On Monday of last week, I stumbled across Arundel Festival, a perfectly quaint festival in the town of the same name. I had intended to visit the town in order to go rowing at Swanbourne Lake with a friend, but when we saw the Main Street closed off we simply had to go and investigate.
The festival was adorable. The high street was littered with little stalls selling scarves, candles, clothing and foods, whilst a row of old cars were neatly lined up for viewing. A live band created a wonderful atmosphere as we strolled around inspecting the goods for sale and filling up a wicker picnic basket I had bought with us for a picnic on the boat! The festival spread around the town, filling little alleyways with stalls and marquees housing crafts and more food. It was great.
With a couple of subs from a bakery, some local fudge, homemade cakes, and some crisps and drinks, we were sorted. We left the fab music and buzzing atmosphere and walked past the castle to the lake, where we did an hour of rowing, eating and chatting. It was lovely.
When we returned to the hubbub of the festival, we noticed a small stage next to the river with more live music which we were quickly attracted to. We basked in the sun listening to a solo country artist until the early evening when we panicked and realised the traffic would be awful going home! The castle looked beautiful in the sun, so grand and majestic, and really gave the festival a beautiful backdrop. I love the castle anyway but there was something magical about this little festival being held in the old streets below a castle. Beautiful.
for Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother’s honeymoon and the permanent residence of Margaret Greville, a famous 19th-20th-century hostess, the house is certainly grand. Located in Surrey, it is a wonderful National Trust property to visit for a day out or, like me, an afternoon escape.
The house itself, as previously touched upon, is magnificent. The bright yellow exterior adds a friendly feel upon arrival and the rooms are grand yet cosy. I enjoyed the entrance hallway; beautiful wooden balconies glance down at you from the higher levels as a chandelier sparkles around the room and tells you that you’re entering a luxurious home. The dark red carpet and draped curtains were a particular favourite of mine. They’re so seductive and give you a glimpse into the exclusive and elite culture that danced through these rooms merely one hundred years ago. There’s certainly something magical about it.
Glorious paintings adorn the walls, lacing every hallway and room with an air of sophistication, whilst individual and unique features in each section of the house lends to a whole and exciting viewpoint of the estate over the years. The use of it in the world wars, for example, as a convalescent home is particularly interesting, certainly to me as a historian but also to anyone, at highlighting the shift in these luxury estates from private houses to important places of rest and recuperation in the war effort. It’s fascinating how these elite members of society switched from having their private quarters and sophisticated lifestyle to providing aid and comfort to unfortunate soldiers. It’s glorious!
Libraries are my favourite room in any old house or castle. The library and study at Polesden Lacey don’t compare to that at Arundel Castle, which is spread across two rooms and features upper balconies, but it is very pleasant. Light and airy, I can imagine comfortable sitting at the desk and glancing out the window over the extensive landscape to gain inspiration. In fact, I went to Polesden Lacey to sit in the grounds and do some writing so I can confirm that it’s very relaxing and inspirational to look over the beautiful countryside! The Gold Room is also exquisite and, as the name suggests, lined completely with gold. It’s spectacular and worth seeing.
The Girl In The Window 