Friday, October 9, 2015

England, Day Ten




Today we are traveling to visit the home of Rudyard Kipling.  Bateman's is a lovely Jacobean Wealden sandstone home built in 1634.  It is located in Burwash, East Sussex.  Kipling was an English short story writer, poet, and novelist.  You may know him best for The Jungle Book or Kim.

After parking the car in the car park we find we are a little early for the opening of Bateman's so let's look around at the lovely garden and grounds.




There is a large vegetable garden that is just beautiful.








I was thrilled to see another English Robin on this trellis.  He was not afraid of humans!  His song was so lovely.




I was so happy to see this beautiful espaliered red rose on this weathered wall.




The grounds are simply beautiful on this gorgeous morning.  I've mentioned my love hate relationship with wisteria.  I guess I need to figure out a way to make mine look like this on our home!  It is breathtakingly beautiful!!










I am in love with this lovely home and we haven't entered yet.  Let's go around front and see if we can go in now.  But first look at these beautiful grounds.








They are ready for us to go in.  Upon seeing Bateman's Kipling said-- "Behold us, lawful owners of a grey stone lichened house—A.D. 1634 over the door—beamed, panelled, with old oak staircase, and all untouched and unfaked. It is a good and peaceable place. We have loved it ever since our first sight of it." (from a November 1902 letter)






Rudyard Kipling and his wife lived here from 1902 until his death in 1936 and upon her death in 1939 she gave the home and it's belongings to the National Trust.  The interior is filled with their belongings just as they left them.
Kipling was born in 1865 in Bombay, India.  He was educated in England but then returned to India in 1882.  In 1892 he married, American born, Caroline Balestier.  They made their home in Brattleboro, Vermont.  While living there he wrote The Jungle Book and Gunga Din.  Rudyard Kipling was the highest paid writer in the world at the time.  He received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1907.  His ashes are buried at  Poets' Corner, part of the South Transept of Westminster Abbey, next to the graves of Charles Dickens and Thomas Hardy.

It's a little dark inside, so let your eyes adjust as we begin.




The wallpaper in this room is so lovely.




Daniel Hoskins Lantern Clock


The woodwork and panelling was made from the oaks on the property in the 16th century.  It is lovely beyond words!  There is a treasure trove of books at Bateman's as one might imagine.




I loved this sweet little miss in the rocker.  She is wearing a new dress as her old one was thread bare.




There is lovely porcelain in several handsome secretaries.






Here is portrait of Rudyard Kipling that you may be familiar with.


John Collier portrait of Rudyard Kipling


After climbing the stairs we enter Kipling's study.  It is beautiful with the overfull bookcases and a large window to write by.




There were balled up pieces of drafts all over the floor as Kipling was known to do.




There were cases with sketches of all of his books and his writings.  Here is an article about the Kipling's home in Vermont.  You can stay at Naulakha.  Check out the site Here




Next up was the Kipling bedroom that featured this gorgeous canopy bed, dressed in lovely embroidered bed coverings.




Mr. Kipling was a sharp dresser.  Check out the morning coat.




This was his son's bedroom.  He left it as it was since John was killed in the First World War in 1915 at the Battle of Loos.  Rudyard Kipling became involved in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission after the death of his son and wrote the poem "My Boy Jack" during this time.  




We now are going downstairs to view the kitchen.  Look at that charming stove!




Bateman's was a lovely surprising home for us to visit.  I hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed sharing it with you! ♥


33 comments:

  1. OMGOSH! Kipling's home is fantastic. I think what I love most about England is the sense of permanence there-the appreciation of all that is old and beautiful. Loved this post...thanks for sharing England with those of us that are armchair travelers. xo Diana

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    1. Diana, thank you for sharing my journey with me. I learned so much about Rudyard Kipling. Everything in England was so ancient and beautiful. I have to say I'm in love with England. Have a wonderful day! ♥

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  2. Another beautiful entry that leaves me {almost} speechless. You put everything together so agreeably, your words and photographs. I love the cheeky little robin, but the wisteria is something else, isn't it? There is a climbing hydrangea near here, in the cloister garden at the cathedral which I keep forgetting to capture. I know you would love it too.
    Enjoying our journey, even though I suspect it is coming to a close very soon. ~~~Deb xoxo

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    1. Deb, Bateman's left me speechless particularly when I came to the wisteria! I hope you are able to photograph the climbing hydrangea near you, and of course share it on your journal.
      Yes, our time is coming to a close very soon. I do have three more places to share before I start to cry. I'm sentimental about this journey. xoxo ♥

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  3. Very interesting! I had no idea that Kipling had a home in Vermont. (I vastly prefer the one in England.) Of all Kipling's works, I best love the short story Rikki Tikki Tavi from The Jungle Book...so good for oral reading and the magnificent poem IF. Thank you for another wonderful post!

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    1. Vee, Rudyard Kipling wrote Rikki Tikki Tavi in Vermont. Yes, I agree Bateman's has a special appeal that doesn't compare to his place in Vermont. Kipling was a very interesting man that had a most varied life! ♥

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  4. I was just up in Brattleboro! But I guess you can´t see the house unless you rent it. His house in England was wonderful, too. You had a beautiful day to tour it. Wonderful photos!

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    1. I've never been there either, Cathy. I imagine you could have a look around if it interests you. Maybe one day I'll do that. After learning so much about him he has piqued my interest to learn more. ♥

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  5. Oh, thanks for taking us long with you when you were in England!! It is such a blessing to tag along with you!!!

    Kelly

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    1. Thank you, Kelly. I'm so glad to hear you are enjoying our visit. I must come over to visit with you soon. ♥

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  6. Oh, Martha Ellen! From your very first photo of the roof line of Bateman's, I could tell this was a very special place! The gardens are just beautiful. Your photo of Kipling's home truly took my breath away! No wonder he fell in love with it at first sight. It is most definitely "a good and peaceable place." Heartfelt thanks for showing us around. ♡Dawn@Petals.Paper.SimpleThymes

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    1. Thank you, dear Dawn. Bateman's was one of those special places that was perfect in every way. The Kiplings suffered much heartache with loss of children, I do believe it was a place to have found peace. Have a lovely week ahead. ♥

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  7. The quote from Kipling about his house is wonderful! What a beautiful home and surroundings. I'm so impressed with the places you chose to visit on this trip. Maybe you could plan a trip for us!

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    1. Thank you, Dotsie. We chose places that were owned by the National Trust. We joined the Royal Oak Foundation before going to England. It is the American partner of the National Trust of England. I first learned about it from Susan Branch. You may have read her book A Fine Romance. Her book was the inspiration for our trip! ♥

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    2. That's right. I remember that about SB's book. Yes I have it and am reading it in a leisurely manner.

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  8. wow, this home is beautiful. All the old things inside.......it must have been a wonderful tour for you. The grounds are stunning, so green and groomed. I smiled when I saw the climbing red rose. The wisteria looks so pretty against the stone wall. Nel would love that library, as she is a lover of books. The headboard is gorgeous with its unique design, and the doll is sweet just sitting there on the old rocker. You have seen many interesting things on your trip to England, Martha Ellen, and so many memories to take home with you.

    ~Sheri

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    1. We just loved our journey, Sheri. Thank you for sharing it with me. You are so right, we have memories to last a lifetime. Have a lovely week. ♥

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  9. Hi Martha! Oh, I have loved seeing the home. It's so beautiful! Love seeing the Blue Willow dishes. Thanks for popping in to see me.
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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    1. Shelia, I saw the most gorgeous dishes in England. Have a lovely week! ♥

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  10. I've always wanted to visit the home of Rudyard Kipling. Thanks for taking us along, it is gorgeous.
    Amalia
    xo

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  11. So interesting to see the gorgeous home of Rudyard Kipling!! We chose Kipling as our poet to study in our homeschool "Morning Time" several years ago. The poem "If" was a favorite.

    Have you seen the movie "My Boy Jack"? It is the story of Kipling and his son Jack who died in World War I. It was very touching. (Parts of the movie were shot at Bateman's.)

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    1. Rudyard Kipling and his wife suffered so much with the loss of two children, Cheryl. I've read My Boy Jack but have not seen the movie. I'm not a big fan of war movies. I know he wrote the poem IF as advice to his son-so touching and meaningful.
      I've said it before, your homeschool sounds wonderful! Have a peaceful week. ♥

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  12. Hi Martha! Still enjoying this post and I saw some things I overlooked the first time! Thank you for popping in to see me and hope you're week is going well.
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  13. What a beautiful place! So glad you got to visit. A while back I saw the movie that I think was entitled My Boy Jack and it was so interesting. It would be fantastic to see Kipling's home. Thanks for the great tour!

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    1. It was one of my favorites, Judy. You should go when you return to England! ♥

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  14. Found you on Thistle Cove Farm. How delightful your blog is. So enjoyed the Kipling tour I will visit again!

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    1. Thank you for coming over for a visit. I do hope to see you again! ♥

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  15. Now that is a vegetable garden one can aspire to. What can be said about the house, those chimney pots alone are enough to make me swoon. That wallpaper, oh my gosh, stunning... I can imagine it on fabric as well. So much to take in. You must have been on overload trying to remember every detail of this trip, thank goodness for cameras. You must have filled your Memory card a dozen or more times!

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    1. Jeri, you are so right about my memories of this wonderful trip! I go there in my mind every day! Writing about it has made it so wonderful to recall and review. ♥

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  16. Love batemans. Our Son and fiance have just been and also to Virginia Woolfes house. I love visiting your blog and seeing where you have been. Sorry I am late this old laptop is struggling and we need to get a new one! Sometimes it just does not work.
    We have a cupboard in the sitting room just like the one in the bedroom, we keep our tv in it.
    Fondly Michelle

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    1. Hi Michelle, I understand about laptop woes as the one I'm using is on its last leg. I keep putting it off replacing it. It's so nice your family enjoys the National Trust sites. Sometimes we just don't appreciate what's around our own town.
      I went back to look at the cupboard you mentioned--how handsome a piece that is! ♥

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