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Charleston
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Charleston
Near Firle
Lewes
BN8 6LL
East Sussex
England
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Painted fireplace at Charleston. Courtesy of Charleston.
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Collection details
Archives, Costume and Textiles, Decorative and Applied Art, Fine Art, Personalities
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Contact details
Visitor Information (Tel)
:
01323 811265
Group/ school bookings (Tel)
:
01323 811626
General information (Fax)
:
01323 811628
E-mail
:
info@charleston.org.uk
Website
:
www.charleston.org.uk
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Open
April-October
Wed-Sun & Bank holidays
Wed & Sat 11.30 - 1800
Thu & Fri 1400 – 1800 (11.30 – 1800 July & August)
Sun & Bank holidays 1400-1800
Last entry 1700
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Closed
Mon Tues
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Admission charges
Adults £7.50
Children (6-16) £5.00
Themed Fridays (not July & August) £9.00
Disabled £5.00
OAPs (Thurs only) £6.50
Students (Thurs only) £6.50
Unemployed (Thurs only) £6.50
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Description
‘It is not so much a house as a phenomenon’ Quentin Bell once said of Charleston. It was in 1916 that the phenomenon came into being, as Duncan Grant, Vanessa Bell and David Garnett made the move from Suffolk to Charleston, where Clive Bell and Maynard Keynes were also to be regular visitors. As conscientious objectors Grant and Garnett were exempted from military service providing they continued to work on the land and both found employment on a nearby farm. It was Virginia and Leonard Woolf, who lived locally, who had originally spotted the late 17th century Sussex farmhouse situated at the foot of the South Downs and encouraged Vanessa to make the move. Over the next 60 years the house was decorated by Bell and Grant, they painted walls, doors and furniture and produced decorated ceramics and needlepoint designs for their home.
After the death of Duncan Grant The Charleston Trust was formed to preserve the house and its remarkable collection, it has been described as ‘One of the most difficult and imaginative feats of restoration current in Britain’.
Charleston now hosts an active range of other associated events . Amongst these are a summer school, an annual festival, the Charleston Gallery, the quarterly Canvas publication, the Crafts Council listed shop and the continuing activities of the Friends of Charleston (who are now 1,400 strong).
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Collections description
Charleston is the only surviving complete example of the decorative work of Bell and Grant, with walls, doors and furniture painted in their exuberant style. The house shows an evolution in decorative style throughout its different rooms. Initially only Vanessa’s bedroom (now the library), Clive Bell’s study door and window and Duncan’s bedroom were decorated. Later the designs spread throughout the house, including the spare room in 1936 and the garden room in 1945.
Charleston not only houses an impressive collection of art by its inhabitants but also a varied collection of other artist’s work including sculpture by Renoir and Gimond and paintings by Fry, Picasso, Sickert and Derain.
The collection is continually developing - recent acquisitions include Duncan Grant’s ‘Self-Portrait in a Turban’ 1909 purchased with support from The National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund, The National Art Collections Fund and The Pilgrim Trust and Duncan Grant’s copy of Piero della Francesca’s ‘Portrait of Federico da Montefeltro, Duke of Urbino’ 1904/5 (this purchase was the first project to be supported by the Quentin Bell Commemoration Fund founded in 1997). Amongst recent loans are ‘Flowers against Chintz’ by Duncan Grant, 1956, from the Arts Council Collection and a bronze bust of Lytton Strachey by Stephen Tomlin, circa 1930, on loan from the Keatley Trust. The Tate Gallery have lent two pictures to the collection each season since 1993.
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Articles
News In Brief - Week Ending April 1 2007
Brighton Photo Biennial 2006 - A Picture Book Of Britain At Charleston
Britain's Biggest Photo Biennial - Brighton Photo Biennial 2006
Moments of Being: Patti Smith's Photography at Charleston
Charleston Festival Brings Writers To Bloomsbury's Sussex HQ
John Maynard Keynes Back At Charleston After 49 Years
Roll On Springtime! There's Brighton Festival 2005 Fun All Lined Up For May
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Trails
To The Lighthouse And Beyond - A Virginia Woolf And Bloomsbury Trail
Hidden Treasure Trail For The South East
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General Information
Brochure or leaflet available with directions to museum
Pre-booking service for groups
Parking for coaches
Guided tours
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Collections
General guide to collections available
Specialist publications on collections available
Object identification and/or written enquiry service
Public access available to collections information
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Disability Access
Induction loops in exhibition spaces
Parking for disabled available
Toilets for disabled
Wheelchair access to some public areas
Wheelchairs available for loan
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Children and Families
Baby changing facilities
Events and resources for children and families
Gardens open to public
Picnic area
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General Education
Adult lectures and courses held
Education facilities available
Member of staff available with responsibility for education
Reception and lunch facilities for educational groups
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Schools Education
Primary school education service available
Printed/audio-visual information available for schools
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Facilities
Cafeteria
Facilities for private functions and events
Gardens open to public
Mail order service available
Meeting room available
Picnic area
Refreshments
Research facilities for academics
Shop
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Copyright © 24 Hour Museum
Information published here was believed to be correct at the time it was prepared. Welsh language pages developed with CYMAL: Museums Archives and Libraries Wales, funded by the Welsh Assembly Government.
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