A Prolific Collector

Today’s visit was to Snowshill Manor, the home of Charles Wade, a Victorian gentleman who collected treasures and curiosities, and employed architectural and theatrical techniques to show them in his house to dramatic effect. In fact, the whole manor house was turned over to his collections while he lived in a modest cottage next door! By the time the National Trust were given the property in 1951 he had acquired over 17000 objects (and kept collecting much to the Trust’s despair!). Even today there are still over 10000 objects on display.  The extra shows just one of the smaller rooms full of musical instruments.

Charles also designed and landscaped the gardens, complete with a model harbour village, and laid out as a series of terraced “rooms”.  I found these lovely specimens of Snake’s Head Fritillary in a “room” full of spring flowers.