We have not seen all the National Trust properties--probably only a hundred or so--but I think it's safe to say that Snowshill is the Trust's most unusual property. It is a very old (16th century origins) estate, mainly an un-modernized manor house filled with the collection of an early 20th century eccentric, Charles Wade. Wealthy eccentric, I should say, who lived in a simple cottage next to the manor house. He apparently fancied himself part of the arts and craft movement, and was particularly interested in anything hand-made. We visited the place in 2009, and were impressed. Wade's collecting was principled, documented, and thoughtfully arrayed. In 2009, the Trust did not permit photography at Snowshill. In 2022, however, photography was permitted, even encouraged. So my post today not only recounts as much of this hoard of 22,000 objects as 20+ pix can convey, it is also an exercise in revenge photography. If you're in the Cotswolds and in need of relief from the tour buses, Snowshill is highly recommended.
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| Model ships are all over the house, some, like this, quite large |
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| Some striking furniture |
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One large room devoted to his collection of a couple dozen
Samurai outfits, 18th century Japan, both ceremonial and battle-
ready |
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Most of the costume collection is under preservation;
more that 2,000 outfits, spanning centuries, both
common and elite; Priestly visited in 1933, and wrote
that Wade's collection could outfit an entire grand
opera company |
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Of course, with a wardrobe like this, Wade loved
to dress-up and perform for his friends |
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| He also collected models of houses, buildings, etc. |
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| An 8 foot tall wind mobile |
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| Half the bicycle and carriage room |
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| Cobbling |
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| Textiles |
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| Mechanical play |
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A quarter of my favorite room, the musical
instrument room |
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A Serpent: bass wind band instrument, a type
dating from the Middle Ages |
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It would be impossible to label all 20,000 objects in the house,
but there are knowledgeable docents in nearly every room,
armed with catalogs such as above, the soprano woodwinds
page; in the collection are at least three oboes, three
hurdy-gurdies, and many instruments now forgotten by all but
specialists in music history |
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| Masks and other exotica |
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| Oil on panel, very old, provenance unknown... |
