Members of the Quantock Centre visited Claverton Manor, Bath, a mansion which is home to the American Museum, displaying rooms and contents from three centuries of the United States' past.
Claverton manor is a neoclassical house, built in 1820 on the downs to the south-east of Bath. The American Museum opened there in 1961.
The afternoon of our visit was damp and cold, and the brightness and warmth of the house were most welcome as first we were invited to view the new Heritage Exhibition. This traced the history and culture of the United States in a colourful and “hands-on” way.
We then enjoyed afternoon tea in the orangery before being divided into groups for a private viewing of the room interiors. The latter are arranged around a veritable warren of corridors, and we were skilfully guided so that our groups didn't clash. The interiors cover the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries and the contents, which have all come from the United States, are meticulously set out.
I particularly liked the middle-class 1770s parlour. It was not opulent but had a restrained air of good taste and quality. The late 19th century New Orleans bedroom, on the other hand, had masses of claustrophobic, heavy, dark mahogany.
It was interesting to see original Shaker furniture. Each piece was designed solely to serve its intended use and had no decoration, I liked its simplicity but not, I think, the ascetic Shaker way of life.
One room had some of the Museum's vast quantity of traditional quilts on display, including an enormous marriage quilt.
Altogether a most enjoyable visit – and one which tempts me to explore further and see the gardens.
Ruth Adams