Latest news with #ArtsandCrafts
Irish Independent
05-06-2025
- General
- Irish Independent
Diarmuid Gavin: The Waterford gardener who became one of the 19th century's most influential horticulturalists
William Robinson, who rose from humble beginnings, transformed the way we think about gardens and reshaped the English landscape In the quiet countryside near Kilmeaden, Co Waterford, a boy was born in 1838 who would go on to transform the way the world thought about gardens. William Robinson was not born to privilege, and yet he became one of the most influential horticulturists in history — an Irishman who reshaped the English landscape, one perennial at a time. Robinson's early life was rooted in toil. As a teenager, he worked as a garden boy at Curraghmore, the grand estate of the Marquess of Waterford. From dawn to dusk, he maintained the elaborate, high-maintenance plantings that were the height of Victorian fashion — exotic hothouse flowers, regimented bedding schemes and manicured formality. But even then, he felt something was wrong. Nature, as he saw it, wasn't meant to be clipped into submission. By his early twenties, Robinson had risen to manage the hothouses at Ballykilcavan in Co Laois. Then came the rupture. According to one enduring story, he stormed out after a row with his employers and left the hothouse fires to die overnight — killing an entire collection of delicate tropical plants. Whether fact or folklore, the tale hints at the fierce independence that would define his career. He sailed for London and by 1861 had secured a post at the Royal Botanic Society's gardens in Regent's Park. There, surrounded by the spectacle of Empire and the extremes of Victorian horticulture, Robinson's vision sharpened. He hated what he saw: endless rows of red salvias, blue lobelias and elaborate carpet bedding — all costly, artificial and ephemeral. Gardening, he believed, had lost its soul. So, he picked up his pen and began to fight back. Robinson started writing for The Gardeners' Chronicle, and then began publishing books with force and flair. In 1870, he released The Wild Garden, a revolutionary manifesto calling for a new kind of planting, one that embraced native and naturalised plants, hardy perennials, wildflowers and the beauty of ecological balance. Let daffodils spread in meadows, he said. Let ferns and foxgloves flourish in dappled woods. Three years later, he launched The Garden, a weekly magazine that became his mouthpiece for the next 40 years. It wasn't just a gardening journal — it was a battlefield. Robinson used its pages to champion fellow naturalists, challenge powerful institutions like the Royal Horticultural Society and skewer his rivals. He was sharp-tongued and opinionated, but his ideas were catching on. One of his most fruitful alliances was with Gertrude Jekyll, a painter-turned-gardener with an eye for colour and form. Robinson supported her when others dismissed her as too feminine or whimsical. Together, they shaped the Arts and Crafts movement in gardening, a gentler, more human vision of landscape. Robinson's writing reached a crescendo in 1883 with the publication of The English Flower Garden. It became one of the best-selling gardening books of all time. Structured as an encyclopaedia of plants suitable for different garden types, it was also a deeply passionate call for change. He urged gardeners to abandon labour-intensive, seasonal planting and embrace resilient, long-lived and ecologically harmonious gardens. In effect, he gave ordinary people permission to garden with freedom and instinct. Flush with success, he bought Gravetye Manor in Sussex in 1884, a semi-ruined Elizabethan house with more than 1,000 acres. There, Robinson planted wild bulbs by the thousand, created orchard meadows, and filled his borders with drifting perennials. He lived there until his death in 1935 at the age of 96. He had no children, but his ideas survived him. Today, Robinson's legacy is everywhere — in modern naturalistic planting, in the return to meadows and no-mow lawns, in the rise of pollinator gardens and climate-conscious design. Designers like Piet Oudolf, Beth Chatto and Dan Pearson all walk in his footsteps. Even the Royal Horticultural Society, once a target of his ire, honoured him by renaming their journal The Garden in 1975. For Robinson — this feisty, self-taught gardener from Co Waterford — had redefined the English garden. So if you ever feel the urge to stop pruning and simply let things grow, you're not being lazy. You're doing what William Robinson did — trusting the land and letting the wild back in. Plant of the week Allium Ornamental onions are very cheerful plants that pop up their perfectly spherical heads in May and June. 'Purple Sensation' is a reliable choice with a rich colour. For something more dramatic, try 'Globemaster' which has giant lilac heads. If you prefer white, 'Mount Everest' is a good performer. My own favourite is 'Christophii', star of Persia, a globe of beautiful starry violet flowers with almost a metallic hint to them. Plant in autumn in a sunny spot in fertile well drained soil or add some grit to heavy clay soil. Reader Q&A Can you grow wisteria from seed? I have a wisteria which produced lots of seed pods last year and was hoping to grow some more but nothing happened. There's a much easier way to propagate wisteria — it's called layering. You do this by bending a long pliable stem that will reach the ground. Where the stem touches the ground, gently wound the stem by rubbing with a knife and now bury this part in the soil — if necessary, use a bit of wire bent to keep it in place. This will form its own root system while still attached to the mother plant. Next spring, you will be able to dig it up as a separate plant and pot up or plant elsewhere.
Scotsman
30-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Scotsman
Inside the charming and immaculate East Lothian home that's on sale for offers over £1m
As far as romance goes, it's hard to top an Arts and Crafts property. It's something to do with the red clay tiled roofs, the asymmetry, and the sense of light and space inside. Kittlestane in Longniddry is a good case in point. This beautiful five bedroom and three bathroom house has just come on the market through Coulter's estate agent at offers over £1m. We asked the current resident, Stephanie Wason, who owns the property with her husband Sam Wason, to tell us more about the beautiful family home that they share with their three children. Tell us about the building It was built in the Thirties during the Arts and Crafts era. It's got loads of beautiful windows that flood the house with light, and we especially love the original octagonal windows that are in the family room, as well as the downstairs WC and the master bedroom – all echoing the shape of the turret and the main bedroom. These features give the house so much charm and character. The décor is very clean and neutral – is that your preferred style? I love clean, neutral, modern interiors that complement the original features and essence of this house. It actually took a couple of goes to get it right – a great month for the painters! –because I originally tried to replicate the style we had in our Morningside townhouse, but it didn't suit this coastal, slightly more dramatic house. It's a balance to complement the original building with my style and practical modern family life. Now, it feels just right. Tell us about the lovely pastel bathroom – how did you come up with the idea? I fell in love with the Cole & Son Nuvolette wallpaper with clouds on it, so I took it into a bathroom showroom, where I spotted the perfect pink basin. It came together from there. The room has underfloor heating too, so it's as cosy as it is pretty, and the hexagonal tiling is a nod to the quirky windows. Which is your favourite room? Our main living room. It strikes the balance I love – clean and modern but with traditional tones. The glass doors opening out onto the garden are amazing most of the year, and when it's not quite warm enough, we light the huge fire. I painted the fireplace and beams in a very pale Kensington Rose (by Mylands) – it's nearly white with a subtle pink undertone. It's such a fresh combination with the contrast of our navy Long Island sofa (from honestly the comfiest sofa we've ever had. It's my favourite room because it's where we spend the most time as a family and we have so many lovely memories of being in there.. What have been your happiest times in the house? There've been loads – BBQs and garden parties with friends and family, of course – but some of the best times have just been us five enjoying the house together. The kids play for hours in the garden – there's always something to discover – and the house is great for everyone doing their own thing but then coming back together. We love weekends with no plans, just enjoying the space and the garden and gin and tonics in the sun once the kids have gone to bed. Tell us more about the garden – are there any plants or trees that really thrive? We inherited an absolutely beautiful garden. The previous owner was a brilliant gardener and put so much thought into it. Throughout the year, something's always in bloom – from rhododendrons and roses to hostas, and we've got some amazing trees, including a quaking aspen, Japanese acer, cedar tree and fruit trees: plum, pear and apple. I love cutting flowers from the garden to make posies – my youngest called them 'Kittlestane buffets' when he was wee and couldn't say bouquets, so that name has stuck, We've added a greenhouse and raised beds where we grow fruit and veg. The kids are really into the project and there's something so rewarding about eating food you've grown yourself. What's it like living in Longniddry? Any favourite restaurants, shops or things to do? It's brilliant – I honestly wish we weren't leaving. The community is amazing. We were welcomed straight away and it's felt like home ever since. We're at the beach constantly; the kids love it, and we've had some brilliant BBQs there with friends while they run wild. I love a bit of cold water swimming (well, dunking!). We live on a golf course, which my husband is very happy about. The girls love Foxlake for wakeboarding and surfing, and my son's always off playing rugby, football or tennis – the courts are just a minute's walk from the house. The new development in Longniddry village is bringing even more amenities, like a Margiotta with Waitrose stock, a gym, yoga and massage studio, and a new café. Our go-to restaurant is The Leddie in Aberlady, which we can walk or cycle to, and we've got high hopes for the new owners of the Longniddry Inn. I really think Longniddry is the best place to live in East Lothian – it's just 18 minutes by train into Edinburgh, but you get peace, community, and the beach – all without the crowds you get in the more touristy spots. It's still a private, calm, and genuinely special place to live. For more information on the property, see 1 . The living space with dual aspect views Contributed Photo: Contributed Photo Sales
Vancouver Sun
28-05-2025
- General
- Vancouver Sun
Vancouver Heritage Foundation's city tour showcases Kitsilano
This year, Vancouver Heritage Foundation's Heritage Discovery Day focuses on Kitsilano. There are nine neighbourhood sites on the tour, including seven houses and two community sites. 'It's a really important time for us to clarify what we mean by 'heritage,'' says Laura Carey, executive director of the foundation. 'It's all of the people, places, events and stories that have made Vancouver what it is today. Heritage was created by everyone and it belongs to everyone. So we want to show more than one perspective on heritage and to move beyond the colonial idea that only buildings constitute heritage.' The community sites are City Farmer on Maple St. and the Hastings Mill Store on Alma St. Stay on top of the latest real estate news and home design trends. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Westcoast Homes will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Created in 1978, City Farmer is an urban farm that follows the railway tracks along the Arbutus corridor. 'I believe that the site was the precursor to the Arbutus Greenway,' Carey says. 'City Farmer created a vision of what could be four decades before the city could see that vision.' Built in 1865, Hastings Mills Store is the oldest building still standing in Vancouver and even predates the incorporation of the city. 'It survived the Great Vancouver Fire in 1886, which is incredible, and then it was barged in 1930 over to Alma, where it stands today,' says Carey. Many of the homes on the tour are in the Craftsman, or Arts and Crafts, style. 'It was a popular choice of builders during the 1910 to 1912 boom period,' Carey says. Vancouver Heritage Foundation began conducting heritage tours in 2003. Until 2023, the tours were citywide. In 2023 the foundation began focusing on neighbourhoods, first with Strathcona and then, last year, with three: Arbutus Ridge, Kerrisdale, and Marpole. Carey says the tours attract approximately 600 heritage hounds, along with over 120 volunteers. This year's tour takes place June 7 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are $50 each and on sale until June 5 at .
South Wales Argus
28-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- South Wales Argus
Newport home with heated pool up for sale for £900,000
According to Mr and Mrs Clarke estate agents, the detached house in Glasllwch Crescent is a "true embodiment of sophisticated living in Newport's most prestigious suburb." The property, set on a two-acre plot, includes four reception rooms, a library, a newly fitted cloakroom, a utility room, and a butler's pantry. The kitchen features bespoke fittings, a central island, and state-of-the-art appliances. The drawing room showcases original flooring and an Arts and Crafts inglenook fireplace. The house also includes a heated outdoor pool, an orchard, and a 1.5-acre open field. (Image: Zoopla) (Image: Zoopla) (Image: Zoopla) (Image: Zoopla) The upstairs is accessed by an original staircase, framed by a stained glass window. The home includes six bedrooms, one of which has a Jack and Jill bathroom, while the principal suite has an en-suite and walk-in wardrobe. A notable feature is the pool room, complete with hanging and shower facilities. The property also includes a double garage, with potential for further development. The estate agents said the home offers a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own a piece of Newport's architectural heritage." To arrange a viewing, call 0330 038 9981.
Times
04-05-2025
- Times
This is the easiest way to see the islands of the southern Hebrides
I hadn't realised that we'd joined the ranks of the super-rich until we stepped ashore for the first time. The Glen Rosa had set out from Oban on a sparkling Saturday afternoon to cruise southwards across a silvery sea hemmed in by hazy shoulders of land. On deck to spot whales and dolphins, we ended up watching the swirling and dimpling of the tide as it barged between the islands of Lunga and Luing, taking us with it. Then the skipper, Jem Greaves, did the nautical equivalent of a handbrake turn and headed nor'nor'east to where Argyll and Bute waggles its long, bony fingers in the Atlantic. On our port bow we passed the private island of Shuna, owned by Viscount Selby, followed by the remote but lavish Kilchoan estate, where the Chilean multimillionaire Nicolás Ibáñez Scott had his helicopter parked on the lawn. After this we 'dropped the hook' — that's anchoring to you landlubbers — in Loch Melfort, where the water came to an end in a forested natural amphitheatre filled with birdsong. Chef Damien conjured up a venison tagliatelle, and the rest of the evening was lost in a gentle haze of wine, sunset and the rocking of the Glen Rosa, with the enticing prospect of a late show from the northern lights. It was next morning that we stepped ashore off Glen Rosa's tender into an armpit-shaped stretch of land at the head of the loch and wandered up to where Melfort House — pink-walled in Arts and Crafts style — and the adjacent Melfort Village were secreted among the trees. At the Village welcome desk — the estate cottages have been turned into an upmarket retreat with swimming pool and tennis courts — the receptionist became very effusive when she realised we were 'off that boat in the bay'. 'Here's my card,' she said, offering to open the restaurant in a minute or two if we cared to wait. I can only surmise that she thought that we were the Glen Rosa's owners; possibly oligarchs looking to add to our assets. That was fine by me. I regularly count myself among the super-rich — albeit in experience rather than in cash. • Read our full travel guide to Scotland here I also know what I like and until now I've shied away from mainstream cruising. But this kind of small-boat cruising, inveigling ourselves into narrow inlets and shallow bays unannounced and (virtually) unnoticed, in a part of the world that has always felt like a spiritual home, struck me as a very different proposition. The Majestic Line, based out of Oban, operates four tiny ships, the largest of which carries just 12 passengers. Most of the fleet tends to head for the northern Hebrides, particularly to the Isle of Skye. But my mother is from there, so I know Skye well, which is why I opted to drop south on a lesser-known 'Southern Hebrides and Sea Lochs of Argyll' itinerary to explore the lands of the lairds and their ladies, along with a personal chef, my wife and a handful of like-minded others. After that first overnight in Melfort, Greaves turned our bows south again with the glad tidings that the overnight swarm of jellyfish 'hasn't been sucked into the generator inlet, so all's well'. There would be coffee. Almost every peninsula in Argyll seems to be castle-defended and Duntrune, opposite Crinan where the canal of the same name begins, is no exception. The partly 12th-century tower stands high and austere on a rock supervising the bay, still privately owned and supposedly haunted by a ghost of a handless bagpiper. • 14 of the most beautiful places in Scotland We saw no ghosts, but there was definitely a presence in the abundant castle gardens, reached through a couple of stag-topped gateposts and announced by a sign saying 'You found us! Well done!' The invisible hand had also secreted figures of naked satyrs and nymphs among the azaleas, bronze buttocks among the floribunda. Returning to the rock below the castle, we fell into conversation with Jim, a local fisherman. 'Off that boat?' He asked. 'And you have a chef?' We acknowledged we did and when Damien came to pick us up with the tender, Jim dug into his bag and produced a fresh sea trout, which became that evening's appetiser. • I love Scotland more than anywhere else. These are my 25 top stays From Crinan we moved across to the island of Jura, a famously trackless wilderness where George Orwell wrote Nineteen Eighty-Four whose tattered rags of green make a poor attempt to hide naked bog and rock. This is one of the least populated places in the UK, and so savage were the various Jura clans that there was a human skull guarding the entry of one of its caves well into the 20th century. The sea was rough that night, so Greaves moved Glen Rosa to an anchorage on Jura's Loch Tarbert, opposite the remote lodge at Glen Batrick, where the former prime minister David Cameron used to take his holidays as a guest of Lord Astor, the owner of much of the island. • Read our full guide to cruises After Jura, the next stop was its posher, more fertile neighbour, Colonsay. This is Baron Strathcona's demesne and the island shop was well stocked with fine wines. It was a Tuesday, so we were told that the gardens of Colonsay House were open to the public and the family were away. We did, however, bump into the baron's nephew's elegant Australian fiancée, weeding the vegetable patch in the rain. It looked like the Macleans of Lochbuie were away, too, because there were no lights on in their baronial property when we arrived offshore that night after crossing the Sound of Mull. In the morning we landed on Lochbuie's unblemished beach, where the Maclean mausoleum stood on a small knoll surrounded by trees. Inside, inscriptions honoured a long line of military men and 'distinguished country gentlemen'. Our last stop before heading back to Oban was Iona, run by the National Trust, but whose metaphysical laird is (in some people's eyes) the ultimate aristocrat. The island is a little green chip off Mull's southwestern corner, a place of pilgrimage ever since Saint Columba sailed over from Ireland in 563 and founded a monastery that would become a key hub in the spread of Christianity. That day was one of those perfect moments when the Hebrides impersonates the Caribbean. We joined the flood of pedestrians coming off the Mull ferry, wove our way through all the temptations of tartans and woollens, coffee and cake, did the obligatory tour of the (admirable) abbey church and its cloisters, and then decided enough was enough, and walked away from the pilgrim crowds. Iona's northern tip is springy machair — wildflower-rich grassland — lined with white sand. Here Traigh Bhan Nam Monach (White Strand of the Monks) is one of those places with aquamarine water so inviting you just have to strip off. Except, I confess, I am a cold-water wuss — and somebody had to hold my wife's towel. Frankly, it was exhilarating enough just to be there, soaking oneself spiritually in the Sound of Iona, its topaz waters flecked by divebombing gannets. On days like these, the Scottish islands can be heaven on earth, and not just the domain of saints and Eames was a guest of The Majestic Line, which has a full board, six-night Southern Hebrides and the Sea Lochs of Argyll cruise on the 11-passenger Glen Massan from £2,995pp, departing from Oban on June 21 and including wine with dinner ( Fly or take the train to Glasgow
