Hidden Treasures of the National Trust returns for a third series…
BBC Two once again take a look behind the velvet rope at some of the country’s most beautiful and historic houses – and meets the people battling to save our priceless heritage. Episode one opens the doors to three houses that became retreats and places of inspiration for three literary legends.
In the heart of the Lake District lies Hill Top, the countryside escape of Beatrix Potter. Purchased by the celebrated children’s author in 1905, her famous tales still echo through this secluded farmhouse, not least in the garden, where gardener Pete is often mistaken for Mr McGregor – sworn enemy of Peter Rabbit – by visiting children.
In one of the upstairs rooms is a collection which inspired one of Beatrix’s most beloved books: her Doll’s House, home to 70 miniature objects, many of which feature in The Tale of Two Bad Mice. Now the doll’s house and its contents are undergoing major conservation, just weeks before they are due to take centre stage of a new exhibition at Hill Top.
Hidden deep in the Dorset countryside sits a humble dwelling once refuge to one of Britain’s most enigmatic writers and military figures – T E Lawrence, aka Lawrence of Arabia. The tiny four-room woodland cottage, Clouds Hill, became his place of refuge, somewhere Lawrence could escape the celebrity status he acquired after his exploits during the First World War.
In a sparsely furnished upstairs room, above a fireplace, hangs an object almost as mysterious as the man who owned it: a scene of a young soldier seated on a Cornish beach which has sparked much debate over the identity of the figure. The painting is now in need of essential cleaning and conservation. Senior National Curator for paintings John Chu is also taking the opportunity to try to solve the puzzle of the sitter’s identity once and for all.
Finally, a major renovation project is under way at a Sussex townhouse with a long literary tradition. Lamb House in Rye was the home of celebrated Victorian writer Henry James, who produced many of his greatest later works there. Today James’s writing room is looking a little off-colour, a damp problem means the walls are in urgent need of replastering and repainting. Waiting in the wings are collections and house officer Kirsty Mitchell and her team hoping to reinstate the room as it was in James’s day.
Hidden Treasures of the National Trust, BBC Two, Friday 16th May at 9 pm
