Claydon House--interactive experience!

[jocelyn plummer]

We visited Claydon House today and enjoyed the first of the 'new style' visitor experience being trialled by the National Trust.
No roped off areas, a jigsaw to be completed here and there, a card game to play on a table, an ongoing game of chess on a table, sofas to sit on books to thumb through, and -- ( I loved this) talking portraits, very clever--- a video of a real life Narrator cleverly concealed within a gilt frame and hanging amongst other paintings. as you approach, the eyes follow you ( know that feeling?) and then it talks, bringing the room to life in a conversational way. There was an excellent one of somebody 'making' the plaster mouldings and a talking, uptodate photograph of the current Baronet describing the ongoing work at the Estate. It was very welcoming and I noticed that people were staying in rooms a lot longer, children were also happy as well with a super well presented quiz getting them to look out for certain things. It was a lovely day out. The gardens are stunning.

 

[Juju]

Sounds interesting. The National Trust volunteers I work with don't like the changes going on - one of them said the NT was becoming like Disney! A slight exaggeration I feel.

 

[jocelyn plummer]

Definitely not Disney like, but, if executed with care, is a great success, as evidenced by the way in which Visitors were really lingering in the rooms and really looking, instead of trailing through in an overawed single file 'seeing' only half of it.

I did find some of the modern sculptures displayed in the gardens a bit distracting, one or two worked quite well tucked in amongst the plants, but some were simply out of keeping.

Overall, I think some of my favourite properties that have been sanitised over recent years would be greatly improved by restoring some of the 'family' atmosphere, and I will be interested to see how this new approach works--- I.m thinking of Blickling in particular which was really stripped of its ambience when furniture was re-organised or removed to other parts of the house.

 

[MdB]

Along similar lines the following rather powerful photographs do a good job of bringing history into the present:

http://www.mymodernmet.com/profiles/blogs/the-ghosts-of-world-war-iis

 

[JoceAndChris]

They're amazing photos MdB - thanks for posting. The ones of St P were particularly poignant for me, having recently visited, and being very moved by the stories of that most atrocious Siege.

Joss - what a great move forward, and what a fab day out you had! Must visit! I'd say that the one Abi and I visited, Baddesley Clinton, was moving along those lines too - really fun and interesting.

I always want to sit down in the rooms, and there are rarely opportunities.

 

[Penners]

Hmmmm... call me old-fashioned (as many have before you), but I'm very uncertain about this.

Mrs P and I have been members of the NT for some years, and we enjoy National Trust properties for what they are - precious buildings that preserve the architecture and lifestyle of the past. I get all the information that I need about a property from my eyes, a guide book, information cards in the individual rooms and (particularly) from fascinating conversations with enthusiastic volunteer staff, who love to talk about the building.

I'm all in favour of adjacent visitor centres that have exhibitions and show films about the property and its history, the techniques used in its construction, the lives of past owners.. and so on.

But talking portraits?! :roll:

For crying out loud, why does everything these days have to be an "interactive experience"?



Grumpy? Moi?

 

[jocelyn plummer]

Whilst I agree with you Penners, that it is a delight to appreciate fine buildings and gardens using ones eyes, guide book and background knowledege, not everyone has been so privileged as to have been given that sort of grounding upon which to build our understanding.
Sadly many of the younger generation have been brought up and educated without knowing the difference between one brick an another!

The NT treads a fine line between being commercial, sensitive and being aware that we have to find a way of training youngsters to value and respect our Heritage.

How many of us can hold up our hands and say that our Grandchildren will spend days out at Sately homes when they are grown up, in the way that we do now?

 

[Gareth Hughes]

It's the instant gratification and the thinking being done for you that I find so annoying. But that's been going on for years with the NT, since they started routing visitors through the stable block (so handy for a gift shop and tea room), kitchens, and servants' quarters, first, in the belief that it's the stories of "ordinary people" that we find so fascinating (they are, but that has very little to do with art, design, architecture and, to use a forbidden phrase in modern Heritage circles, the history of taste). I want to arrive at a country house through the front door every now and then, not to be treated as a gawking member of the Great Unwashed.

(PS - I would recommend the CADW approach in Wales as the way to balance these. Although they mostly deal with ruins, their guidebooks are models of erudite scholarship plus pretty pictures and their few "complete" properties are superbly presented without too much gimmickry or sentimental tugging at heartstrings. Plas Mawr in Conwy is fantastic)

 

[JoceAndChris]

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Adorable, erudite, supremely grumpy Mr P and Gareth!

What if you were one of those poor kids my friend teaches? She's pleased about anything that makes the experience a bit more accessible for them. Not that their parents really take them to many, or any, NT properties -it really is down to the dedication of teachers.

 

[jocelyn plummer]

Most kids have an attention span of 10 mins these days-------------------------- :roll:

 

[Juju]

I'm sure I've gone on about the NT property I volunteer at before - but we don't have a cafe or shop (and never will) or anything interactive (apart from the volunteers) and you do enter the house through the front door! You can see the kitchen but then that's a particular feature as the kitchen ceiling hasn't been decorated or cleaned in 400 years as it was considered bad luck so visitors like to see that. We don't have any signs telling people stuff: you just have to use your imagination or read the guide book which is quite 'academic' or ask the volunteers. I'm doing my best with the garden tours I run to impart historical knowledge: I tell visitors the names of notable plants and trees but I've found many of the visitors really like the history of garden design. I get loads of questions on this especially on Jacobean gardens so I'm reading loads of books on these at the moment!

 

[essexbearhunter]

The new Claydon works for me.
Unlike Burghley - where I became really infuriated with their version of talking pictures because their loud historical commentary made it impossible to read & inwardly digest the inscriptions on the treasures displayed in an adjacent section of the room - the three "pictures" that came across at Claydon weren't particularly intrusive.

Whilst furiously tapping away, making notes on my iPod (which always seems to alarm Room Stewards but - being neither a 'phone nor a camera -using the iPod is within the rules) the usual "May I ask what you are doing there, Sir" conversation brought forth the nugget that National Trust is reviewing its policy on internal photography. Despite the old "No Photography" notice outside, it is now permissible to take pictures of architectural features at Claydon.

Policy is likely to vary from property to property due to the individual circumstances. (The more that non-architectural features like furniture and pictures form the basis of the room's attraction, the less likely it is that photography will be allowed.)

Can I also recommend the cherry-sized plums, fresh from the estate, that were being sold in the shop in the Stable Yard.

 

[Flyfisher]

They're amazing photos MdB - thanks for posting.

Yes, thanks for that link MdB. I remember my first visit to Berlin and being quite startled by bullet holes in some of the remaining original buildings - something that is completely absent in London. Obvious when you think about it but quite startling when first encountered.

 

[jocelyn plummer]

So glad Claydon has been enjoyed by yet another PPUKer. Wonder if they will sell the mulberries, I picked some off the trees when we walked around---yummy!

 

[MdB]

Yes, thanks for that link MdB. I remember my first visit to Berlin and being quite startled by bullet holes in some of the remaining original buildings - something that is completely absent in London. Obvious when you think about it but quite startling when first encountered.

Have a look at the corner of the V&A. It has bomb marks left in it. Not the same as bullet holes but it still brought it home to me when I walked past on the way to Uni.

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=&geocode=&q=SW7+2RL&sll=51.495252,-0.171833&sspn=0.018916,0.028152&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=London+SW7+2RL,+United+Kingdom&ll=51.496725,-0.173753&spn=0.002364,0.005563&t=h&z=18&layer=c&cbll=51.496899,-0.173791&panoid=vKD2jx_oYviA39i-CTppaQ&cbp=12,103.92,,1,0.77

 

[essexbearhunter]

I've found many of the visitors really like the history of garden design.

For Garden design on a really HUGE scale, there is Wrest Park (with the magnificent Archer Pavilion) or - only 12 miles from Claydon House - Stowe House and Landscape Gardens. Far from frozen in time - the Garden Buildings frequently got reused or refashioned as tastes changed.

Stowe House is also (in limited fashion) open to the public at the moment and has a good Interpretation Centre in the basement, with a first class touch screen display on technical aspects of the restoration of the Great Dome in The Marble Hall.

If you pop along to the State Music Room you will even see Joce preparing for the PPUK Party ! :roll:

 

[Flyfisher]

Nice wings. :wink:

Have a look at the corner of the V&A. It has bomb marks left in it.

I've never noticed that before. As you say, not quite the same thing as hand-to-hand combat, but still a very grim reminder.

 

[Penners]

Nice wings. :wink:

Yeah, shame about the... no, never mind.