Wednesday 23 July 2014

Strawberry Hill August Update



Unique Exhibition Opens 11th August  at Strawberry Hill

Anne Damer, Sculpture and Society 

 

The first ever exhibition of sculptor Anne Damer’s life and work will be held at Strawberry Hill this summer.  Anne Damer was the daughter of Horace Walpole’s favourite cousin, Henry Seymour Conway.  Born into a life of luxury in 1748, Anne was subjected to an arranged marriage in 1767 to John Damer, a man she neither knew or liked.  Her husband’s bankruptcy and subsequent suicide led her to turn to a different life as a sculpture.   

In marble, terracotta or bronze, Anne Damer modelled friends, family and their animals, and also political heroes, including Admiral Nelson.  Anne Damer’s art provides a wealth of insight into 19th century British sculpture, including the negative reactions towards the work of a woman.

Living through the turbulent times, Anne Damer mixed sculpture with acting, writing and travel.  Many of her friends included leading members of the political, arts and theatre world and with Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire she became known as one of the fashionable set of ladies of London of that time.

 The exhibition will showcase some of her sculptures, many from private collections and her anatomy drawing book, personal objects and a rare set of her prompt copies of plays performed at Richmond House and Strawberry Hill.  


The exhibition is open over the same hours as the house and an admission ticketis required
What's on at Strawberry Hill this August....
Fun workshops are held every Wednesday from 11am for younger children between three and five years of age, and from 1pm for the over fives. Taking inspiration from the house and garden, new skills and crafts can be learnt in a fun, safe and inspirational environment. Find out more 
here

Horace Walpole returns, with his friends

Strawberry Hill will receive on loan from the National Portrait Gallery the most important portrait of Horace Walpole from his own collection, painted in 1754 by John Giles Eccardt.  It is one of a group of pictures of close friends and family commissioned for the Blue Bedchamber and will be joined by two more from the set, also lent by the NPG, showing the artist Richard Bentley, who designed some

 of Strawberry Hill, and the poet Thomas Gray.  Another picture from the set will be hung in the room as part of the Anne Seymour Damer exhibition.


Date for the Diary: Exclusive new Murder Mystery Event 25th October

We will shortly be releasing tickets for our brand new event Murder at the Manor. Interview the suspects in the gothic surroundings of Strawberry Hill and test your detective skills over a delicious three course dinner in the Waldegrave Suite of St Mary's University College. There is opportunity to glam up for the 1930s and black tie dress code. Tickets will be released at the beginning of August so 
watch this space.

Our Wildflower Meadow is Blooming

The garden at Strawberry Hill is an ongoing restoration project and 2014 has seen the planting of over 5000 British naïve wildflower plants. In the style of a traditional English hay meadow the wildflower meadow once established

will provide colour year after year as well as attracting a range of local wildlife. Although not fully mature a range of interesting plants have already begun to flow in the meadow including ragged robin, red poppies and bladder campion amongst other native species.The garden at Strawberry Hill is open 7 days a week from 10am. Free tours of the garden are offered on selected Wednesdays at 3.30pm. Please visit www.starwberryhillhouse.org.uk for details.