Scotney Castle a watercolor surprise

The ever popular Scotney Castle hadn't disappeared when I arrived. In fact it has a new entrance with toilets, cafe and shop. I decided that a visit to the house was a good idea and so with my ticket in hand I headed for the doorway. If there is one thing that makes National Trust properties stand out above the rest it is the work the volunteers put in to your visit and again I was pleased to have the attention of some knowledgeable people to discuss the history of the house and family. I admire their patience and their dedication and each time I visit a NT House I learn a little extra snippet.

The NT has had the 192hectare estate since 1970 left in his will by Christopher Hussey and the grounds were opened to the public. Betty, his wife lived on until 2006 when she died at the ripe old age of 99. The house was always a hive of activity and when the visitor pokes his or her nose into the place there is evidence enough in the atmosphere of the place alone which has a lived in feel to it. Thanks to the NT we have the place for our heritage.



The house itself is a Victorian building made from sandstone quarried from the grounds and the quarry is now an attractive garden and one of the features of Scotney. The house is interesting and it is good to know that NT are intending to gradually extend visitor access. Being a bookworm I was astonished when I saw the library containing some 3500 books many of which I would love to read. But that was not what took me by surprise. On the walls of the servant's passage hang watercolors painted by the lady of the house on the finest rag watercolor paper which are worth the visit alone. The bold use of color - not a heavy hand - and a positive composition that are depicted in the paintings not only make me want to go back and look at them again but makes my small efforts seem pathetic by comparison. They are an inspiration. Go and see them.


The emphasis as far as artists are concerned seems to be the castle itself and inside the house there are a number of watercolors painted of the place. It is a truly mysterious building and as we see it is also very photogenic.
Which from the picture of the castle above you can see why visitors like to come. In contrast a view across the trees gives the castle a menacing, deserted look.


However, on the cusp of Autumn it was a treat to visit the place on a warm late September Saturday. The castle has that fairy-tale look that could inspire all sorts of soppy stories from Prince and Princess tales to the setting for a Mills and Boon or even a story of Medieval Chivalry. Maybe the Medieval Chivalry is the right choice but I will leave that up to your imagination as mine tends to wander into the realms of Elves and Hobbits, seeing Dragons and Maidens.


I think the attraction is watching the changes and trying to capture the castle in a seasonal mood. The end of summer when it certain that autumn is almost upon us is one of those peaceful times that is pleasant to comfortably walk in and offers up some wonderful opportunities for photographs.

From the glimpse (an earlier picture) of the castle ruins to the wonderful early autumn color of the creepers on the walls to the crisp sunlight reflecting the castle in the water we see Scotney at its best. Truly the spring and full autumn are the favorite times but this day I can see, as an artist, that the castle itself can spring upon me a watercolor surprise.

Note that there is a hornet's nest in the giant redwood tree so please don't annoy them. Now that was another surprise.