Grand designs & small details

We have just put the finishing touches to two new Mansion exhibitions which will run from July 18th to 30th October 2011 at Tatton.


“In Our View” is an exhibition of beautiful photographs taken by our Ranger team. Each team member has selected the best from their own personal photographic collections. This magical exhibition shows something of the amazing diversity of flora and fauna of the Tatton estate from the perspective of people who work closely in this environment.

The Nature Table will bring to mind school day collections of things found on rambles in the country, and we hope that the exhibition will inspire our visitors to bring their own cameras to take amazing natural history photos in the Park.

Working with nature again, but this time Geodiversity, a trail will lead you through the Mansion at Tatton highlighting various geological materials which have been used in its construction. This is all part of our architectural theme for the summer.

Caroline Schofield setting up the exhibition

“Grand Designs and Small Details” is our second exhibition, which takes a look at the development of the Mansion building at Tatton Park throughout the Georgian and Regency periods. The Tatton Park Architectural Drawings Conservation, Digitisation and Access project has recently led to the conservation of 97 important original architectural drawings of the house, including those by architects Samuel and Lewis William Wyatt. A further 56 drawings are currently with our paper conservator undergoing studio conservation. Over 100 drawings have now been digitally scanned, and selected images of them have been used to tell the story of the Egertons and their house and home making. In addition we are displaying some of the original drawings which architect Lewis William Wyatt produded for the interior details of the house. These drawings are fragile – so make the most of the rare opportunity to come and see them.


Caroline Schofield, Mansion & Collections Manager, Tatton Park

Day one nearly done!

Tatton's Japanese Garden

The RHS Flower Show may be months in the planning but we very swiftly speed through the hours once the show is finally upon us. 

There's been a great buzz on the first day of the show, with a lot of interest around Tatton's Japanese Garden inspired (and gold medal winning) garden - Paradise Isle - 100 years on.  We've got a fantastic spot with the other local gardens making up the Cheshire Gardens of Distinction's area.

My favourite flowers of the show in the floral marquee

Tatton's presence - other than the show garden - is a Marketing and an Education tent. For us, in Marketing, it's a great opportunity to chat to people about what we do at Tatton and to try and encourage visitors to come back to see all we have to offer here.  We also get asked all sorts of questions about the flowerbed too - so if you don't know your acer palmatum from your elbow, now is the time to find out!

  

Beautiful bug house!

After many years of doing the show the team has learnt a few essential tips to see you through the 5 days: water, suncream, sunglasses (for those glaring walkways) water and a bit more water.  This year we might just (fingers treble crossed) get away without the brollies.  And a break in the Country Living tent doesn't go amiss either.

Here's a few of the highlights for me of day one...
Eleanor Gorsuch, Marketing

Tatton through my eyes...

Emily is spending a couple of weeks as an intern. Here's her perspective of Tatton so far...

As a local Knutsford resident Tatton Park has always been on my doorstep, constantly passing through, whether it be on a family bike ride, walking the dog or simply enjoying the sunshine with a picnic by the Mere.  However, the magnificent history and intricate stories which are beyond Tatton Mere are unbeknown to me. 

This week my eyes have been opened to the world behind Tatton Park, consisting of hundreds of years of the Egertons and their endeavours which occurred throughout this time. 

Set in over 1,000 acres of parkland Tatton has something for everyone; this week I have discovered each individual aspect of the park and set my adventurous instincts to go.

One of the most immaculate elements of Tatton is the Gardens, inspired from places all over the world and the host of a compilation of spectacular beauties. The first thing I did was wander off the path and deep into the landscape, concealing myself from all other visitors, I felt like Mary in her Secret Garden. This lead me through to the Arboretum, a magical part to the gardens full of elaborate conifers, again feeling like a child, lost in an enchanted wood. Having made my way back to the main path I then approached the maze, which I decided to have a whirl at; luckily I found my way to the centre and back out again- a challenge which entices everyone. My final stop off was the faultless Italian Gardens, set in perfect symmetry as a backdrop to the Neo- Classical Mansion; placed with precision and perfection they compliment the grounds and Mansion wholly. 

Seeing the Gardens which envelop the Mansion made my intuition take me to the heart of the park, for a glimpse as to the wonderful life the Egertons lived in their grand home. As a whole the Mansion is stunning, it may not look too spectacular from the outside but by stepping through those doors this idea diminishes and you become captured by the house and its contents. The three elements which really caught my eye were the architecture, the paintings and the library. The popular style of the Ancient Greeks and Romans influenced the style of the Mansion, explicitly displayed throughout with a similar symmetry to the Italian Gardens. However, the Entrance Hall exhibits the finest piece of Neo-Classicism, marble floors, porphyry columns and a mirror image from the central line. 

The library at Tatton

Like any 18^th/19^th Century mansion, paintings consume the majority of wall space; what intrigued me was the rarity of a number of these. Predominantly the two Canaletto’s in the Drawing Room; magnificent originals with an uncommon signature declaring them as a couple of the first Canaletto paintings. The final site which encapsulated me was the library; holding a collection of over 8,000 books spanning a whole host of subject matter, dating as far back as 1513. There are even some first edition Jane Austen novels amongst the gorgeous Gillows bookcases.

As Tatton has recently become parent to two sets of piglets, The Farm was the next place on my visit list. Armed with the camera I went in search of these babies to the working farm, which has been part of Tatton since the mid eighteen hundreds. Specialising in raising rare breads of animals, Home Farm is a place for children with an adventurous head and adults who are intrigued by the history, or like me, just animal lovers. The pigs were my favourite part, host to six rare breads: the Tamworth, Large Black, Middle White, Berkshire, Saddleback and Gloucestershire Old Spot, meant there was plenty to see alongside those adorable, chunky piglets.

Finally I took a step further back in time to the oldest part and building of the Tatton Estate- The Old Hall. As a child I recall coming here, dressed as Vikings; one minute baking bread over an outdoor fire and the next charging at classmates, in the heat of a battle. Named as the ‘Hidden Gem’, the Old Hall can often be forgotten. The original Manor House to the first residents of Tatton during the Middle Ages, the Old Hall tells its story through the walls as you amble through the house. As each new era added segments to the house, the periods develop as the house does- commencing with the Medieval Great Hall and ending in the sitting room of Tatton workers in the 1950s. What a brilliant tour, creating the feeling of movement through the ages, I could immediately imagine the residents of the Old Hall sat in each room conducting their daily routine of the period. They may still be there. 

Emily-Jane Bartley

Lights, camera, action!

Focusing in the Fernery @Peter Spooner

16 photographers enjoyed a photo shoot in the mansion at Tatton, providing the opportunity to photograph internal views of the lavishly furnished rooms and detailed shots of the furniture and artefacts.

The event was organised to give photographers the rare opportunity to take photographs without the presence of the visiting public by using a day when the mansion was closed. Public photography is not usually allowed in the mansion.

The feedback on the day was very positive with those attending welcoming the opportunity to practice their skills in a unique environment. All who attended said that the occasion was most enjoyable, informative and photographically challenging.

The final session of the day was a visit to the Italian Gardens and Fernery to photograph the exterior details of the Italian Garden, Mansion and the flowers and variety of ferns growing within the Fernery.

It was an enjoyable day for all concerned.

Find out more about Photo Shoot at Tatton Park.

George Littler
Course Facilitator

Tatton showmen

8 July 2011



Caption competition?!

©Sam Youd





We are on day 5 of the build of our show garden at the RHS Show site (a garden inspired by the centenary of the Japanese Garden). At the moment it feels like October with the wind whistling across the open parkland.

 

Beginning to take shape..

©Sam Youd



Having dug out the pond we’re now ready for planting but we’re really concerned about the wind burn on the tender acers if we were to put them out today. However, we need to place these large acers before we continue the planting of the rest of the garden. We’ve looked at the forecast and decided to put off the planting until tomorrow, which is just as well, because as we speak it is throwing it down with rain and may get even heavier.



Up to now build has gone really well; the weather has been reasonably kind, although, like all gardeners we’re bound to moan about the fact that the garden is really hard – due to the fact that we had a very dry spring and whatever we have had since then, has found it difficult to penetrate.



The other gardens are looking good and everyone seems to be ahead of schedule – there is a good atmosphere as most people know one another anyway. By next week, as more plants arrive, we will definitely see a constant migration of plants between one garden and another as we all swap our surplus plants!



The best way to build a garden for the show is to always have in mind that anything you do or plan to do, needs to be done early in the hour, early in the day, early in the week. No procrastination should be allowed and good logistical planning is essential! The aim should be to finish the garden as early as possible so that by the time judging takes place the garden should look settled and the plants should have started to re-grow.

 

Gardens which are finished early always attract TV/media attention as reporters and producers are always looking for finished items. In view of this, it’s extremely important to have a couple of quirky stories in hand – which act as a media carrot. I’ll keep mine to myself, for now (ie make some up later!).



Have a good show!



Sam Youd, Gardens Manager











The beautiful Tatton Tabitha!

Our Clydesdale horse Tatton Tabitha was born in May 2008.  Our little girl is blossoming into a very special young lady and has been really busy these last few months undertaking her training.

Tatton Tabitha in shafts for the 1st time, with Jayne

Obviously training starts in the first few weeks of life, halter training, being led and having her feet picked up. It’s crucial this is done, as if left until she is older and she decides she doesn’t want to pick her feet up then we’re in trouble. Apart from basic handling they can’t undertake any work until the age of three, when fully grown.

We start by placing the harness on her, leaving it on for a few hours at a time, whilst she gets used to it. Then we start to long rein, which is where she is driven without her actually pulling any weight and then the next stage is to put her into the shafts.

The picture above shows Tabitha during her first time in this small training cart - she didn’t put a hoof wrong. Whatever she has been asked to do she has accepted and taken everything as a real pro.

Now three years old Tabitha is old enough to be put in foal. She was therefore stabled recently at the stud farm in Church Minshull and on Monday 20th June we found out she was a few weeks in foal! Another new addition next year.

Find out more information about our other rare breed animals at Tatton Park here.

Jayne Chapman, Farm Manager