osterley park
TRANSCRIPT
Osterley House
Order of Presentation
• Mark - History of Osterley Tudor mansion to the work of Robert Adam
• Sue - Victorian Osterley and using that period of Osterley's history as the basis of a teaching opportunity by local schools
• Rob - WW2 Home guard and Osterley
• Elizabeth - 'Step Change' and interpretation at Osterley • Yoonae - Commercial uses and access issues
The Tudor House
• Built 1564 Elizabethan merchant Sir Thomas Gresham
• Stables remain substantially intact
17th Century Osterley
• Various changes of ownership up to 1683 • Bought by Nicholas Barbon – property
speculator• Limited alterations made by Barbon
18 Century Osterley
• Child family ownership from 1713 due to foreclosure on debt owed by Barbon to Childs Bank
• Minor alterations • Francis Child inherits 1756• Starts remodelling Osterley
Pre Adam Alterations
• South Front 1760
• Gallery Fireplaces designed by Sir William Chambers
Robert Adam & Osterley
• Grand Tour 4 years in Italy
• Study of Roman domestic architecture
• Returns 1758
• From 1761 he was employed on a number of projects including Syon House
• 1761 – 1772 Adam worked at Osterley
The Adam Style
• Movement/Picturesque -contrasts and diversity of form
• Grotesque
Adam Style cont'd
• Exterior and interior design, decoration, furniture, and carpets
Competitors & Critics
• Adam inspired competitors – e.g. James Wyatt
• Fashions change – e.g. Greek Revival
• Critics – incl. Walpole “Mr. Adam's gingerbread and sippets of embroidery”
Osterley in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries
A brief historySue Flockton
Early C19
• Inherited by granddaughter of Robert Child - Lady Sarah Sophia Fane
• Married George Villiers – planned to live at Osterley – renovations to house and furnishings
• Villiers succeeded to title in 1805 and Sarah became Countess of Jersey – nicknamed “Queen” Sarah – one of leaders of London Society
Sarah Countess of Jersey
Problems with upkeep!
• Did not live at Osterley but at Middleton Park and Berkeley Square
• Money spent on these left problems with Osterley – discussions in 1812 whether to let it or demolish it!
• 1832 – attempts to let failed – plans to build villas in park
• Nothing done till after Sarah’s death in 1867
The turn of the century
• House let to Dowager Duchess of Cleveland in 1872 – much cleaning, painting and repair
• Lived there till 1883• Jerseys planned to relet but gave a garden
party in 1884 – great success led to decision to use
• Weekend parties became famous – attended by many well known people
7th Earl of Jersey
Margaret, Countess of Jersey
• Need for money for restoration led to the contents of the library being sold
• Changes to make house comfortable for guests, although Adam rooms were looked on as a museum.
• Made use of Etruscan room as schoolroom.• Limited use in early C20 – some house parties• Put in electric light and central heating in 1925
– aim to let, but no suitable tenants.
• Last period on habitation was 1936/7 when family lived there while Middleton Park was demolished and a new house built.
• Opened to public 1939 and given to the NT in 1949
Interpretation and use for Education
The Victorians• One of most popular visits for schools• Based round the house parties• Pupils given a sense of what it would have
been like to work in a large house at this time• Group leader takes on role of housekeeper;
pupils take on roles of staff
• Based below stairs (note recent opening of this area to general public and discussions about interpretation)
• Learn about lives of servants – expectations of behaviour
• Hands on experiences
• Note – some areas now an art gallery
Servants’ Hall
Other education visits
Other education visits are/have been on offer – popularity varies, for example:
• Tudors – based in stables – life of a stable hand – stables through time – construction of buildings
The Stables
Inside the stables
Classical Stories and Design - influences in the house
• Focus on art – what’s in a picture – paintings in the Long Gallery
The Long Gallery
• Grounds also used for aspects of geography such as map reading, and science such as pond dipping.
• Other projects being developed include creating a sound trail linked to memories WWII
Osterley Park Home Guard Training Centre
Rob Smith
Tom Wintringham
Anti Aircraft Training
Engaging a tank
Home Guard receiving instruction in the Park
Osterley Park and House
In excess of 300,000 people visit the park every year, however, in 2007 only 37,500 visited the house and garden
Interpretation theme for overall Step Change project
Explore the extravagance of an 18th century country estate on your doorstep
National Trust Audience Categories Identified by Osterley
• Explorer Families
• Home and Family
• Curious Minds Adults
Multimedia Tour
The multimedia tour should be completed by July 2008
August – October testing and trailing
Official Launch – March 2009
Theme for the multimedia tour
Entrepreneurs and Entertainers: explore the Child family’s extravagant 18th century party palace
Key Stories
• Globalisation and the roots of Empire• 18th century bling• 24 hour party house• Below stairs• Tragedy and betrayal
Knowledge and understanding after the tour
• How the house was used for parties and entertaining?
• What was the origin and process of acquisition of the house’s collection?
• How does Osterley reflect conspicuous consumption?
• How does global trade have its roots in the 18th century?
• How did Osterley move into different ownership as a result of family tragedy?
Step Change Objective
To raise the profile of both Osterley Park and House and the National Trust, particularly in the local area
Osterley Park
Access & Commercial
Yoonae Park
Access issues•Public Transport -Piccadilly Line -Rail -Bus•Individual Transport-Car & Coach park-Bicycle-Shuttle service
Cycle Map
Commercial Uses•Wedding at Entrance Hall from April to September
•Jersey Galleries &•Garden Gallery•Adult Education
*
*Conference
*Farm Shop * Shop
*Fishing on the lake
•
* A wall in the park was background for album Band on the Run
*Film set
*Television Drama
•Tourist visiting•Primary & Secondary School Education Service•Baby changing facilities
Community Uses
*Tea Roomsat The Stableyard