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Wednesday 12 March 2014

Polesden Lacey history pages and Georgians Revealed exhibition


 
I’ve been working at Polesden Lacey, a National Trust property as a website volunteer since November last year and I recently completed the new history pages for Polesden Lacey’s website

Edwardian hostess, Margaret Greville bought Polesden Lacey in 1906 and she left the estate to the
National Trust in 1942. Her guests included Edward VII and George VI. Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother spent part of her honeymoon there when she was the Duchess of York. The history pages include articles about Mrs Greville, a timeline (from 1906-1960) and below stairs staff. There are some wonderful photos of butlers, housemaids, gardeners, chauffeurs etc

This weekend, I’m off to a thatched cottage in the countryside with friends for writing with wine thrown in! Last week I completed my latest draft of book 1, The Grandson and I hope to make progress with book 2, The Painting so I can submit as many words as possible to the RNA’s New Writers’ Scheme by the end of August.

I went to the Georgians Revealed exhibition at the British Library in London last week (which finished on 11 March). The exhibition gave a taste of life during Georgian times with maps, posters, books and information on architecture, interior design, theatres and sports amongst other things. Although I found the exhibition interesting, I didn’t learn as much as I’d hoped. However, this should mean I’ve done enough research to get on with book 2, The Painting, and I can refer to information collected when stuck.

The British Library is such an inspiring place, quiet apart from hushed conversations, where student-types mill about with notebooks and pens and laptops and iPads. There’s a great restaurant which serves miniature chicken pies and all sorts of delicious stuff and I’ll be back soon to write there.

Daffodils and snowdrops have sprung up here in the U.K. and the weather has been lovely over the past week. Hopefully that's it for winter this year and that the potholes in the roads will be filled in soon!

4 comments:

  1. Sounds like a fascinating record of the early 1900s, Anita. Enjoy your writing weekend!

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    1. Thanks Rosemary! Hope you have a good weekend.x

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  2. I think it is so exciting that you are volunteering at Polesden Lacey.

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    1. I love it there Lindy and it has such a warm atmosphere :-)

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