New Arrivals at This Vintage Life...

It's time for new arrivals at This Vintage Life...

Here are just a few items available now. Back soon!

 

Vintage Books: The Caravan Family

If you've been here before you may know of my love of vintage children's books.
I only recently acquired 'The Caravan Family' (last year maybe?) but it is definitely one of my favourites.
I have some pictures of a beautiful vintage caravan to share with you but as these photos were all ready to go I thought I'd post these first to whet your appetite!

The book, by Blackies, is in an annual format and dates to the 1930's. There are 24 beautiful full colour plates by Raymond Sheppard as well as many black and white illustrations.

It's the story of three siblings, Patsy, Tony and Paul, their terrier-cross Colin and of course their parents, Mr & Mrs Reed and their adventures on the open road in a green and cream (what else?!) caravan.

It's a charming story full of the innocence, not only of childhood but also of the era generally when having the use of a car, let alone owning one was a huge, exciting adventure. Those were the days when you could take off with no idea about where you might spend the night, perhaps just stop at the side of a road or ask to pitch up in a farmers field.

It was not called the 'golden age of motoring' for nothing!

What I would give to get my hands on a similar caravan (and car!). And don't you just love the way that standards were maintained, even on a caravanning holiday? It's a tie, trilby and jacket for Dad, a lovely frock and heels for Mother and much the same for the children, because, well, there was no alternative!

It all just makes you yearn for a simpler time, doesn't it?

Health, Wealth & Happiness cont...

I thought I'd scheduled this post but apparently I hadn't so it's a bit longer appearing than I intended. I also deleted the whole thing by mistake and had to do it all over again...ho hum...but anyway, here at last are more pics of lovely Nuffield Place....



The main bathroom has more lovely Poole tiles and another primrose yellow suite, just fab!

 

 

No, Morris wasn't a towel thief! He bought nearby Huntercombe when it got into financial difficulties and enjoyed a regular round.

 

 

 

This green bathroom has a suite and tiles by H. R Johnson.

 

I love white suites but I wouldn't turn down one of these beauties if I was lucky enough to find one!

 

 

Lovely features everywhere...I must say I do think it's great that the NT allow photography in many of their properties now. As long as there is no flash used, I really don't see a problem with it. Others should take note!

 

Lady Nuffield was a keen needlewoman and before her marriage worked in the dressmaking room of what later became Debenhams.



In her sewing room is a fabulous selection of sewing ephemera including embroidered pieces....



...as well as patterns for knitting and dressmaking.

Lady Nuffield made this 'crinoline lady'.

 

Another lovely loo!

 

This double guest bedroom was added in the 1930's.

 

The eight piece suite is walnut.

 

I think I'd be quite happy to be guest in this bedroom.

The final room upstairs (apart from the ubiquitous gift-shop) is full of objects of the period that you can try on...



...handle...

...play with...

...listen to...



...and generally mess around with. Great for helping children understand the period better.

In the stairwell is a large collection of framed Morris Owner magazines. Morris founded the Nuffield Press which produced, amongst other publications, this magazine for Morris owners.

 

We were fascinated with these because we have a small collection ourselves. It is a very slow growing collection as they come in at around an eye-watering £20 each. If you come across any for less than this, please let me know! (note the wartime edition - top right)  

My favourite has to be this one. I'd love an outfit like this but we'd have to swap the car for the 10 or 12 seen here. I'm afraid Mozzie with his little 8hp engine couldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding.

The tea room is called the Coronation Café and although I have to admit that I wasn't enamoured of the food (another work-in-progress I hope) the theme was novel.

It was decorated with Coronation souvenirs naturally... 

...and the food was served on Woods Ware! (there's a little less of it now as the waitress dropped a tray whilst clearing a table, oops!)



 

There's nothing lovelier than a Wisteria in full bloom is there?

The gardens are pleasant, if not extensive and parts are being restored.

I was aware the house wasn't big but still, it is incredibly modest for someone who was once one of the richest men in the world. I suppose that today he'd be termed a billionaire.

Just past the kitchen garden on the way to and from the car park is the garage. I can just imagine Mr Morris, driving home from his office at Cowley, a few miles away and putting the modest 1939 Wolseley 8 away in the garage for the night. He could have driven any model of any car of course (he bought Wolseley in 1927) but chose a modest 8. His wife drove an 8 of her own and when she died in 1959, he starting driving hers as it had done less miles! The car is on display by the way at the Heritage Motor Centre at Gaydon which we also visited earlier this year. They have a superb exhibition called 'Morris the Man' running until September to commemorate this years centenary of Morris Motors.

 

Obligatory gift shop tat. We always succumb don't we? I am quite taken with the key ring though!

 I can only imagine what Morris would've thought to people tramping around his house like this. I should think on the one hand he would hate it as he was a very modest and unassuming man. Then again, with no heir to leave his business or personal fortune to, he left the whole lot in trust to Nuffield College, Oxford on the understanding that they preserved it so he must have expected it to be opened to the public at some point. I for one wouldn't have missed it for the world and felt very privileged to experience a glimpse into the home life of this very private man and of course it was personally a little pilgrimage for us.

Since his death in 1963 and until it was offered to the NT, the college had only opened the house periodically to visitors so the NT's acquisition now means more people will be able to enjoy seeing it and of course, it will now be preserved just as it is, ad infinitum.

On his death, Morris left a mere £3,000,000 which just goes to show how much he gave away during his lifetime. Money meant very little to him personally, he was only interested in it as a means to an end, to expand his business or help others.

 

Once, when talking about his wealth, he commented that he didn't see the point in having a wardrobe full of suits as he could only wear one at once. What an example he is to us all today.

 

Byeee!