to arrive, with the remaining group. We waited, and waited, and eventually the call came, but only to say that two ladies were not to be found.

However, the schedule needed to be kept, pretty much, so we were happy to see the coach finally arrive, and introductions all round were made. The two missing ladies had, cleverly, got themselves to the V and A where we all met up, had lunch and had a potter round the exhibits - as always, I made for the Indian printed cottons of the late 18th century, accompanied by one of Jennie's charming daughters.

Our appointment with the curator was at 2.00 p.m., but no curator - she eventually arrived, and we were told she had been given the wrong time, and did not curate costumes, but furniture!! So I found myself showing off as usual, and telling what I knew about the garments that were laid out for us, a court dress, a late 19th century outfit, and a muslin (English) dress of the early 19th century. We were allowed to take photos, but as always with study days, cannot share them.

The group finally re-assembled, heads were counted, seats were taken and we were off to Bath, or rather our accommodation near Bath. (Finding beds for some of us was another story!) It gave me an opportunity to try and put names to faces, although even now I sometimes have to think really hard before being sure I have it right. I regret that I didn't have a chance to spend more time with some of the young ladies, with whom I only had a quick chat in passing.