Charleston, An Artists Home and Garden

Charleston Farmhouse is a remarkable place. The country home of the writers, painters and intellectuals known as the Bloomsbury Group, it survives in an almost unaltered state. As you walk though the house, you can easily imagine Virginia Woolf's sister, the painter Vanessa Bell, busily decorating the walls along with her partner, Duncan Grant. Each room is a unique work of art, and the excellent guides are happy to explain the stories behind the decorative paintings and fabrics on display. Bell, Grant and their unconventional household spent over 60 years at Charleston, so there is a great deal of fascinating history here. Along with the house, the garden has been restored to its original style, and on a summer's day it feels as if you might turn a corner and run into one of the Bloombury Group strolling along a path and admiring the flowers. Charleston offers a series of Bloomsbury-themed events throughout the year, often featuring members of the Bell/Grant families. There is also a gallery, which exhibits art work by contemporary and historic artists. A lovely gift shop sells a range of hand-made objects (including work by Cressida Bell, Vanessa's granddaughter) as well as books and reproductions. And the Outer Studio Café is a wonderful place to enjoy tea and homemade cake or a sandwich, whilst pretending that you are Vanessa's guest for the weekend! The intimate, highly personal quality of Charleston makes it a very special place to visit, and since it is not far from Virginia Woolf's country home (Monk’s House, in the nearby village of Rodmell), you can easily make a Bloomsbury day of it without much driving.