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On Thursday, following a four year Covid-induced hiatus, we finally met up with Belgium's finest, the lovely Ann (aka Polyester Princess) & husband Jos. Our long-time friends, Claire (Winter Peach) and her husband Gareth, who we met whilst festival trading,came along, too.
As Ann & Jos were staying in Shropshire we met up at the glorious Attingham Park, the National Trust's fourth most visited property. I'm sure Attingham will be familiar to many regular readers, Jon and I visit often, you might remember us spending the day with Ann & Jos here back in 2018 HERE.
A forty-minute drive from home, Attingham Park was built in 1785 for Noel Hill, 1st Baron Berwick who received his title a year earlier during the premiership of William Pitt the Younger, in recognition for being instrumental in the reorganisation of the East India Company. The Whig MP for Shrewsbury, Lord Berwick already owned a house on the site of Attingham Park called Tern Hall, but with the money he received along with his title he commissioned the architect George Steuart to design a new and grander house to be built around the original hall. Work on Attingham was completed in 1785.
In 1789, the 1st Lord Berwick died, and was succeeded by his son, Thomas, 2nd Baron Berwick. A collector and patron of the arts,Thomas commissioned improvements to the house and extensions of the estate including, in 1805, commissioning John Nash to add the picture gallery using cast iron and curved glass to give the effect of coving, throwing light into the gallery pictured above.
In 1827, the 2nd Lord Berwick reached financial ruin and was forced to hold bankruptcy auctions to pay off his debts with his brother William purchasing most of the furniture. Thomas leased out Attingham Park and escaped to Italy where he remained for the rest of his life.
After Thomas's death his brother William, the 3rd Baron Berwick inherited the estate. A diplomat,William was posted in Italy for 28 years and won the admiration of Lord Byron who said of him, 'the only one of the diplomatists whom I ever knew who really is Excellent’. His collection of Italian art and furniture was inherited by his son Richard, the 5th Baron Berwick upon his death in 1848 and shipped to Attingham. The estate remained in the Noel-Hill family until 1947 when it was behested to the National Trust.
Although all six of us are regular visitors to Attingham, none of us were aware of Edwin Dearborn Cohen, a wealthy American stockbroker & passionate collector of all things Georgian. On his retirement in 1986 he approached the National Trust persuading them to lease him the late Lady Berwick's former apartment on the upper floors where he lived out his Georgian gentleman's fantasy until his death in 2020. Since April the National Trust have been running tours of his apartments which proved to be fascinating. As the six of us are passionate collectors of the old and the quirky, Ed's love of auctions and hunting down bargains resonated. Tagged as The Hidden Home Tour, photography isn't allowed so if you want to see this Georgian treasure trove for yourself you'll have to visit in person (an additional £3 per person, maximum of 8 per tour).
It's the first time the public have been able to visit Attingham's upper floors and witness Ed's views across Humphry Repton's magnificently designed gardens for themselves.
After lunch in the on-site cafe we spent the remainder of the day exploring the woodlands, walled gardens and kitchen gardens, with plenty of stops for shade.
The walled gardens were - as always - beautiful.
I'd love to be disciplined enough to have colour themed planting but - like with anything, I have no restraint and want all the colours.
We love how the National Trust are leaving swatches of their gardens wild with unmown lawns and native wildflower borders. None of us are fans of stripey lawns or formal planting.
These mirror artworks are the work of environmental artist Rob Mulholland created for and on loan to Attingham Park for the summer. Exploring the complex relationship between humans and the natural world his installations react with their surroundings, reflecting the environment and playing with the viewer's perception of the space. Aren't they wonderful?
This bucolic scene looks like something taken from a painting by Constable.
After a final drink in the courtyard we exchanged gifts and said an emotional goodbye to Ann and Jos. We'll be seeing Claire and Gareth again very soon.
Did I mention gifts?
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From Ann & Jos: a pair of vintage bangles, laser-cut earrings, an vintage Indian scarf, 1970s Vera Mont maxi skirt, FabIndia tunic and vintage macrame bag plus Belgian beers, sweets and chocolates (all now seriously depleted). From Claire & Gareth, a thriller, an Incapability Brown mug and a William Morris magnetic shopping list.
In other news, earlier this week the Kinky Shop met with both neighbour Florence and Liz's approval, with both making a few pre-Glasto purchases.
Ain't technology great? I've had my phone for six months and I've only just discovered that it can make GIFs. Here's Liz & I cat wrangling in the Kinky tent.....
Talking of Glasto, the van's packed, our crew have got their passes and Jon's just popped out for fruit & veg and the rest of the booze. Meanwhile I've packed my bag.
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Levi's cut-offs, Y2K Adidas floral track top, Clarks boots, Superga plimsolls, sequin polo neck jumper, snakeskin workout leggings and sequin makeup bag (all charity shopped), John Galliano-era Christian Dior nightie via my friend Tricia plus a sari tote bag, Crocs slides, snakeskin workout top and socks. I'm taking knickers too but didn't bother photographing them.
I'm packing for a week and yes, I'm taking more than I'd normally pack for two months in India. It's the UK and we have to be prepared for every eventuality (whilst looking fabulous at the same time) and before you ask, the wellies and waterproofs are in the back of the van where they are every year and hopefully where they'll stay for eight day duration of our trip.
If I don't see you at Glastonbury (you'll find us opposite the bandstand on William's Green), I'll see you on the other side where hopefully I'll regale you with tales of celeb shoppers, fun with friends old and new and some cool musical discoveries.