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48-549: Brantwood is a historic house museum in Cumbria , England, overlooking Coniston Water . It has been the home of a number of prominent people. The house and grounds are administered by a charitable trust , the house being a museum dedicated to John Ruskin , one of its final owners. Brantwood is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building , and buildings in

96-454: A "memory museum", which is a term used to suggest that the museum contains a collection of the traces of memory of the people who once lived there. It is often made up of the inhabitants' belongings and objects – this approach is mostly concerned with authenticity . Some museums are organised around the person who lived there or the social role the house had. Other historic house museums may be partially or completely reconstructed in order to tell

144-669: A collection consistent with the historical structure. Some museums choose to collect pieces original to the period, while not original to the house. Others, fill the home with replicas of the original pieces, reconstructed with the help of historic records. Still other museums adopt a more aesthetic approach and use the homes to display the architecture and artistic objects. Because historic homes have often existed through different generations and have been passed on from one family to another, volunteers and professionals also must decide which historical narrative to tell their visitors. Some museums grapple with this issue by displaying different eras in

192-564: A different subject was covered, namely Art, Literature and Sociology. His evening assistant when he was absent was a Richard Hosken who had been a former student. When he was in residence, Ruskin filled the house with art, including paintings by Gainsborough , Turner and the Pre-Raphaelites and a collection of minerals , pottery and sea-shells . Ruskin was joined in the house by Arthur Severn, an artist married to Joan Agnew, his cousin and their growing family. A frequent visitor to

240-500: A number of owners, the estate and house were enlarged around 1833. In the middle of the 19th century the resident was Josiah Hudson, father of Charles Hudson who was an Anglican priest and an early mountaineer . In 1852 the resident was the Victorian wood engraver , poet , artist , book illustrator and social reformer William James Linton who bought the house the following year. Between 1858 and 1864, while Linton

288-486: A professor of history and political science, further adds to social history and its relationship to locations by saying – Following this historical movement, the concept of " open-air museums " became prominent. These particular types of museums had interpreters in costume re-enact the lives of communities in earlier eras, which would then be performed to modern audiences. They often occupied large wooden architecture buildings or outdoor sites and landscapes, that were true to

336-402: A series of steep and winding paths. After his death, more ornamental shrubs and trees were planted. The area then became overgrown until it was rediscovered in the 1980s and it has been much restored since. The estate covers around 250 acres (1.0 km) and includes lakeshore, pasture , oak woods, and moorland . Historic house museum Historic house museums are sometimes known as

384-644: A successful movement to have Brantwood made into a museum. The house was saved for the nation by John Howard Whitehouse, founder of Bembridge School and of the Birmingham Ruskin Society, who bought the house. He established the Brantwood Trust , a registered charity , in 1951 to care for the property for posterity. The house is listed at Grade II*. The following rooms are open to the public. The drawing room still includes Ruskin's secretaire , bookcase and shell-cabinet. The wallpaper

432-465: A trip to Venice. One such trip was to Oslo to meet the explorer Fridtjof Nansen , and another was to Rome to meet Benito Mussolini , who the Bembridge students presented with paintings by John Ruskin. When war broke out, each school-house was equipped with an air-raid shelter, and the school beach was laid with barbed wire. The Royal Artillery were present on Culver Down. In summer 1940, the school

480-400: A year, more than fifty percent of historic house museums received fewer than 5,000 visitors per year. These museums are also unique in that the actual structure belongs to the museum collection as a historical object. While some historic home museums are fortunate to possess a collection containing many of the original furnishings once present in the home, many face the challenge of displaying

528-523: Is a copy of Ruskin's design and his drawing of the north porch of St. Mark's, Venice , hangs above the shell-cabinet. Next door is the study where Ruskin worked which contains a painting by Samuel Prout . The dining room , built in 1878, has views over to the Coniston mountains through its seven lancet windows . It contains a portrait of Ruskin aged 3 painted by James Northcote . The old dining room contains some early drawings by Ruskin. Upstairs in

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576-455: Is likely he may have had some prior knowledge of the property. Before Ruskin came to Brantwood in the following year, he arranged for repairs to the house, the addition of a turret , the building of a lodge for his valet and his family and for improvements to the garden. For a short time during his stay at Brantwood, Ruskin held tutorial sessions, what would be called today as teaching seminars. These were held three times each week and each day

624-551: Is not only associated with the individual but is a shared experience. It also focused on the way individual memory is influenced by social structures, as a way of continuing socialisation by producing memory as collective experience. An example of a site that utilizes collective memory is the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park in Japan. It was restored and is based on the dialectics of memory, however it also has

672-667: Is now housed in the Ruskin Library at the University of Lancaster . Shortly after the school's 75th anniversary, the Education Trust announced their intention to sell the school, whilst retaining possession of the Ruskin collection. Bembridge school was founded in 1919 by John Howard Whitehouse , whose ideas were strongly influenced by the 19th-century art critic and writer John Ruskin . Beginning with five pupils,

720-456: Is now run at Bembridge School site. The school's Ruskin collection is now housed at Lancaster University. Old House is the only building on the current site to predate the school. Originally known as The Old School House, it came into Whitehouse's possession in 1914 and formed the centre of the development of the early school. The building was extended in 1921 to make space for dining facilities, and balconies were constructed in 1932 and 1934. As

768-551: The 1970s and 1980s, as the Revolutionary War's bicentennial set off a wave of patriotism and alerted Americans to the destruction of their physical heritage. The tradition of restoring homes of the past and designating them as museums draws on the English custom of preserving ancient buildings and monuments. Initially homes were considered worthy of saving because of their associations with important individuals, usually of

816-583: The Christmas term. The last house to be built at Bembridge, it has three floors and was built in the school's trademark red brick, overlooking the junior cricket pitches on its northern side and McIver's house to the South. The house and dormitories were refurbished in 1989, and the Nansen Wing (or Sixth Form centre) was added to the east side of the house, looking across the new Junior School quadrangle and

864-585: The Ruskin Galleries in 1930. Junior House (the "Big Room" and Nansen Dorm) was built in 1929. In 1933 work began on the chapel, and the first service was held in Spring 1934. The refectory and library were completed in 1938. By the outbreak of war the school's appearance was similar to the present day. During the early years of the school, students were encouraged to participate in annual trips to Europe known as "School Journeys", which started in 1924 with

912-521: The Stedman Sports Hall and additions to the preparatory school and the formation of a pre-prep. The grounds contained three cricket pitches, a nine-hole golf course, two football/rugby pitches, tennis courts and a hockey pitch. Pupils were also able to go swimming in the sea, and practice shooting and climbing at the cliffs at Whitecliff Bay. In 1994, Bembridge School celebrated its 75th anniversary celebrations. Nine months later, just before

960-607: The War Memorial to Old Bembridgians who died in the Second World War. On the exterior of the building is a stone plaque set into the brickwork, while in the Chapel itself is a wooden plaque. Over the Chapel door is a sculpture representing St George and the dragon. The school continued to grow into the 1990s, adding several new facilities over the next few decades including Kilgerran House, a music block, squash courts,

1008-579: The death of Ruskin in 1900, the house and estate were inherited by the Severn family. In Ruskin's will , the wish was expressed that the house should be open for 30 days a year for visitors to see his house and collection. However, the Severns did not honour this intention and they sold many of the better pictures. After the death of Arthur Severn in 1931, the remaining contents of the house were sold by auction. Emily Warren , John Ruskin's last pupil, instigated

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1056-403: The elite classes, like former presidents, authors, or businessmen. Increasingly, Americans have fought to preserve structures characteristic of a more typical American past that represents the lives of everyday people. Historic house museums usually operate with small staffs and on limited budgets. Many are run entirely by volunteers and often do not meet the professional standards established by

1104-420: The era, adding to authenticity. Collective memory is sometimes used in the resurrection of historic house museums; however, not all historic house museums use this approach. The notion of collective memory originated from philosopher and sociologist Maurice Halbwachs , in "La Memoire Collective" ("On Collective Memory", 1950). This extended thesis examines the role of people and place, and how collective memory

1152-506: The grounds are also listed. Brant is an old Norse word meaning "steep" and the house and grounds are situated on a steep wooded area overlooking the lake. Before the house was built the site was regarded as an "essential viewing point" for early visitors to the Lake District in the 18th century. The original house was built at the end of the 18th century by Thomas Woodville and consisted of between 6 and 8 rooms. After

1200-530: The home's history within different rooms or sections of the structure. Others choose one particular narrative, usually the one deemed most historically significant, and restore the home to that particular period. There are a number of organizations around the world that dedicate themselves to the preservation, restoration, or promotion of historic house museums. They include: Bembridge School 50°41′06″N 1°04′19″W  /  50.685°N 1.072°W  / 50.685; -1.072 Bembridge School

1248-417: The house was William Gershom Collingwood , painter, archaeologist and translator of Nordic sagas who lived nearby. In 1878, a new dining room was built at the south end of the house. A second storey was added around 1890 to provide additional rooms for the Severn family and a studio was built at the rear of the house for the use of Arthur Severn. During this time the estate was also extended. Following

1296-446: The inclusion of joyous festivals to mask the turmoil. The Hiroshima Traces (1999) text takes a look at the importance of collective memory and how it is embedded in culture and place. Thus, collective memory does not only reside in a house or building, but it also resonates in outdoor space – particularly when a monumental event has occurred, such as war. Problematic creation of collective memory occurs within historic house museums when

1344-553: The museum industry. An independent survey conducted by Peggy Coats in 1990 revealed that sixty-five percent of historic house museums did not have a full-time staff, and 19 to 27 percent of historic homes employed only one full-time employee. Furthermore, the majority of these museums operated on less than $ 50,000 annually. The survey also revealed a significant disparity in the number of visitors between local house museums and national sites. While museums like Mount Vernon and Colonial Williamsburg were visited by over one million tourists

1392-403: The narrative of all people who lived there is dangerous. While some plantation museum narratives have changed following an outcry from the public and the academy, "plantation museums reflect, create, and contribute to racialized ways of understanding and organizing the world" by limiting or eliminating the narrative of the enslaved inhabitants. A degree of authenticity is also to be considered in

1440-554: The narrative of non-family members is dismissed, ignored, or completely rejected. Within the Southern United States, plantation museums (the former homes of enslavers) constitute a significant portion of the museum community and contribute to the racialized collective memory of the United States. Because museums are responsible for "the building of identity, cultural memory and community", neglecting to include

1488-523: The position in 1954 and served until his death in 1963, to be followed by Liberal politician Rhys Lloyd . The Old Bembridgian Association was founded in 1923. The president is Sandy Rogers, and the honorary secretary is Christopher Holder. Notable Old Bembridgians include Dingle Foot MP (former Solicitor General), John Foot (parliamentarian), John Brandon-Jones (architect), Robin Day (broadcaster), Michael Relph (film maker), Barry Field (former MP for

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1536-472: The previous inhabitants through an explanation and exploration of social history . The idea of a historic house museum derives from a branch of history called social history that is solely based on people and their way of living. It became very popular in the mid-twentieth century among scholars who were interested in the history of people, as opposed to political and economical issues. Social history remains an influential branch of history. Philip J. Ethington,

1584-468: The public good and the preservation of American history, especially centered on the first U.S. president, General George Washington. Since the establishment of the country's first historic site in 1850, Washington's Revolutionary headquarters in New York, Americans have found a penchant for preserving similar historical structures. The establishment of historic house museums increased in popularity through

1632-578: The refectory. There were four Presidents of Bembridge School from its foundation in 1919. The first President was John Masefield , who was later named Poet Laureate. Masefield was followed by writer and academic William Ralph Inge , known as "The Gloomy Dean". Upon Inge's death the position was given to economist and social reformer William Beveridge , who had known the Warden from their time in Government together and had similar political views. He took

1680-405: The restoration and creation of a historic house museum. The space must be authentic in terms of truly replicating and representing the way it once stood in its original form and appear to be untouched and left in time. There are three steps when declaring if a space is authentic: The earliest projects for preserving historic homes began in the 1850s under the direction of individuals concerned with

1728-619: The school expanded across the site, the Old House was used as the school's main building and administrative centre. The large room to the right of the entrance hall became the Headmaster's Study, and the room to the right the Masters' Common Room. In later years, Old House became the girls' boarding house. In 1928 courtyard house was built in the courtyard alongside Old House as a home for various Housemasters (and later Housemistresses). It

1776-412: The school grew quickly and by summer 1920 there were 42 students, increasing to over 100 by 1924. Whitehouse, known as the Warden, had left Parliament at the height of his career and was thus able to attract pupils from a number of influential parents. This brought much interest from many society figures of the day of Whitehouse's acquaintance, many of whom became involved in the school. Early visitors to

1824-481: The school included John Masefield , Walter de la Mare , Henry Nevinson and Isaac Foot . As the school grew, it expanded from its base in Old House, beginning in 1920 with the building of Culver Cottage, and continuing with the Gymnasium (later known as The Little Theatre) in 1924. The school entered a phase of rapid building work between 1927 and 1939. The Warden's House and New House were finished in 1927, and

1872-445: The school. It was originally a large family home called Southcliffe, and was acquired by the school in 1958 as accommodation for 20 boys under the first Housemaster, Henry Warren. It was renamed to Nansen in 1961, in honour of the explorer who had links to the school, and subsequently underwent a number of extensions. Kilgerran House was opened by Lord Lloyd of Kilgerran, president of the school, in 1981, and first occupied by students in

1920-512: The story of a particular area, social-class or historical period. The " narrative " of the people who lived there guides this approach, and dictates the manner in which it is completed. Another alternative approach, deployed by nonprofit organization House Museum , includes contemporary art integration, where artists are invited to respond to the physical and conceptual history of a site, thus injecting contemporary perspectives and value into historic places. In each kind of museum, visitors learn about

1968-495: The summer term in 1995, the headmaster announced at a regular staff meeting that the school's owners had decided to sell the school. A committee was established, chaired by Dr Peter Randall, to investigate ways to save the school. Meetings were held with a representative of the Trustees and the committee believed it could raise the money to take over the school. However, it was announced that an agreement had already been made to sell

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2016-536: The time of Whitehouse's death. During the Second World War the site was used as a military base by the Army and the school moved to The Waterhead Hotel in Coniston, close to Brantwood, the former home of John Ruskin , which was owned by the school. The school returned to Bembridge in 1945. The school was founded based on the teachings of John Ruskin , and had a large collection of art, books and memorabilia relating to him, including many notable manuscripts. This collection

2064-591: The turret is Ruskin's bedroom. In the grounds are four more listed buildings. The lodge and former stable are listed at Grade II*. Listed at Grade II are the former coach house and stable, another outbuilding, and an ice house . In the Linton Room in the Linton Building, there is a lithophone , called "The Musical Stones", which visitors may play. The garden was used by Ruskin to experiment in various forms of cultivation and drainage and it contains

2112-719: The whole establishment to Ryde School . Ryde School continued to run Bembridge as a separate unit, although the Dyslexia department and the Pre-Prep School were closed, and the Junior school would no longer operate as a separate entity. By the end of the term, many parents had withdrawn their children. Some teaching staff remained, but some took early retirement, and others had to leave the Isle of Wight to find employment. Camp Beaumont , Kingswood Centre, Bembridge Boarding Campus

2160-730: Was a British independent school in Bembridge on the Isle of Wight , founded in 1919 by social reformer and Liberal MP John Howard Whitehouse , set in over 100 acres (0.40 km ) on the easternmost tip of the island. Whitehouse intended for the school, initially for boys only, to challenge the traditional concept of education , introducing subjects including woodwork, American history and modern languages, long before they became mainstream subjects in British schools. The school grew from five students at its opening in 1919, to an enrolment of 264 by

2208-405: Was first occupied by Edward Dawes, Sub-Warden of the school, and most recently by Matron Anne Sutton. New House, with its leaded light windows and sea views, was registered as a Grade II listed building in 1994, and continues to be used by Ryde School, the new owners of Bembridge School. Nansen House was a building outside the school grounds, on Howgate Lane, and was purchased rather than built by

2256-456: Was living in London, the house was let to Gerald Massey , poet and Egyptologist . Linton emigrated with his children to America in 1867. In 1869, George William Kitchin , later Dean of Durham Cathedral , took up residence at Brantwood. In 1871 the house was sold to John Ruskin who it is claimed had never previously seen it. However, Kitchin and Ruskin were friends, having met at Oxford, so it

2304-519: Was relocated, with all its contents, to the Lake District, to Ruskin's former home of Brantwood , previously purchased by Whitehouse, and the nearby Waterhead Hotel. In Spring 1945, the school was derequisitioned by the military, who had been stationed there, and handed back to Whitehouse. The students returned to Bembridge in the Christmas term, though annual excursions to Brantwood continued into peacetime. The School Chapel has two versions of

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