Well thanks to Bensozia for this weekly link. Southerners moving to the far reaches of Orkney (bit worrying) to sell the glam life to us but what a marvellous acquisition this large, rather ugly house on Rousay is.
Truly I hope not too many of the elite class move to the Orkney islands, apart from anything, they have to cross choppy seas. But still, fashion is fashion and the pioneers are setting out to conquer or stylise maybe? the Orkneys, don't worry though, there are 10,000 islands I believe round the British Isles.
Enjoy the photos and watch the stamp of our designer couple on Westness House, who I have never met before in the land of the internet.
But apparently the Pre-Raphaelite designers have been down from London in the 19th century. thought I recognised the wallpaper and fire tiles.
There is a fascinating history in Rousay Remembered here of land ownership for the Westness House and for the whole area. And an old photo taken from the site mentioned. There is a wood next to the garden, trees are a rarity on these islands only those who were rich could afford to plant them, but of course it gave protection from the cutting winds.
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| There is almost an excoriating plainness to the frontage. It looked better under a cloak of ivy |
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| It wasn't all roses of course!! |
I am not even sure where the Orkney Islands are but I'll guess off the Scottish coast.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure if the linked site is a blog or a commercial site, perhaps a bit of both. It looks interesting and worthy of some more time to have a look.
Yes Andrew you have placed it correctly. One of my favourites in history are write ups about Scotland, is that of the wicked feuding Scots, the wicked English landowners who came for the shooting and fishing and sadly the misery of the crofters always caught up in the events that went on around them. Scotland has every right to feel resentful.
ReplyDeleteI can understand that the Pre-Raphaelites would want to create their art in a clean, healthy and somewhat remote area, but I wonder why they would choose to go to Orkney.
ReplyDeletet could easily have been a holiday for the three Hels . William de Morgan, Edward Burne-Jones and William Morris. After all the Pre-Raphaelite studio was a place of creating furniture, tiles, glass and tapestry.
Delete"Why go to the Orkneys?" why not;)
Wm Morris also travelled to Iceland, in search of the Medieval Scandinavian saga tales.
I can't imagine doing something like that. The cost of the home and the move would surely put it out of my price range! ;)
ReplyDeleteIt is all to do with being young I think Ellen.
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