This week we have been enjoying a visit to London. We always love visiting the museums and welcome the opportunity and the challenge to live life at the pace of the city, if only for a few days!
However, we were happy to take time out for a “breather” over the weekend by making use of our National Trust cards and paying a visit to visit Ham House, which is on the banks of the River Thames at Richmond.
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-hamhouse
This magnificent house, which contains treasures from all over the world, was the home of Elizabeth Murray, the Duchess of Lauderdale. The Duchess, who managed to keep Ham House safe from the “Roundheads” whilst carrying on secret correspondence with the exiled King Charles II, was a resourceful and intelligent woman, who enjoyed an extravagant lifestyle at the height of her wealth and social standing, although we learned that she seldom left Ham House during the last eight years of her life.
We enjoyed exploring the house with the family discovery map, searching out tea tables from Java, vases from China, lacquered tables from Japan, and more.
We imagined what it would have been like as a servant at Ham House, scurrying along “secret” passages and up and down cramped spiral staircases – out of sight of the family and guests, who enjoyed fabulous luxury in wonderful rooms full of beautiful things.
