Charleston House

"Charleston is one of the most intensely decorated homes in England, crammed with pictures by Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant, and surrounded by exquisite gardens. People talk of a sense of place; here it was drenching" Andrew Marr

Last week while I was at home, we visited Charleston house in Firle, Sussex (between Brighton and Eastbourne). The house was the home and creative grounds of the Bloomsbury Group and their many now famous, literary friends.

Vanessa Bell and Duncan grant were at the helm of the household. They were joined by friends Maynard Keynes, Clive Bell, Vanessa's sister Virginia Woolf, Roger Fry, Lytton Strachey, TS Eliot and EM Forster.

Our guide Patsy was so knowledgeable about the history of the house and its inhabitants and had such detailed insights into their lifestyle, that I felt like we were taking a sneak peak while the artists were out for the day.

Unfortunately I could not take photos inside the house, but

the tea room and gardens are equally beautiful as the art inside.

The tour ends in the room which was converted into a studio. Filled with natural light and various finished and unfinished pieces, it was hard to leave

well worth a visit

www.charleston.org.uk