welcome to wallington · west gallery great western bedroom green room little western bedroom east...
TRANSCRIPT
WallingtonWelcome to
Gifted to you
Discover...
These are the words of Mary, Lady Trevelyan, on moving into the House in 1928.
Wallington was in poor repair when her husband, Sir Charles, inherited it and just like any other modern couple, they set about making improvements, both in the House and to the tenants’ cottages. Over the centuries Wallington has been owned by the Fenwicks, Blacketts and Trevelyans – all making their mark on this huge estate. Change and progress has been as important as tradition to these families and this continues today.
The house was awaiting its time of re-awakening after many years of somnolence.’
Make
yourself
at home
The Trevelyans shared their home with friends,
family, artists, politicians and evacuees. In the same
spirit, we look forward to welcoming you.
‘
Wallington is gifted to you, so please do:
Capture your visit with lots of photographs – turn your flash off inside the House
Keep your dog on a lead and pick up after them
Be inspired by the garden – take away ideas but not the plants
Enjoy a picnic on the grass – take your litter home
I do not believe in private ownership of land. By pure chance I own Wallington. I regard myself solely as a trustee for the community...’
Charles Philips Trevelyan
‘
Be inspired... Adventure...
Go on an...
Stroll through
the East Wood
to discover the
Walled Garden
Have some fun at the Adventure Playground
Stretch your legs on the River Walk
(approx. 1 hour)
Try out the
circular walk to
Broomhouse
Farm
Entrance
Clocktower
Courtyard toilets
Clocktower cafe
Courtyard
House
Adventure playground
Play train
Top pond
Wildlife hide
Middle pond
Boathouse pond
Ice house
Play fort
Dragons’ heads
China pond
1
15
8
2
16
9
3
17
10
4
18
11
5
19
12
6
20
13
7
21
22
23
14
Garden pond
Entrance to walled garden
Garden kiosk – seasonal
Conservatory
Toilets
Compost works
Portico house
You will need to cross a road to reach
the East Wood and Walled Garden – please take care.
West WoodBack in the 1700s, this wood was fashionably formal with an elaborate water garden and statues – you’ll now find these figures in the Walled Garden.
The focus is now on play and conservation. Trees are being cleared to open up views; this also helps old trees survive and encourages new ones to grow. We’re protecting red squirrels, restoring the ponds and sharing stories of the Trevelyan children through adventurous play.
See how many different birds are feeding at the family-friendly wildlife hide, you may spot red squirrels in the trees or crayfish and otter on the River Walk along the Wansbeck.
East WoodThe East Wood is part of the original pleasure ground that developed in the mid-1700s and still offers formal views with winding woodland walks and natural planting.
In 2015-16 we are developing a new Winter Trail starting with a carpet of snowdrops – look out for more seasonal planting over the next year.
The various ponds are home to geese, ducks, swans and moorhens.
The Walled Garden was a former kitchen garden and is now full of colourful themed borders. Lady Mary Trevelyan designed the Mary Pool while her father-in law, Sir George Otto Trevelyan, created the Edwardian Conservatory – step inside, smell the heady fragrance and take in the vibrant show.
Have you
discovered the
Play Train and
Fort yet?
Key:
Car park
Designated parking for walled garden, collect a permit from visitor reception
Visitor reception & information
Shop
River Walk (follow signposts)
to A696
B6342
River Walk (follow signposts)
Broomhouse Farm Walk
Entrance HallTake a few moments to look at some Trevelyan family portraits; you’ll see Charles Philips Trevelyan, donor of Wallington, both as a young child on his mother’s knee and as an elderly man. The china is one of the most important collections owned by the National Trust.
Central HallOriginally an open courtyard, this space was roofed over in the 1850s. It became the hub of the House with the family coming together for tea and the children playing with the ‘beasties’ – rocking and wheeled horses of various sizes.
KitchenLook up! The great roof girder was installed in 1928 to tie in the east wall which was collapsing. Now look down – notice the stone flags which are worn away by hardworking cooks, scullery maids and butlers over the centuries.
North Corridor – Silent VoicesThe lives of servants are rarely known, as very few of them had the chance to tell their story. At Wallington, we do know about some of the people who worked here in the 1900s from diaries kept by the Trevelyan family.
ParlourLady Eleanora Trevelyan made this room a ladies’ retreat when the old parlour became the Entrance Hall.
LibraryMany of the 3,000 books have been thumbed by generations of Trevelyans. They also added their comments in the margins on the author’s style and grammar. Sir Charles encouraged tenants and friends to borrow books from the Library, but he quizzed them intensely on their opinions.
Ground floor
Drawing Room Take a seat, gaze up and admire the ceiling – a fine example of Italian plasterwork in the Rococo style. This grand room was used for larger, more formal gatherings by the Trevelyans and also for music. Lady Mary was a skilled embroiderer – her needlework panel on the wall depicts the legend of the ‘first’ Trevelyan riding from St Michael’s Mount to the Cornish mainland. Lady Mary has woven in many symbols of national importance as well as family life.
Dining RoomMany of the rooms have changed over the years, but this room has always been the dining room even though it’s not that close to the kitchen. Appropriately for such a room, the relief panel in the ceiling at the far end shows a youthful Bacchus, the Greek god of wine. It’s less appropriate for a family which championed temperance in the mid 1800s. The Wallington estate is still ‘dry’.These are the original floor plans from 1929
How were the servants summoned? Look up!
How long did it
take Lady Mary
to complete
the needlework
panel?
CENTRAL HALL
ENTRANCE
ENTRANCE HALL
DINING ROOMDRAWING ROOM
SOUTH STAIR
LIBRARY
ESTATE OFFICE
PARLOUR
STUDY
KITCHENDOLLS’ HOUSES TEA ROOM
Do you have a favourite piece from the collection?
NORTH CORRIDOR
Pick up a blue
booklet to find
out about the
paintings
NurseryThe original nursery was on the west side of the House, but you can see a selection of toys and games as well as the nursery rhyme needlework panels made by Lady Mary. Take a look at the hand-propelled horse tricycle, the Trevelyan children were allowed to play with this on Sunday afternoons, riding it around the gallery.
Blackett and Trevelyan BedroomsThe long gallery on this side of the house was divided up to make a number of bedrooms back in the early 1800s. These were required by Sir John Trevelyan and his wife Maria who had 12 children.
Needlework RoomThe Needlework Panels were worked by Julia, Lady Calverley, in the early 1700s for Esholt Hall, the Calverley home near Bradford. They took only three and a half years to make, so she must have had some help! They were brought to Wallington by Julia’s son, Sir Walter Calverley Blackett, when he sold Esholt. The designs were most likely influenced by oriental textiles imported into England in the late 1600s and early 1700s.
First floor
Cabinet of Curiosities Lady Jane Wilson was passionate about collecting. You can see her portrait in this room – notice that she’s holding a catalogue open at the pages devoted to its best specimens, ‘Shells’ and ‘China’. The collection came to Wallington when it was inherited by her daughter, Maria, who married Sir John Trevelyan.
Do you know the nursery rhymes illustrated in the needlework panels?
West wing
will be opening
in 2017. Watch
this space!
The Trevelyans
Charles and his wife, Mary, Lady Trevelyan (Molly), were part of an artistic, intellectual set whose socialist thinking contributed toward many of the ideas we take for granted today. Along with their six children, they were great thinkers and travellers who cared little for the conventions of the day.
A family home full of stories , a woodland perfect for play, a walled garden to inspire, a working estate to explore and so much more.
What’s your Wallington?
Period 1 UnknownPeriod 2 1688Period 3 1740 – 1742Period 4 1753
Period 5 UnknownPeriod 6 1855Period 7 1929
Each section on the floor plans represent history and change over the years:
CENTRAL HALL
WESTGALLERY
GREAT WESTERN BEDROOM
GREEN ROOM
LITTLE WESTERN BEDROOM
EASTGALLERY
NORTH GALLERY
NEEDLEWORK ROOM
BLACKETT BEDROOM
PIGEON HOLE
TREVELYAN BEDROOM
NURSERYCABINET OF CURIOSITIESBEDROOM“OLD VIC” BEDROOM
SOUTH STAIR
Can you
find the
matching
pairs?
Wallington is....
EatingStart your visit with something from the brunch menu (10.30 – 11.30am) while lunch is served from 11.45am – 3pm. Before heading home, treat yourself to some cake and a cuppa. If you are heading down to the Walled Garden there is a seasonal kiosk while a tea room can be found in the House (please check opening times on arrival).
ShoppingSir Charles gifted Wallington for all to enjoy. Why not take home your own Wallington gift from our shops today – all profits help maintain this beautiful place for ever for everyone.
AccessBlue badge holders can drive down to the Walled Garden (please ask for a pass at the Reception).
Assistance dogs are welcome in the House, there is also a lift – please ask a member of staff.
We hope to see you again soon
The Trevelyans with their dog Rapture
Photographs: trustees of the Trevelyan family©