giddy and gadding

I've always thought that gadding about must have an element of giddiness. Giddy and gadding, giddily gadding; the words go so well together. And to prove the point, last week I went gadding giddily to Sussex with my friend Marion to make up for the fact that she had never been to Charleston Farmhouse, home of the Bloomsbury Group.

First of all, though, we had to stop for refreshments after our journey and before Charleston opened. So we went to Lewes, one of my favourite English towns (railway station, Norman castle, brewery, river, flea markets, little independent shops, lots of books, plenty of nice places to eat, and definitely not the identikit high street that we see in most places) to the Old Needlemakers where there is the most delightful cafe which serves cakes and treats and tea in mismatching bone china. Straightaway we could feel our giddiness levels rising...

So we went on to Charleston as East Sussex basked in the sun and everywhere looked luxuriantly green and fresh. Now I've been to Charleston quite a few times and love it, but this was an extra-special visit. Not only was it a birthday treat for Marion, it was a treat for me, too, because we were warmly welcomed by Jean (who really hasn't changed much since that photo was taken) who runs a wonderful little knitting business and who reads this blog. Jean brought us a cup of tea to enjoy while sitting on a bench outside the house where we could look at the pond and the sculptures,

and could imagine for just a few moments that we belonged to Charleston.

And then it was into the house which is utterly unique in spirit and atmosphere for a lively guided tour and a peek into another world. 

By the time we reached the studio which is quite amazingly characterful and full of quirky and absorbing details we were utterly happy, and yet we still had the garden to gad about in giddily.

And the garden was looking stunning. It smelled deliciously of wallflowers which, with aquilegias, were everywhere. No wonder Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant used the garden and the house so often in their paintings - they really didn't need to look much further for wonderful domestic subject matter.

And then the highlight for me - a visit to the kitchen - somewhere I'd always wanted to see so that I could imagine Vanessa carefully taking off her rings before kneading bread dough.

Filled with artistic visions and ideas for alternative interior design, we gadded off back to Lewes. Because I couldn't let Marion come this far without going to Bill's Produce Store (sister store to the one in Brighton) to see the kind of place that can make an art-form of grocery and vegetable arranging,

and have snapdragons to match the jars and tins.

Yes, we definitely gadded giddily. It's the only way to do it.

Comments

[Gemma]

Fabulous! Giddy would just about cover such a marvelous day of gadding!

[Hazel]

Giddy and Gadding are definitely the words to describe a day like that :)

[Violetsrose]

The thing I love most about Charleston is the painted tablecloth - they were rebellious enough to not have a cloth tablecloth but not rebellious enough to dispense with one altogether - very sweet!

[maritza]

I agree Jane, I'm just back from gadding about the gloriously green country lanes in Suffolk - some are so winding they made us giddy - oh, for a roadster to gad giddily ( & giggly )about in !

[Hellie]

I love gadding about too spend lots of time doing it. I also love Charleston only been once must revisit thanks for a super blog

[jenny b harris]

What an absolutely perfect day out. Thanks for sharing it with us, I feel as if I was gadding right along with you!

[Joanna]

Thanks for useful Lewes ideas ... I'm planning a visit to Charleston in a couple of weeks, and it's quite a hike, so it's good to have good recommendations. I particularly like the sound of the teashop with its mismatched bone china.

Thanks
Joanna

[mesclun]

What fun! There's nothing quite like gadding with a like-minded friend. Makes me want to call up my best bud and buy plane tickets for the both of us so that we could explore Sussex too. Sadly, I think the best either of us would be able to manage at the moment is looking at cider mills in Michigan. (Which isn't bad at all.)
Bill's looks like the kind of place that I would sometimes come across when I lived in California. Just add a few local wines to the counter and I could imagine bouganvilla climbing across the roof

[sal]

What a fabulous place and your photos are wonderful.I'm viewing them on a large screen and the colour..wow! Thanks! Sal ;-)

[julia fc]

Oh Jane, I can so imagine you lolling about during a game of croquet with Clive, helping Vanessa with the pruning, posing for one of Duncan's portraits! I do so love that house, even though I've never been. And the tea shop sounds like my kind of place. Good fun.

[Nicole]

Sigh... Sounds like a heavenly way to spend a beautiful day!

[Leslie]

Giddy-gaddy-Gidding...
When I saw your headline, I thought surely you must have gone to Little Gidding, iso the ghost of T.S. Eliot.

Leslie

[Annhb]

Charleston is my favorite inspiration. I cannot wait to visit in person, but I feel as though I've had a peek at what it will be like!!!! p.s. the Susan Meller book above looks quite wonderful!

[muffin]

yes, yes, yes ... no more to be said.

[Kay]

As Napoleon Dynamite would say,
LUCKY.

I'll have to get out all my books again, but I don't remember any of them doing the garden justice.

[gillie]

I've never been to Charleston (though have partied by the wall of Lewis gaol, which was pretty wierd). However, I can vouch that gadding with a friend on a sunny day through charming villages is second to none.

[carol]

I love Charleston too, and have visited several times. Nearby is Monk House and St Michael & All Angel Church. Both worth a visit too if in the area and could be part of a "Bloomsbury Tour" if so desired.

[Teena]

Oh what memories you revive! Is it always a lovely sunny day when one visits Charleston? It's that kind of place. Sunny days and scented flowers. Of course we just ignore the reminiscences of the Bells' guests who report having a terribly uncomfortable time in cold rooms with unreliable plumbing. Do we care?! Oh no! We would move in tomorrow! Lovely blog!

[flygirl]

Must. Visit England. This Year. Somehow.

[catherine]

And such gorgeous places in which to gad!

[MaryjoO]

Oh -- Jane, you KNOW where I am, so my goodness, those photos were unbelievable to me. My eyes were popping (and also my allergies) Sigh -- I do count my blessing - we think we have sighted green beans here for the moment. But we are growing a nice garden of tomatoes and more, which I started inside - much to the incredulity of the locals!

[Rachel]

I've been wanting to go to Charleston Farmhouse since I read about it a few months ago -how fun!

[Melanie]

And what a lovely blue sky.

[wren]

Glimpsing glimmers and gasping.

[katie]

that sounds like a great day. your space here is beyond inspiring. I had a chance to sit and read quite a bit last night. I will visit again soon!

[Jane in Camden]

I would love to see what you could make of Highgrove, but they won't let you take photos (most annoying!) ~x~

[kim]

I love Charleston and were hoping to get to see Angelica Garnett there last week but were unable. Still there's a whole summer of trips there to look forward to. We did manage lunch at Bill's to make up for it!

[kt]

Puttering pottering, giddily gadding. Gleeful Gad-about gals!

Delightful.

[Katie Allen]

What lovely colourful photos :) I used to work in Lewes - I loved the contrary streets and fuliginous old bookshops, and the walled garden was an excellent place for indulging in MiniMilks of a summer lunchtime.

[sarah smile]

l spent a Very wet sunday afternoon in Borders where l was lucky to discover your book!amazing pictures and so inspiring! you collect vintage table cloths like myself!l had to show those mockers at home l wasnt the only one!which meant l HAD to purchase the book!unfortunatly l HAD to spend a very wet bank holiday Monday catching up with your blog l read from way back till now and the book still awaits me!Our 'oldies'theatre/day out group are called the GAD ABOUTS they are all giddy giggling ladies up for adventure .THANKYOU from a new fan

[Sew Recycled!]

I feel rather guilty, I live so close to this part of the world and I do not take advantage of it enough. Lewes is one place I do go alot, Bills is the best cafe, better than the one in Brighton - in the winter if you are cold they give you a hart shaped hot water bottle to keep warm. The flea markets are simply the best and such bargains, glad you enjoyed it all!

[Heidi]

I'm the American who found your book in Australia this winter. What a pleasure to see this entry! Our family lived in beautiful Lewes for a year about a decade ago. We adored it, and have returned many times. Back then, I was given a poem called "Heaven is Like Lewes Town" by a neighbor, and can only agree.

[Lolita Blahnik]

Lewes? It's a wonderful place. I'm from Canary islands but I had a friend living in Brighton, every time I visited her we went to Lewes. I bought some lovely yarn there...