Visit to Dorneywood

Thirty four members of our Arts Society gathered on 23 June to be warmly welcomed by our host, the Secretary of the Dorneywood Trust, in the garden at Dorneywood.  We were the first group to  visit the newly opened House this year.  As we entered each room, volunteers offered expert advice and willingly answered any questions.  It was decorated with artworks, English bone china plus the book collections of the industrialist Lord Courtauld Thomson who lived there comfortably with his sister and subsequently gifted the House to the National Trust with the stipulation that it should be used as the country residence of a senior Government minister, in this case, the Chancellor of the Exchequer. 

However, this is not a grand house, it is much more a family home and certainly not a museum.  The visitors’ books were of great interest containing the signatures and musings of many a Prime Minister and other senior members of governments from different parties. There was a curious and fascinating trompe-l’oeil  painting by Rex Whistler positioned opposite the front entrance to create a fanciful view of the rear garden.  This picture, painted in 1928,  occasioned much discussion and comment from the members and the volunteers.

We were then treated to afternoon tea in the garden, among the 250 acres which was a delight,  with home-made cakes and a choice of teas on offer.  Thereafter, members were invited to wander around the beautiful 1930’s style country garden.  Nearer to the House, the gardens were divided into different ‘rooms’ to provide relaxation, perhaps on a bench donated by William Whitelaw and his wife, or to contemplate an important decision.  The House had a homely feel and as this was a private tour, the whole visit was quite relaxed, and we could move around at our own pace both in the House and in the gardens which we were invited to stroll through at will.

Many of our members decided that it would be highly desirable  to spend a summer weekend or even a week at Dorneywood.