Summary
A quiet 17th century house acting as the showpiece setting for a spectacular
collection of paintings and ceramics, with works by Breughel, El Greco,
and Holbein. Of particular note are the beautiful terraced gardens,
leading down to an 18th century lake.
The House
Upton House was begun in 1695, and the external appearance of the main
house is much as it appeared then. It is approached by a long tree-lined
drive leading to a small courtyard where the front entry presents a
classical outline. It is when you enter the house that you see the major
transition at Upton House, for the interiors were heavily remodelled
in the 1930s in Art Deco style by the Bearsted family, who made their
money with the Shell Oil company.
House
Highlights include:
Old Masters Collection
The jewel in the crown of Upton House is the quite superlative collection
of Old Master paintings, with both British and European artists represented.
These include works by Hogarth, Stubbs, Romney, Canaletto, Brueghel
and El Greco. Many are housed on the lower floors, in very simple surroundings,
so that the visitor is not distracted from the art. The effect is in
some ways more reminiscent of a museum than a stately home, but this
is no bad thing, for the superb paintings are well worth appreciation
for their own merits.
Porcelain collection
The Bearsted family had interests beyond art; they also collected china,
and Upton House displays superb Derby and Chelsea figurines in a range
of fine display cabinets. In addition to these English figurines there
is also an excellent collection of French Sevres porcelain.
Shell Oil memorabilia collection
Located on the top floor is this fascinating collection of Shell Oil
advertising posters and other memorabilia of decades of motoring. Lord
Bearsted was chairman of the powerful oil company for many yers, and
was responsible for commissioning many of the advertising posters on
display.
Art Deco bathroom
Most striking of the interior decoration is reserved for the astonishing
Art Deco bathroom, the work of Lady Bearsted, on the first floor. This
red and silver bathroom is one of the more astonishing rooms I've ever
seen in a historic house. Though not to everyone's taste, it gives a
glimpse into the ideals of the Art Deco movement, and remains one of
the more memorable decorating schemes I have witnessed.
The
Gardens
There are two garden areas at Upton House; the first is composed of
level lawns to the rear (south) aspect, stretching away to a area of
informal borders bounding a small, formal pool. Just beyond the pool
is a ha-ha, a deep drop to walled, terraced gardens, with turf paths
running across the hillside, and a winding stair leading down to a large
lake at the bottom of the hill. The terraces are further divided into
smaller gardens, with a rose garden, a small secret garden, and vegetable
garden among other highlights. The overall effect is superb,
making the terraces and pool a delight to stroll about.
Upton House for Families
Probably not the most appealing place for children to visit; the major
focus of the house interior is the large art and porcelain collections,
which most children would find a bit tedious. The lawns and gardens
offer plenty of space to roam around, but there are not really any
facilities specifically for the younger generation.
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