By Abi
As part of the preparations leading up to the exhibition, the Curatorial Team and volunteers visited Barn Close at the end of August. Being one of the volunteers, I was delighted to be given the opportunity to revisit the ‘Grand Dame’ of Well Lane, spending the morning exploring the house and spacious grounds, soaking in its atmosphere and appreciating the overall vision of the property set in its magnificent grounds. Over the years, I had previously visited Barn Close on many occasions as a local GP tending to the medical needs of the residents while it functioned as a care home. While being guided through the building to reach a resident, I would see tantalising glimpses of surviving original décor and elegant architectural design features but never had an opportunity to stop and take time to appreciate the property in its entirety. So, the inspirational visit to Barn Close this August was a rare chance to absorb the grand scale of both the house and gardens.
Understandably, to meet the needs of the residents, some of the internal arrangement of rooms had been altered in order to function as a care home. However, it was heartening to see that the principal lounges and master bedrooms hadn’t been subdivided, retaining some of their key décor features such as De Morgan tiled fireplaces, oak panelling, ornate plaster ceilings and fitted bookcases. Despite its large scale, you could really get a feel that this house would have been a welcoming and comfortable home when it was occupied by the Scott-Nicholson family and made especially elegant with the unique bespoke art works and furnishings Maud and Edwin commissioned.
Despite its age and being unoccupied, the main body of the building is in remarkably good condition. It is testimony to the high-quality materials that were used in its construction, plus to Cumberland Council’s commendable regular maintenance of the property. An unenviable task for sure. Of particular note is the impressively complex Buttermere green slate roof and lead flashing work. That in itself is a spectacular work of art for anyone interested in traditional slate roofing. Additionally, the monumental stone surround to the courtyard studded oak door entrance looks as crisp today as I’m sure it did when first built. Making a powerful first statement to any visitor, hinting at the promise of more design grandeur within the home and gardens. It also must be acknowledged that Cumberland Council are doing an admirable job of maintaining the property and grounds to ensure it doesn’t degrade beyond repair.
Although the grounds are now empty of their original herbaceous borders and specimen planting scheme, it is clear no expense was spared in landscaping the plot to mirror the vision and proportions of the house. The gardens were divided into generously sized ‘rooms’ reflecting the style of the time and making the most of its south facing elevated position overlooking Rickerby Park. You can see some of the ‘rooms’ would have functioned as socialising spaces and some smaller areas for quiet moments and contemplation of the view. Sadly, the kitchen garden no longer exists, making way for the modern accommodation block and car park during its care home phase. However, you can get a grasp of how much produce would have been generated there by the sheer size of the plot the extension sits in. In its day, the kitchen garden must have been easily capable of feeding the whole family and employed staff. What a luxury to have such a garden!
My visit to Barn Close was a wonderful privilege I shall remember for years to come. It brought to mind vivid images of how Barn Close would have looked in its full ‘dressed’ glory. When its architectural elegance would have been complimented by the luxurious Arts and Crafts décor, the furnishings, the repousse metal work and not forgetting the spectacular personal items of atelier-created jewellery and clothes the family would have worn. It was, however, tinged with a little sadness to see how the house is currently not ‘living and breathing’, but existing in a curated stasis, waiting for its next chapter to evolve. I am hopeful that Barn Close will become a glorious place again one day in the future. In the meantime, it is being well cared for so that it will survive into the future, awaiting new possibilities.
