APRIL 2006

VISIT TO OSBORNE HOUSE

Members were very fortunate to have a dry, sunny day for their visit to the Isle of Wight and Osborne House on Thursday, 27th April. The coach took them across on the ferry from Portsmouth, having had a good close up view of the Spinnaker Tower and a drive to Osborne House through the lanes with the spring flowers in abundance. After a welcome coffee break and a short lecture from one of the stewards members were able to wander around Queen Victoria and Albert's retreat; which was fascinating.

A walk down to the Swiss Cottage near the seashore showed us where Queen Victoria's children were able to play house, tend their garden allotments and play games in the fort Queen Victoria's bathing machine was on display and a museum housed many of the gifts they had been given from around the world.

The gardens and walled garden were looking lush and it was a pleasure to be able to enjoy them. It was a memorable day out for Farnham members.

 

A ROOM WITH A VIEW: BANQUETING HOUSES 1550-1700

At the April meeting, a lecture entitled ‘A Room with a View:; Banqueting Houses 1550-1700’ was presented by David Bostwick, a Lecturer, Writer and Consultant on Historic Buildings and Interiors. His lecture was informative and amusing and gave an interesting insight into the lives and entertainments enjoyed at the time. He began the lecture with a slide of a painting of the best-known Banqueting House in Whitehall, which was designed by Inigo Jones.

The lecturer described the eating habits of the aristocracy during this time and the part that banqueting houses played.The main meal was the feast, where cold savoury foods were eaten in the dining room. After the feast the guests withdrew to a dedicated room where the banquet, which was sweet food, was served. These rooms became banqueting chambers, the first one of note being in 1540 in Melbury House in Dorset. At Longleat, there was a banqueting pavilion on the roof, where there were exotic chimneys, edifices, and roof gardens to be admired and guests could look out over the gardens and countryside. Gardening by this time had become a great passion and estate owners wanted their guests to enjoy them.

During the 16th and 17th century, the banqueting houses started to be built outside the main house, and at Chatsworth the hunting lodge was used, where guests could watch the hunt while eating. The architecture of banqueting houses became ever more exotic, with obelisks, battlements, arrow holes, pediments and statues.

The furniture, furnishings, fireplaces and light fittings, which decorated the insides of the banqueting houses were splendid. There were beautiful marble-topped tables, with elegant wine glasses, platters, roundels and cutlery for serving the food. Hand embroidered table carpets were used with exquisite patterns depicting fruits and foods, and grotesque masks.

Much alcohol was consumed during the banquet and the foods served were cheese, nuts, fruits of all kinds, served with spices, and exotic sugar work was produced for the occasions.

Many banqueting houses from this period still exist in the grounds of the estates around the country and they are a fine example of the way of life of the aristocracy of the times.

GEORGIAN AND VICTORIAN GLASS

Caroline MacDonald-Haig gave many members a fascinating Study Day on Georgian and Victorian Glass. Starting off in the morning by explaining the history of glass making and how the different effects were created, she showed excellent slides of glassware of the two periods. Many members brought pieces for her appraisal and the afternoon session was devoted to looking at them individually, identifying and dating them. A lively discussion was enjoyed greatly by all those present.