Extraordinary Stories and a House Full of Treasures

By Gareth Williams, Curator to the Weston Park Foundation

Discover more of the fascinating history and the people who lived at Weston with a visit to the House this summer.

Horace Walpole arrives at Weston Park

By Gareth Williams, Curator to the Weston Park Foundation

As the Victoria and Albert Museum closes its successful exhibition, Horace Walpole & Strawberry Hill, I am delighted that a rare portrait of Horace Walpole has arrived at Weston Park and is displayed in the Granary Art Gallery.

The portrait of Walpole, best known as the collector, author of the gothic novel The Castle of Otranto and builder of the flamboyant gothic villa Strawberry Hill at Twickenham is normally unseen by the general public.

Summer Starts Here!

By Colin Sweeney, Chief Executive

Much of the news has moved on from the election and the debate thereafter on the new Coalition Government to the impending World Cup in South Africa. Hopefully a good run from England will distract us from the worries and uncertainties ahead that the so-called ‘Age of Austerity’ conjures up in our minds.

Royal Visitor at Weston

By Gareth Williams, Curator to the Weston Park Foundation

Everyone who visits the Granary Art Gallery is enthralled by the space, which is dominated by the magnificent open timbers of the original eighteenth century roof.  Whilst that is a constant feature of the space, the items that we show change by the month!

Final Countdown - Granary Grill opens Saturday 1st May

By Olivier Ansquer, Food & Beverage Operations Manager

I write my first blog at a hugely exciting time for Weston Park as we prepare to extend our year round food experience in the Granary – the new Granary Grill opens on 1st May!

We have been planning, measuring and imagining for the last 12 months and it is all quickly becoming a reality, with all the worries and excitement a project of this size. It is all hands on deck as everything falls into place, sometimes it feels like we are launching a satellite into orbit!

The Golden Gift

By Gareth Williams, Curator to the Weston Park Foundation

A rare work of art, given by Britain’s richest man to the Victorian owners of Weston Park has returned home after undergoing urgent conservation work following the award of a grant by the Pilgrim Trust. The miniature bureau ivory bookcase was a gift from Hugh Lupus Grosvenor, 1st Duke of Westminster to Orlando Bridgeman, 3rd Earl of Bradford and his wife the Hon. Selina Weld-Forester on the occasion of their Golden Wedding anniversary in 1894.

Glorious Parkland

By Stuart Craddock, Park Operations Manager

As I gaze out of my office window over looking my glorious parkland it is time to reflect on a winter almost gone and a spring about to explode into life! This is my first blog so please be gentle with me . . .

Forthcoming Exhibitions in the Granary Art Gallery

By Gareth Williams, Curator to the Weston Park Foundation

Since the Granary Art Gallery opened, we have been delighted with the response that we have had and with the enthusiasm of everyone who has been to see the different exhibitions.

What is perhaps most exciting for us all is that Weston Park - which is known globally for the oustanding art collection in the House including works by Van Dyck and other great treasures - is now being hailed as a destination for contemporary art.

Conservation, Conservation, Conservation . . .

By Gareth Williams, Curator to the Weston Park Foundation

Just what is is happening behind the scenes at Weston Park? Next week we are looking forward to a visit from the Hamilton Kerr Institute from Cambridge who visit us every year.  Dr Mary Kempski brings three students who spend the week working on the in-situ conservation of some of the masterpieces that hang at Weston Park.

Comfort Food

By Head Chef Guy Day

As we come to the end of the winter with all the snow and ice around you can't beat a hearty soup made out of the fish that swim in our seas.  For a chef this is probably the hardest time of the year for British produce; the Game season is now over and the mushrooms have all disappeared but there is light at the end of the tunnel because we are about six weeks away from the start of Spring.