Local Places - Part 2

[smallhobbit]

Wallsworth Hall was built a few miles to the north of Gloucester around 1740 by Samuel Hayward.  Like many wealthy landowners in the period Hayward owned plantations in Jamaica.



It's Georgian architecture, with additions having been made to the original building over the next decades.  On Hayward's death the property went to his son-in-law, a de Winton in 1803 and the family lived there until 1903.



At which point the estate was sold, with the house eventually being purchased by James Dorrington.  It was again sold in 1943 on the death of Dorrington's widow, bought the following year by Gloucester City Corporation who used it as a residential nursery with infants whose mothers were working in the war effort.  This ceased in 1953 and after a number of uses it was bought by the Nature in Art Trust in 1987.



It is now the only museum/art gallery specialising in art based on nature.  The galleries display both the permanent collection and a number of touring exhibitions, including the Worldlife Photographer of the Year following its time in the Natural History Museum in London.



It also runs a number of art courses, classes for children both as school visits and school holiday activities, and the Dare to Dabble classes which I do.

It's possible to wander through the gardens and enjoy both sculpture and plants.  The following is a kaki tree which was grown from a seedling of one of the kaki trees which survived the devastation of the Horoshima atomic bomb.


 

Comments

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

Looks like a lovely old home, glad it's been put to some good modern use as well. I hope you had a good afternoon.

[smallhobbit]

Yes - it must have been impressive when it was originally built and it is good to see it having a good use now too.

[rusty_armour]

The architecture of Wallsworth Hall is both beautiful and fascinating. It has a very interesting history as well. It's great that this grand, old building is now enriching the lives of others with its beautiful grounds, galleries and art classes.

The story of that kaki tree is incredible. It's amazing that the original kaki tree was able to survive the devastation of the Horoshima atomic bomb.

[smallhobbit]

I was interested to discover something about its past - although I've visited a number of times I've never really thought about it before.

Somehow some of the kaki trees survived - twisted and malformed, but nature was fighting back.

[margaret_r]

What a gorgeous building! It must be so nice to go there for your Dare to Dabble classes, I'd be tempted to spend some time walking around those lovely grounds.

The kaki tree is amazing, shows you how resilient nature can be if we let it.

[smallhobbit]

Depending on the weather and other commitments I do have a wander while I'm there.

[adafrog]

Very cool. Glad it has such a good use now.

[smallhobbit]

Thank you. Yes, it's a lovely place to visit.