Every third Monday of the month Shelly Tobin, Costume Curator at Killerton, and her assistant Charlotte Eddington, open their workshop door to the public, giving them an insight into the largest fashion collection in the National Trust. Visitors can gain exclusive access to part of the Killerton fashion store, handle some items in the study collection, take a guided tour of the current fashion exhibition Branded: fashion, femininity and the right to vote and enjoy a chat over tea and biscuits. Shelley Tobin, Costume Curator said: ‘We are really excited to be offering this opportunity to...
It has been a year since Killerton, a much-loved National Trust gem near Exeter, saw scaffolding go up for major TLC to the roof and building. After astounding public support, the successful conservation project has finished.
Over ten months, the roof scape has been transformed. The worst affected roofs have been replaced, removing an unsightly temporary roof and old ventilation units. Urgent repairs and restoration to the stonework, parapets and roof lanterns is complete. A grant from Viridor Credits enabled the reintroduction of seven historic chimneys, with wood burners...
‘Many suffragists spend more money on clothes than they can comfortable afford, rather than run the risk of being considered outré and doing harm to the cause’ Sylvia Pankhurst
The fashion collection at Killerton has opened its doors for 2018 with a new exhibition called Branded: Fashion, femininity and the right to vote. To mark 100 years since some women got the right to vote, the exhibition reflects the timeline of the campaign for women’s suffrage from 1866 until 1928 through the changing styles of fashion.
The exhibition highlights the relationship between politics and...
If you’re after a traditional family Christmas, why not head to Knightshayes, near Tiverton this December where you’ll find festive decorations, winter illuminations and have a chance to meet the jolly man himself. Taking place until 23 December (11am-5pm), this National Trust Gothic house will be adorned with traditional Victorian decorations, including eight real Christmas trees and six handmade dollhouses. Visitors can wander from room to room and learn about Victorian Christmas traditions that are still around today, such as the story of crackers and the traditional advent wreath. A...
Killerton, near Exeter, has been transformed for Christmas with Wind in the Willows and Father Christmas arriving this week to begin the festive celebrations.
The recently uncovered house will be open from Saturday 25 November and will transport visitors into Kenneth Grahame’s mystical world of Toad, Ratty, Badger and Mole as the story of Wind in the Willows is told.
The four friend’s adventure will take place throughout the house, with the rooms in the Georgian mansion transformed into scenes from this much-loved tale of camaraderie and adventure. The magic will continue...
A project is underway at Knightshayes as part of an effort to create an archive of recorded memories from people who met and knew Joyce, Lady Heathcoat Amory. The team at Knightshayes are on a hunt to find anyone who might have known Joyce, visited her, met her, played golf with her or have any memories they’d like to share. The project will run alongside a larger project next year to celebrate Joyce and share stories about her life. As a generous and well known community figure in Tiverton, the team often hear of memories of local visitors and residents alike, but now would love to create...
Killerton has reached a fundraising milestone after supporters have helped raise £100,000 to put towards the roof conservation project.
The appeal, which was launched in January this year, asked supporters to help raise funds for vital roof repairs to help prevent damage to the much-loved house and collections. The project is now in its final stages and will see the roof being fully restored and conservation work undertaken on the stonework and parapets alongside the reinstatement of historic chimneys that had been previously removed.
Visitors to Knightshayes, Tiverton, on Saturday 9 September will be treated to free admission and the chance to experience behind-the-scenes tours and talks as part of the Heritage Open Day scheme. The National Trust team have seen the day as a great opportunity to champion the work their organisation does as a charity to help conserve special places like Knightshayes, and talk to people about how their support can help make a difference to their local National Trust property. There will be tours of both the house and the garden throughout the day that visitors can sign up to, and that...
Archaeologists working with the National Trust’s Killerton estate believe they may have found the location of the lost Killerton mansion that was started in 1775, but never completed. The lost house was re-discovered almost by accident. Rumours of the mansion, three times bigger than the surviving building at Killerton and more befitting of the Acland family’s wealth and status, have circulated for many years - but no-one has been able to find where the building work was located. All that has remained of the mansion are designs by renowned architect, James Wyatt, a few surviving records...
This half-term there are lots of family events on at Castle Drogo including crafty castle capers, a bird detective trail and meet the builder’s day. On Saturday 3 June from 11am-4pm Castle Drogo will be giving visitors the chance to get hands on and learn more about the ongoing building work to make the castle water tight.
In 2013 one of the largest projects ever undertaken by the National Trust began at Castle Drogo. The castle has suffered major structural problems ever since completion which has resulted in serious leaks and water penetration throughout the building. If...
