This morning, I was driving to Dorset via a new site in Wiltshire. I got a little lost on my way down, and chanced upon the incredible valley west of Wilton – Broadchalke, Bowerchalke, Fifeild Bavant, Ebbersborne Wake.
Getting very lost in the narrow chalk lanes, it was a great joy to chance upon Reddish House – Cecil Beaton’s home after he left Ashcombe.
There’s a wonderful photograph of Beaton and Hockney in the conservatory at Reddish in Peter Schlesinger’s brilliant photo memory, A Checkered Past – one of my favourite books that we sell in the shop (although it is very hard to get hold of – forgive us if we sell out).
And then, here is Reddish today – I don’t think Beaton would approve of that gate and wall. But the rest…. amazing.
