News & Blogs

Memories of Hestercombe: The Grand Ball of 1897

Jan 14th, 2013

”Fascinating . . . filled with deadly accurate characterizations by an author who knows both the Portman’s and their social circle from the inside.” The Sydney Herald "بناء درجة كبيرة من التشويق ... المندوب يسلم له في المادة شاطر أشهر. إجازته الممتدة من تاريخ شديد اللهجة انتهى ". The Saudi Sun “Packs a wallop . . . The timing, following on the recent holiday celebrations atHestercombe, makes it all the more compelling.” USA TODAY “LEGATE HAS A FIELD DAY . . . The Grand Ball of 1897 grabs the reader quickly and becomes impossible to put down.” The Vancouver Herald Some Recent comments about Kim Legate's latest insights on the History of Hestercombe. The Grand Ball of 1897. Coulda been the Whisky Mighta been the Gin Coulda have been the 3 or 4 six packs I don't know but look at the mess I'm in My heads like a football I think I'm gunna die! Tellin me oh me oh my Wasn't that a party! (The Irish Rovers 1981 hit single, Wasn’t That a Party) The exact extent to which the Portmans and their 200 invited guests indulged in spirits and other intoxicating pleasures at the Hestercombe fete of January 1897 is not known, although the general merriment generated by the affair quickly become the talk of the district. ‘One of the most brilliant gatherings that have ever taken place in Somerset’ is how the Somerset County Gazette described it. The following week the Gazette made a reference to the highly decorated ‘apartments’, a programme of Viennese music, satin ball gowns, tiaras studded with diamonds and sapphires and a guest list that included the cream of Taunton society. Constance Mary Portman, now aged 43, was the bell of the ball. Holding a bouquet of roses and Lily of the Valley, she greeted her guests resplendent in a silk gown, accented by a bodice trimmed with silver Indian embroidery and chiffon. During an interview 18 August 2009, Margaret Ford, (daughter of Andy Ford, Head Gardener at Hestercombe 1951-56), recalled that Mrs. Portman’s entrance to any room was well announced: ‘You could hear her coming in with all her bracelets rattling. She had gold bracelets from here (points to her wrist) to here (points to her elbow).’ The men, contrastingly, were more preoccupied with comfort: ‘Mr. (E. W. B.) Portman and several other gentlemen among the guests wore hunting costume.’ The capacious dining room had been adapted to serve as the ballroom and the roomy entrance hall was filled with ‘choice’ tropical plants (crotons, palms & bamboos) and fitted out as a lounge. Mrs. Potter, the housekeeper, was credited with ‘the completeness of the arrangements’ but it was Mr. A. J. Keen, the head gardener who was praised for the excellence of the floral decorations. Dancing commenced at 10 o’clock and did not conclude until four the following morning, fuelled, evidently by refreshment and periodic visits to the well-stocked supper rooms, which were of course a priority for E.W.B Portman.

Pruning and collapsed culverts

Jan 11th, 2013

January is when we start much of the pruning in the Formal Gardens. This week we have started pruning the vines and the Magnolia that grow against the walls. The Magnolia is grown to provide a green leafy covering for the tall walls such as those by the South Walk and surrounding the Rotunda. The way we prune these Magnolia is to encourage this green leafy growth and not necessarily flowers. Each stem is cut back to three or four leaf nodes on this years growth, so we don't cut into the old wood. This keeps the Magnolia looking green and bushy whilst keeping it tight to the wall. The above photos show Rosie and I using long handled pruners and ladders to prune the Magnolia that grows against the wall of Hestercombe House. Grape vines also grow against the walls and up the pillars of the pergola. At this time of year we cut all the lateral shoots back to two buds. The lateral shoots are the side branches that grow out from the main stem. We use secateurs to cut just above the bud, with a cut that slopes away from the bud. We also tie in any new stems where there might be a gap. The vines on the walls are trained into a fan shape, whereas the ones on the pergola spiral up around the pillars. Again, the vines are only grown for their leaf cover, not their fruit, although some will produce small bunches of grapes. Above: The vine on the South Walk before and after pruning and training. Above: Jess is one of our students who is getting to grips with vine pruning on the East Rill. Also in the garden this week we have been trying to solve the problem of the flooding by the Orchard. It would appear that the culvert (a drain that allows water to flow under ground) has become blocked thus causing the water to flow over the ground and the path instead. A couple of test holes were dug by hand but we could not pinpoint the exact location of the blockage. A digger and digger driver were brought in to investigate further and I shall keep you posted on the progress. Above left: Luke and Ben try to find the blockage using drain rods. Above right: Ben tries to see the blockage from the other side using a light whilst Claire keeps the wires out of the water.