|
The Breakfast Room |
|
|
| Step on inside please. This is one of two octagonal rooms in the house. The stairs you passed between here and the Saloon lead up to the second story and were used by the servants; the main staircase is off the Entrance Hall. Most of the furniture is neoclassical; early 19th century, that Ann and Simon recovered when Jerry’s shop was closed and he was packed off to jail. If you look up at the ceiling, you’ll see how elaborate it is. We think this was one of the first rooms Fanny had redone after old William passed on; the decoration was very stylish in the 1790s, and has remained in good condition. The ceiling is inset with a portrait of William Blake as Cupid done by Maria Cosway, and translated to plaster by an apprentice of Biagio Rebecca, the noted artist who worked in England at Kedleston, Harewood, and the Brighton Pavillion, and at Berrington Hall in Wales. I guess Fanny felt like if she had him hovering overhead as Cupid, he wouldn’t dare haunt the place. Actually, I don’t know if I’ve mentioned it yet or not, but we do have some ghosts here, don’t we James? I thought there was just the one; probably Fanny herself, but James here tells me there’s another one floating around that his girlfriend saw recently. So, keep an eye peeled, you may stumble upon one tonight. The likelihood increases with the amount of bubbly you drink. Any questions? Right then, let's pop through the Saloon again and into the Music Room. |
