BACK

Inspiration

The perfect house

At very busy times with a lot of people trying to read the blog, it can take a while for images to load – they can remain grey. If this occurs, please try again later or make sure you are on a very fast broadband connection! Apologies if this is happening today.

What a weekend. It’s been a hectic few days – following the wonderful cabinet opening (more will follow in a day or two) I was down to Dorset… where I think we had one of the most beautiful weekends of the year.

On Saturday, between Dorchester and the coast, we took the road past Waddon House, still, haunting, standing tall on the hillside, pale lichen-crusted Purbeck stone walls shining in the brilliant sunshine.

I think that Waddon may be the most perfect house in England. I have strong memories of it from my childhood when we lived not far away. Once a grand H-shaped Caroline house, fire destroyed the central bays and left hand wing, leaving this solitary, beautiful building which I think has one of the most perfectly proportioned facades I know, and is all the more poignant for being a fragment. It would be a wonderful building to measure.

Now, the central garden gate and its piers lead nowhere. A mysterious door in the basement is silent. Turning around, we look across salt misted hills down to the Fleet.  To our left, a beautiful barn… stone mullioned windows and thatch in quiet contrast to the tall sash windows, white painted cornice and stone quoins of the main house.

We stopped, and wondered, and felt we were in a dream.

Even better… it turns out you can stay at Waddon. If it wasn’t quite so close to home, I would be booking in now.

P1000211

P1000210

P1000193

P1000199

P1000212

P1000196

Best Sellers

  • An English Vision - Traditional Architecture and Decoration for Today - Signed

    Vendor:
    Ben Pentreath
    Regular price £ 45.00
    Regular price Sale price £ 45.00
  • P&H London Souvenir Tea Towel

    Vendor:
    Pentreath & Hall
    Regular price £ 9.50
    Regular price £ 0.00 Sale price £ 9.50
  • 'At Home With Ben' Greeting Cards - Pack of 8

    Vendor:
    Pentreath & Hall
    Regular price £ 8.50
    Regular price Sale price £ 8.50
  • Diana Soap- Basil & Neroli Blossom

    Vendor:
    Bridie Hall
    Regular price £ 22.50
    Regular price Sale price £ 22.50

Latest Arrivals

  • 18th Century Quilt Fabric Lavender Pillow - XS

    Vendor:
    Polly Lyster
    Regular price £ 30.00
    Regular price Sale price £ 30.00
  • 18th Century Weld Raw Silk Lavender Pillow - XS

    Vendor:
    Polly Lyster
    Regular price £ 30.00
    Regular price Sale price £ 30.00
  • Indigo Japanese Boro Lavender Pillow - S

    Vendor:
    Polly Lyster
    Regular price £ 40.00
    Regular price Sale price £ 40.00
  • Turkish Suzanni Lavender Pillow - M

    Vendor:
    Polly Lyster
    Regular price £ 50.00
    Regular price Sale price £ 50.00
1 of 2
1 of 4


Best Sellers

  • An English Vision - Traditional Architecture and Decoration for Today - Signed

    Vendor:
    Ben Pentreath
    Regular price £ 45.00
    Regular price Sale price £ 45.00
  • P&H London Souvenir Tea Towel

    Vendor:
    Pentreath & Hall
    Regular price £ 9.50
    Regular price £ 0.00 Sale price £ 9.50
  • 'At Home With Ben' Greeting Cards - Pack of 8

    Vendor:
    Pentreath & Hall
    Regular price £ 8.50
    Regular price Sale price £ 8.50
  • Diana Soap- Basil & Neroli Blossom

    Vendor:
    Bridie Hall
    Regular price £ 22.50
    Regular price Sale price £ 22.50
  • Bloomsbury Tray - Large

    Vendor:
    The Lacquer Company
    Regular price £ 375.00
    Regular price £ 0.00 Sale price £ 375.00
  • P&H Long Luxury Matches

    Vendor:
    Pentreath & Hall
    Regular price £ 10.50
    Regular price Sale price £ 10.50
  • Pastel Box Candle - pack of 12

    Vendor:
    True Grace
    Regular price £ 45.00
    Regular price Sale price £ 45.00
  • Rocque Plan of London, 1746.

    Vendor:
    Pentreath & Hall
    Regular price £ 300.00
    Regular price Sale price £ 300.00
  • French Grand Antique Marble Patterned Paper

    Vendor:
    Pentreath & Hall
    Regular price £ 6.50
    Regular price Sale price £ 6.50
  • The P&H Great Creamware Candlestick

    Vendor:
    Pentreath & Hall
    Regular price £ 350.00
    Regular price Sale price £ 350.00
  • P&H Large Creamware Urn

    Vendor:
    Pentreath & Hall
    Regular price £ 225.00
    Regular price Sale price £ 225.00
  • Waste Paper Bin Regency Caning - Jasper Red

    Vendor:
    Pentreath & Hall
    Regular price £ 105.00
    Regular price Sale price £ 105.00