The New Nelson Gallery - The National Maritime Museum

Last week I spent an afternoon visiting my grandmother, who lives in the beautiful and historic part of London that is Greenwich. Whilst there we went to see the new permanent gallery, at the National Maritime Museum, celebrating all things Admiral Nelson. 

I took a few photos, but most of the artefacts are displayed in glass cabinets making clear photo taking a bit difficult! 

Nelson's writing slope

Nelson's uniform - the coat he was wearing when he was shot at Trafalgar (you can see the bullet hole on his left shoulder).

Nelson's knife/fork - designed for him after he lost his right arm.

A few examples of officers uniforms:

A needle case c. 1805 - made and owned by one of the sailors or officers on board HMS Victory

It still contains original needles and pins!!

A close up of a painting in the gallery. I loved the pink gown so of course only took a photo of it and not the rest of the painting! :)  And I failed to take down any details about the painting!!

There were so many more fascinating artefacts to see but I ran out of time to take photos of them all. I would definitely recommend a visit if you find yourself anywhere near Greenwich.

Jane Austen Festival part 2 - The American Museum

Warning: Very photo heavy post!!! :)

On the Sunday morning after the ball, I decided to go into town and take the free shuttle bus to the American Museum. I had wanted to visit the museum for quite sometime, but every year I had never gotten round to it. This year I decided enough was enough, I was going to go even if it meant walking all the way there. Luckily I found out about the bus, so no need to go on a 10 mile hike! :)

I especially wanted to go that weekend, as the American Civil War Society were holding their annual end of year reenactment at the museum, and I had long wanted to see an ACW reenactment.

The Museum is housed in an old country house (formerly Claverton Manor), and most rooms are decorated in a different historical American style (just like the rooms of the DAR Museum in Washington DC), interspersed with a few exhibition rooms. 

The first room was a reconstructed 18th century tavern

The next room was an exhibition room which contained a few items of clothing

A beautiful victorian dress.

The back. I tried to get a close up of the embroidery but every photo came out blurry!!! :(

So pretty, with a beautifully embroidered train.

A slightly blurry close up of the train. It had little embroidered bees all over it!

The next room was full of chairs from different decades throughout America's history.

I really need to start taking notes when visiting museums, as I can't remember anything about this room, and it isn't in the guide book!

Dolls made by early settlers.

Right, I need to apologise for the majority of the photos you are about to see. Despite my camera claiming to be anti shaking/blurring, most of the photos I took of the rooms came out really blurry! :( . Am hoping Father Christmas might give me a new one. :)

A 17th century Keeping room

c.1740

A slightly blurry candle storage box

c.1763 parlor.

The dome in the ceiling of the building's stairwell.

A regency lady gracing the walls

A parlor c.1770

There was a small exhibition on the tea trade

an early 19th century tea cady.

A late 18th century Drawing Room

I spent a while trying to take a clear photo of the gown from the front, but unfortunately to no avail. :(

An 1830s bedroom

with a lovely white regency gown in it.

A Victorian Shaker's house

Beautiful shawl

Pennsylvania German room

18th century lady - I can't remember which room she graced!!

c. 1830 Greek Revival room.

Bedroom from the civil war era.

After I finished touring the house, I went into the garden to watch the reenactment.

The house from the garden.

It was more of a demonstration than a battle, but it was interesting.

Though I have to admit that I was quite disappointed. One of my favourite parts of reenactment is the living history part, and for some reason there wasn't really a historical campsite at this event. I went all over the grounds looking for it but all I found were a couple of tents with nothing in them :( 

Marching back after the battle.

I would definitely recommend the museum. It was very interesting insight into American social history, and also had an amazing collection of patchwork quilts.

Next: More on the Festival 

Horcastle Regency Festival 2012 - Part 2

On the Friday evening we attended a Gothic Soiree at Oxcombe Hall. The actual performance part of the evening was held in the small family chapel in the grounds of the house. It was a lovely little chapel.

The musicians for the evening were a wonderful guitar trio who were so jolly and were lovely to listen to. They were great musicians but I think the concert went on for a bit too long especially as we were all sitting on rather hard church pews. Quite a few of audience were lagging by the end.

Interspersed between the music were a few poem readings, and one newspaper article.

The newspaper article was one from the Regency era and mentioned Horncastle. It was quite funny. :)

The chapel - not a great photo but everyone was trying to get out of the chapel as I took it.

Oxcombe Hall

Gorgeous countryside - view from the house

After the concert we went to the main house and had a delicious feast. 

Emily, Claire and Jackie eating the feast

After eating I went for a little wonder around the ground floor of the house - I am terribly nosy!!!  :)

The staircase - this photo makes it look rather narrow but it is actually quite wide.

Another view of the Dining Room

A slightly blurry photo of the Hall. I loved the wallpaper

The green baize door leading into a former servants corridor.

After supper the gentlemen and ladies were separated into two rooms (we stayed in the dining room with the food :) ), and we then went head to head in a quiz on all things Regency. Sadly the men won, and oh did they gloat about it!!! :(  Despite the results of the quiz, we all had a wonderful evening. 

The following day began with a Promenade around the town. We were rather late in leaving the hotel to get to the place where the promenade was starting, so we were only a small group and didn't really know where we were going, but we finally found it and only ended up missing about 5 mins of it. However, it was a rather nerve-wracking experience walking through the streets of Horncastle, in Regency clothing, to meet up with fellow festival goers. Unlike Bath where the locals are used to seeing Regency-clad persons wondering through the streets, the residents of Horncastle didn't know what to think. Quite a few of them seemed to be stunned into silence, uncontrollable laughter or just complete bewilderment!! 

The first stop on the promenade was a lovely private garden. The garden did have some historical significance but sadly I have completely forgotten what it was. Anyway it was pretty and rather secret-gardenish with all is different levels and small paths.

Admiring the garden. I actually took this photo to get the back of the gorgeous green open robe. It is based on Marianne's yellow one in S&S 95.

We then moved onto the local church

I love Claire's spencer!!!

The adorable children from the picnic trying on the "Prince Regent's" hat. 

The youngest member of the family who was dressed in full regency baby clothes - so adorable.

After the church we wondered round the town, stopping at one house to have a glass of water (sadly the lemonade promised didn't appear but it was still lovely to have a refreshing beverage as it was rather a hot day), then finally ending up in a cafe where we were given sandwiches and slices of delicious chocolate cake.  :)

Next: Antiquing (well more like rummaging), the Regency Ball, and Lady Catherine de Burgh's country pile. :)