{sissinghurst}

Last weekend I visited Sissinghurst Castle with my cousins, to celebrate my cousin's birthday. It has loads of history, but it was the likes of Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicholson who made it what it is today. They bought it derelict and in need of lots of love, and turned it into a mini-village where they lived with their family. Each property on the grounds serving different functions from Vita's study in the tower, to the kitchen occupying another area, to the living room/library in an old barn, to the oast houses which stand proudly...
Their love of gardens also means that the grounds are simply stunning to wander. It was rose season, but I'm sure at any time of year, it's a stunning spot.

{oast houses}

{part of the old castle}

{the tower (where Vita's study is)}

{Vita's study}

{library}

{library with portrait of Vita peering out}

 The tower is closed when there is bad weather, particularly lightening. We were lucky, as we climbed up right before we were told we had to head down...& it remained closed for the rest of the day. Stunning views!

{views from the tower}

 The gardens are simply delightful to wander in...

{Harold Nicholson's study--that's a view to inspire!}

From the house there is a beautiful countryside walk... we managed to time it perfectly, as the sun shone right when we began our walk!

xo,
L

{Jane Eyre}

{via pinterest with no original source}

{via steamed}

I'm teaching Jane Eyre in my Humanities class this semester. It's a great novel for students to read to elucidate social and gender relations in Victorian England... and we're also looking at it in relation to Neo-gothic architecture and medievalism (Ruskin, Horace Walpole & Strawberry Hill etc...)
I'm always struck by the dramatic weather and landscape as backdrop to the unfolding plot (although so very typical and apt for a gothic novel).
It always reminds me of visits to Yorkshire. One of my very good friends, Sylvie, has been living in Leeds & I've visited  her plenty in the last few years (check out blogs here & here).
We never made it to Brontë country proper, but we did visit nearby areas of Harrogate etc...:

{Yorkshire greens}

{Leeds Arcades}

{Yorkshire mists}

The various movie renditions of the novel have provided further visuals:

{via d*s}

{via enchanted serendipity}

{via hooked on houses}

{gorgeous orange walls lined with portraits from apartment therapy}

{via eternity of dream}

{source}

{source}

{source}

{Hardon Hall  as Thornfield via hooked on houses}

inspiration:

{design*sponge}

{19th c furniture via clark classical}

{via vintage girl}

{gorgeous photography by Ella K Sverdlov on Etsy}

{fantastic wall paper by zoffany}

{valdirose photography}

{pinterest via 5qm.de}

{via Ruche}

{photography from valdirose}

{from how to be fancy}

{Liberty of London swatch portraits from purlbee}

If you haven't picked up the book in a while, you must do a re-read!
xo
L